Previously on the last chapter:
"Aro is only doing what he believes to be best for all. And ….." Carlisle broke his gaze from his wife to meet the crimson eyes of the, so called, king of our race with a frightening sense of resolution. "I think I agree with him, my Esme. I may be blind to the ways our family is being led."
"I am thrilled you accept the error of your ways, Carlisle." Aro cut in, exclaiming enthusiastically. A smile of pleasure and radiance illuminated his feature, and this one reach all the way to his ruby eyes and twinkled with delight. But Carlisle remained silent, meeting none of our eyes, his family, as we stood digesting what was being declared.
"This is ridiculous." Edward stated, leaping from the top balcony and landing loudly on the pebbled clearing.
A rage suddenly grew in Aro. A fury that no one anticipated, nor saw coming.
And now …
JASPER
And here I thought I had seen it all. Clearly, I stand corrected.
This boy has gone Mad, with a capital M.
Commonsense must have fled his cerebral back door to even consider challenging the Volturi. Them lot rule with severe law, ancient and old as long as the time of rulers could claim dominance on land, mountains and man.
If he so much as insults the dubbed supreme leader he could be charged with 'treason', readily punishable by immediate death. It would have been immediate death for us all for such a filthy tongue and depraved lack of respect – if Caius were to be in Aro's position here and now, we would all be tossed in a grand pyre and that would have been the end for our coven. But with that all said we couldn't even remain composed with the most tolerable head of the trio present.
Right now, Aro is a being not to be reckoned with. It is frightening how with just mere words he has managed to make Carlisle yield to his will. Provoking him beyond is unimaginable. Behind his calm exterior I could sense the aggravation that manifested the moment Edward graced us with his presence. To say that Aro was displeased would be a careless conclusion.
Edward, well, he was in a whole league of his own - He in turn was purely lashing out. An adolescent boy with an adolescent broken heart. My empathy goes out to Edward's hurt over his dying - no, over his dead relationship with Bella. But if he wished to find an outlet for said feelings then this time and place was wrong, bad, worse, and all kinds of no to the hell fucking NO!
And to think, that he was once the voice of reason within our family.
To think, that I actually regarded him as the voice of reason within our family.
All in the end to become as nothing more than a pesky little shrew that needs to be tamed. And tame him we must, so it seems.
If the newborn me would have seen what we had ended ourselves with, he would be bowing his head in shame for the both of us.
I used to be a Major with an army at my back. Now I am a nobody trying to hold a boy by the nape of his neck, so to speak.
And right now, I had a job to do …
'Edward' I called out to him by his telepathy. 'Don't be getting any dumb ideas that could already costs us more than we can lose. Remember who is standing before you! He will kill us all, you, Alice, even Esme. Stop being selfish and think of your family, you little stupid son-of-a-bitch!'
The name-calling wasn't needed but if he would be picking a scuffle with me, I would be relieved for centuries to come. But Edward, the spoiled boy-wonder, didn't flinch, nor bat an eye my way. Either he heard me and chose to disregard, or this boy is so far gone, blinded and consumed, that he tuned our thoughts out. My guess is the latter as he seemed to be uninhibited by all who surrounded him, except for one.
Edward's antagonism would be his demise and would cause nothing but a chain of destruction if he were left to his own devices. Combined with Aro's rumored swift record for brutal, spontaneous punishments – or so I heard the word of mouth went. It would be just a matter of time before one instigated the other and all hell broke loose.
And if there were to be someone that had any hope of reaching the boy it would be …
My calculative eyes instantly sought him out. "Carlisle .." I nudged my father figure, who was still clutching the woman that I fondly call as our mother. Carlisle's golden eyes were glued to the sight of his first progeny with disbelief.
Disbelief – that his once sane little creation could quite possibly make the stupidest mistake of his existence.
Now would not be the time to recall that I had placed a hefty bet with Emmett against the little perfectionist ruining his practically-perfect-in-every-way facade. Emmett wouldn't let me live down losing those few six-figure digits over something I boasted would never happen within this half of the millennium.
But all thoughts aside,
"Carlisle .. " I nudged again. Success, with eyelids fluttering, and unneeded breath sucked and released just like us Cullens were all trained to perform as second nature. Carlisle slowly snapped out of his trance for a sheer second to look to me before reality of the magnitude of what our situation has come to - right before his very eyes - washed over his comprehension.
He released his grip on Esme. And attempted to approach Edward slowly, calculating every step like he was placing his footing on a landmine field than our own harmless front yard clearing.
"Edward, my son ….. let it be." Carlisle edged cautiously. Cooing soothingly, if not a little hesitantly, to a defenseless small wounded animal that suddenly turned wild and volatile.
But Edward didn't even spare Carlisle a glance before he responded. "….No," he growled between gritted teeth - that petulant little twat! And for the briefest of seconds, his eyes met mine before he looked ahead. 'Ooh .. so you can hear me.' The clench in his jaw was a sign I took as confirmation.
I would have provoked more to gain his attention – but damn it if I didn't spot Alice wanting to approach Edward. However, a sharp pinning glare from me, channeling all the rage and opposition I felt for her attempt had stopped her as soon as she lifted her foot off the wooden porch platform. Even she should know that we are tiptoeing in this matter blind as something seriously peculiar was disrupting her visions. And I didn't want my wife involved more than having her very presence in this life-threatening situation.
If worse comes to worse, and every vampire and mate for themselves, at the very least she was close enough for me to snatch and flee before those inquisitive vultures swooped in on us to rip us apart.
And if Aro decides to end Edward's life here and now, there was just no guarantee that he wouldn't include any who aided and supported the brat's ludicrous opposition especially when he looked like an individual with no sane purpose whatsoever. I didn't even want to entertain such a notion. But it was still a possibility, and highly probable. And my analytical mind for sensing prominent threats refused to dismiss it completely.
To my complete respect and gratitude, Rosalie placed her arm around Alice's shoulder and her understanding was much appreciated when she nodded to me. Sometimes I wonder if the pseudo role of twins to the humans might have gotten to our heads a little. But I shook off that fleeting thought as Rosalie and I seem to be on the same page, and I would not hesitate to come to Emmett's aid in a nanosecond.
I would be lying if I didn't admit that this gave me a perverse pleasure of satisfaction to know that in the heat of an imminent conflict, I could secure allies to my side and weigh my loses and gains before blows were exchanged. The soldier in me was edging on survival mode, and the vampire side of me was in flight or fight – basic and simple and instinctual. But even those sides of me seemed to agree that fighting is the last resort, even if I would be doing the former for as long as a lived.
I would also be lying to myself if I didn't acknowledge that Aro would not harm Carlisle for he showed impressive submission to his side, but regrettably that didn't extend for the mercy of all who are associated with Carlisle – mainly us. True that we held him in high regard as a symbol of patriarch but such titles meant nothing in our world. It was nothing more than a false sense of domestication we placed over our eyes like a decorative veil to give purpose to our existence. And now that he no longer held the role of our official coven leader, we were just fresh meat, open for the pickings. And those guards looked starved for a good hardy fight.
But there was another hard truth to consider – A third alternative perhaps. If fighting was a suicidal attempt, and our hope for fleeing was a failure … Then what would the third option be to save our lives?
Truth is I did know what the third option was. But I didn't even want to consider the ultimate and last resort until I am cornered and desperate, and all the counter-attacks and running for thousands of miles for many many years wont do me much good. For now, that decision would be safely tucked up my sleeve.
With that thought comforting my mind, I was once more focused on Carlisle's movement as he took another careful step towards his charge. "Edward you aren't yourself right now, dear boy – How about we go hunting together? You need to feed, son. Please do it for me." Carlisle spoke gently, lathering his words with concern.
"Don't, Carlisle. J-just please don't, " a shaky murmur escaped his lungs.
"We will get through this, son. Bel …" Carlisle couldn't even manage to continue at the look Edward shot him.
"I said don't! T-that issue … it .. it will work out …. E-eventually," A stuttered, albeit confused reply came from Edward as he scrunched his features in an effort to concentrate really hard on just speaking properly.
But it was so damn obvious that his voice was, for lack of a better word, weak.
Even he was not so sure of his proclamation. And it was frightening to behold, even to my own eyes and ears, never mind the people who stood present at the moment.
For us vampires, there was no moment of fickleness. And our hesitation was so diminutive; it merely came and went even before we knew it existed. Our mental function was constantly working, our thinking was swift, and problems were sorted and solved within a blink of an eye. So to see a fellow of our kind in a slow moment of turmoil was like nothing ever seen before – he was like a disaster you just couldn't look away from, not matter how ugly it was.
His eyes shifted everywhere, resting on nobody, looking for nothing, and no focus or thought was behind their darkness. They were like two black vortexes that sucked everything and digested zilch, a hollow vacuum. His lips were quivering, like he was talking in blinding speed, but no sound came from them. There was no resiliency to be sensed around his aura and posture. Edward's sanity was slipping.
And the fact that he had yet to hunt was just the icing on the crazy cake to complete the whole look of pure unstable.
"Heed the wisdom of your maker, Edward. You know his advice to be true." Aro spoke, cooperative and quite controlled, a stark difference to Edward's belligerent hostility. The placidity was adapted well on his features.
Yet the click of his tongue at the end as he delivered his piece might have been involuntary, as he appeared to be reaching a limit. But a limit to what? His patience? His amusement? His pity? ….
But as though the sound of the Volturi leader's voice was a heavy screeching cry of a bat, it flipped a switch on Edward's brain. And suddenly he went from a scared little creature, to an angry bull. If I thought Bella was a buffet of spontaneous assortment of emotion, Edward was breaking her all time record.
The fact that the red-eyed side of the clearing was initially the threat that we were meant to take caution from was sidetracked by one of our own family members. And for all his immortal years, the boy didn't know when to just shut the fuck up.
He whipped his arms out in frustration. Bared his teeth. And cue the dramatic fuss, "Is this what you came for … to … to stomp your big foot right into our lives? To ruin my family? Carlisle doesn't deserve this! He is the best coven leader … the only leader we could ever want for!" Edward seethed.
Oh boy … I rolled my eyes.
I half expected tears to start dripping from his eyes over his precious little face just to add insult for affect. I do feel bad for the kid I really do. A small part of me does, but a bigger part of me just wanted to smash his face in because he seemed to have lost his balls!
"Edward, you can't disrespect Aro like that! You need to listen to reason – if Aro believes this to be the best situation then it is what it is. You need to accept that." Carlisle tried to persuade but he might as well have been talking to a stupid stump – in one ear and out the other.
A slow smile began to stretch on the edges of Aro's lips with a glint of satisfaction as he crossed his arms over his chest. But he masked it immediately and sighed rather overdramatically. And with no hint of compassion in his flat tone he spoke, "I truly believe that in the great scheme of things Carlisle is more than adept to be a superb leader. However, he needs a release to … revaluate the finer priorities." He placed his index finger over his lips to hide the twitch of a smile that threatened to overtake his mocking tone.
"Do you not agree, old friend?" Aro tilted his head to spare a glance at Carlisle who immediately froze under the heavy scrutiny. And I do testify … that such scrutiny – was suffocating.
"Yes." Carlisle nodded wearily.
Edward's jaw hung slack it could have easily been picked up from the floor as he stared in gapping shock. Crazy black pupils looked from the vampire king to his father figure and back as he tried to process the spectacle. But all he was left with is more confusion. He wasn't alone. Even Esme looked to her mate in bewilderment. Carlisle was making no attempt to rebuke Aro's inquisitions.
Edward's finally settled on staring at the Volturi leader. He narrowed his eyes, brainwashed with suspicion; it practically oozed from him like a foul odor.
Oh I'd recognize that look anywhere.
He fixed a hard gaze on the dark leader to the point that his forehead welcomed a prominent furrow, cocooned in curiosity and doubt. I felt a heavy lump in my throat; an uncomfortable feeling came upon me while I shifted from one foot to another. I can feel the ever-present tension rising in the air.
Edward looked at Aro skeptically. Eyes narrow, calculative and sharp. "What are you trying to hide?" he questioned so openly and casually with a tilt of his head.
"I lived long enough to know that curiosity would certainly kill the cat, Edward. Though dangerous and eternal the cat may be." Attempting to pass the threat as humor, Aro smiled knowingly. His ease was chilling. To speak of death so lightly, masking his threat in an innuendo. Edward caught onto Aro's gist and clenched his fists to his sides.
I could just as imagine the perpetual axe as it was dangling on Edward's head and he was too ignorant sighted to even notice it. And to add further insult to injury, the little fucker was always cocky enough to chastise Bella on her own carelessness? Take a lesson from your own book, you selfish little prick!
When Edward finally had the grace to look to me I simply shrugged.
'Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. But I still ain't taking it back ….' I spat acid words. And I was a little satisfied with myself that I managed to convey my distaste even as I as thinking the words to him.
Unbeknown to me that I had just became the prince of the limelight to a certain red-eyed leader. As I attempted to look elsewhere but at Edward, I was met with the unneeded attention of the vampire king. He was exuding fascination towards me. And before I knew it, golden and red eyes had both drew to me as they were wondering themselves – why did the Volturi leader suddenly looked at me like some form of oddity. I shuffled nervously on my feet and tried to avoid the attention.
"Not interested." Edward suddenly bit out. Cutting through the short silence.
Aro chuckled with no attempt at humor. "All in due time."
I couldn't help lifting my eyes up only to meet Aro's gaze, filled with shining calculative interest, as he nodded at me and he was not reserved in expressing that particular interest in abundant. And it suddenly clicked like a key as to what was being mentioned. Aro knows as much as I do about my gift, if not more. And he tried to recruit Alice in Volterra –
Well ….. shit!
Just as Aro faced my direction, his red irises crept to the corner of his eyes, to the bronze haired boy. And all his emotions shifted to contempt as he exaggeratedly cleared his throat.
"We seemed to have veered from the issue at hand. Nevertheless, it should never be said that I am not considerate. I will not take what words you have spoken this evening against you, Edward." There was absolutely no sympathy or mercy in the words that Aro spoke.
Carlisle's shoulders sagged with relief. "Most generous of yo.." but Aro lifted his hand to halt his words. He lowered his head; eyes closed, and pretended to hide his smirked before he lifted his head back up again to regard Carlisle.
"Children …" his hands twitched slightly but he tucked them away behind his torso. " …. are so hot headed, so easy to act. A hard hand of guidance would do well to subdue the them. Consider it food for the thought, old friend."
Edward's rising temper was not helping his case. "I'm not a …"
"Be aware of how you speak, child." Aro shook his head. "I am not Carlisle and I will not tolerate your disrespect."
Carlisle stepped in front of Aro, blocking Edward from the leader's sight and direct attention. "I believe you caught us at a very sensitive time. I apologize if boundaries of rank might have been overstepped." he attempted to pacify the situation. Acting as a barrier between them.
Aro composed himself. Straightening his already pristine garments. "Not at all. I am …. Sensible. When the situation requires, at least." He conceded, lifting his hand in the air in a gesture of consent.
"I will never forget this, Aro." Carlisle nodded, his golden eyes softening.
Aro chuckled. "You could not even if you tried." He mused, rendering Carlisle with bashfulness.
"Not if you continue to rub it in my face." Carlisle muttered sullenly.
Aro lifted his hand to place over his own chest, raising his brow in amusement. "I simply make it a habit to remind you. You on the other hand were never a good sport." He replied lightly.
The buoyant air around the two slowly dissipated before they both took on a more serious demeanor. Almost as if they forgot we were even privy to their small banter.
Aro stepped back in the vicinity of his guards, "For the time being this coven will have a temporary overseer." He spoke in a concluding tone, loud and full of definite authority, like his final words before departing. "Someone I have yet to decide and will inform about very soon." He announced to the entire clearing.
And again he looked at me and smirked. I swallowed the venom that pooled in my mouth as every fiber of my being hailed red flags at his peaked interest towards me.
But his next words were now intended to our former coven leader as he clasped his hands together. "I trust there will not be an issue until then, Carlisle?" Aro tipped casually to our father with a friendly easy smile. As though the tension in the air didn't bother him.
"Absolutely not." Carlisle replied, still poised. Like he wasn't just striped of his position right in front of his own coven and family, and the party of strangers that bared witness.
It was then that it dawned on me. All the Volturi guards appeared so oddly callous. And all the tension I have been feeling, apart from Edward's massive dose, was just emanating from my family.
The guards still gravitated around Aro like he was the center of their little universe, but they were not antagonistic. Their menacing appearance was just that – only appearance. False glares to show ferocity that was certainly spurious. They were either very arrogant about their gifts to show immediate hostile intent or ….. they aren't as ruthless as they seemed. Perhaps they are just living up to a reputation of many millennia – Pacifists in disguise?
Impossible. There were centuries of rumors from many sources and several occurrences that said otherwise. But then there was Carlisle … and that fleeting moment of familiarity he shared with the ancient leader.
"Bullshit! This is complete bullshit." Edward hissed under his breath, sulking. Though it was such a relief. He was starting to placate in the brattiest manner.
"Edward!" Esme chastised, ever the maternal figure. And it was a breath of fresh air.
The haze of anxiety and peril was starting to fizzle. Aro and his guards were making to retreat.
I looked to my darling wife, and our gazes were exchanged with the reprieve we felt. Her smile was timid but it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Rosalie went to stand beside Emmett and they were in their own bubble of respite. As was Carlisle and Esme.
But our moment of peace was so premature as Aro's next words rang heavy and clear in all our ears. And even when he spoke with such a calm and mundane voice, his words were anything but that.
"Oh, and as for the matter of Isabella Swan. Her association with this coven will hence forth be severed." And just like that, a fissure of heartache echoed across my family members, including myself, over this little declaration.
No .. no …. Not a declaration. It was a command! Forcing us to disown her. Our sister!
"You mean she is forbidden to join our family?" Rosalie spoke with a hopeful tone and a sparkle in her eyes. I grimaced, while Alice glared at the blonde female. She shook with anger, feeling slightly betrayed by her older sister. Only Rosalie would be happy that Bella would remain human, but that sort of wishful thinking has long since past its due.
"Precisely … for she is now under the Volturi's care." Aro quipped pleasantly. Causing the glow around Rosalie to diminish.
"Isabella is mine…. My mate! What right do you have to decide this?" Edward growled. A tremor rained on his whole body in waves.
Aro smirked. "What right do I have?" he raised his eyebrow as he placed his hand on his chin, stroking it in mock thought. He suddenly laughed wholeheartedly, but stopped just as quick and looked Edward dead in the eye. "In this current time, I possess more than you. She is to you no more a companion." He was confident and arrogant in his statement as he stood tall and so full to the rim with himself.
Edward looked as shocked as he was just delivered a metaphorical slap across his face. "How do you know that?" he whispered in disbelief.
But Aro remained silent and passive apart from the glee he was emitting that didn't show on his outward appearance. Edward snapped his jaw shut. Clenching his fists by his side he attempted to reign in the rage and distress. "Y-you …. saw her?" he gritted his teeth.
I couldn't help how my right hand shook slightly. Edward's emotions were so heavy with hurt; it almost felt like my own. And though I kept it at bay from affecting me wholly, what seeped through was disturbing. I barely took notice when Alice was suddenly standing beside me. She placed her hand on my back and her small piece of calm through our contact was the link that kept me floating above the surface of Edward's pungent sea of desolation.
However, that just made me reflect on my own emotions, as I was still flabbergasted.
Did Aro really see Bella? When did he see her? But most importantly … 'was he just there?' And I wish the thought hadn't crossed my mind. Wished that I could reverse time and never think of it in the first place. Because even though Edward was a big pain in my ass, he was still my brother and when he heard the doubts in my mind, the look he gave me was like a dry searing pain. As bad and scorching as the physical thirst we felt.
Edward looked broken. Defeated. Bella was his aim, his reason for being. Without her, his purpose for existing was gone. I sympathized because I could empathize his emotions. After all, I only shudder to think where I would be if I lost my Alice.
And Bella wasn't just a mate; she was his first love in all his entire existence. Such heart pain was permanent. For a vampire will never forget.
But it seems there was one individual who didn't sympathize to Edward's emotional state. "Quite a mess you have made of that poor little girl." Aro commented completely disregarding the aftermath that was the affect that left on Edward.
Grimacing for a moment as the words were slowly uttered. "Would you like to see?" Aro offered. Ironically extending his hand though he knew very well he didn't need it to show Edward the images running through his mind.
"No …" Edward shook his head in panic as he whispered, almost helpless and begging. But begging was futile. "Stop it!" he shouted as he closed his eyes tightly shut. But it was a fruitless attempt to escape something invading your mind. Clearly Aro took no consideration of mercy. His eyes shining wickedly as he absorbed the sight of the pained boy.
"Carlisle!" Esme clutched her husband's arm. "Do something!" She whispered pleadingly.
Carlisle looked unsure for a moment before Aro spoke in a gentle tone. "Now now .. I'm not physically harming the boy. I simply show him the consequences of his actions."
And just as hollow as Edward felt, he filled that void with rage and snapped. "You don't know anything! You don't know what its been like. What I had to live through everyday for the pain I caused her!" he snarled. Consciously not realizing that with every word he spoke he took one step closer to the Volturi leader.
It was in that moment that Carlisle was sure and confident to move. Stepping this time in front of Edward and taking a strong grip on his shoulders to pin him to place. Emmett came behind Edward and swiftly grabbed his arms to hold him in place.
Yet Edward still resisted and thrashed forward. Trying with much push to, dare I say, attack the Volturi leader.
And when the hostile intention was made clear, that is when the guards got involved. Making the rest of us crouch ready in defense for a violent outbreak. But a dismissive wave from Aro held his guards from advancing.
Aro stood gazing, eyebrow quirked with a sober albeit mildly amused expression. He was instigating Edward to press forward.
And in that moment even the guards turned a little restless. Looking to their master for the first sign to intervene on his behalf. Some crouched in preparation, some looked at each other and began to resonate a harmony of unison growls.
"Your business with the girl is no more, Edward. You keep your distance and leave her in peace." Aro mouthed slowly with resolve.
"Or else what?" Came Edward's defiance. Yes, he dared to defy, and a leader no less. How overwhelmingly frightening this situation could escalate to.
"Challenging my authority?" Aro tilted his head.
"Please, no rules have been broken. This is simply an issue between mates." Esme suddenly spoke, interrupting the dispute. "Bella is a valuable member of our family. We are sure that with time all things will be right and forgiven. We have already been distant from her enough. And that is an error we wish to never have repeated!"
"Yeah! She is one of us. Human or otherwise, Bella is our sister. She isn't going anywhere." Emmett agreed.
"Oh you delusional little people." Aro stated, laughing, mocking. "You are all fighting for a person that no longer has any interest in your coven. Do you not think you all have done enough damage to that poor girl?"
"No. No. Sh .. She wouldn't just abandon us like that!" Alice stood in anguish. I pulled her to my side and she curved against me in a slump.
"And why would she not wash her hands of your lot. After all, did you not all do the same to her only but a few mere months ago?" Aro's smirk went from mocking to downright sinister. "Doesn't feel so good when it has been done to you now, does it?"
"She is still my mate." Edward stated again but this time the sureness of his words was not so very certain.
"In her own words, she clearly stated that you are no longer together. But it appears you are in a state of naive denial. And I loath speaking in circles." Aro sighed. "Carlisle, I trust you will at least attempt to reign in your wards. And should they not abide then I expect the guards I will be placing to watch over young Isabella will see to dismember and torch any who trespass upon her."
We froze in shock as we gazed at the dark leader while he casually descried the lengths he would go to keep us from even approaching Bella – While he flicks an imaginary spec of dust off his sleeve.
"Wha … what!?" Edward protested.
Aro lifted his head to look at the boy with a stoic expression.
"Do not fret. They will only burn the unnecessary body parts. The vital ones will be sent back. Like the head, perhaps the upper torso …." The guards laughed and nodded, virtually thrilled with their master's verdict.
"Like hell you will!" Edward attempted to push once more but Carlisle and Emmett pressed their grip on him.
"Edward, control yourself!" Carlisle begged.
But by some form of sheer will, despite being malnourished, Edward seemed to have more fight in him to resist the force of two vampires restraining him.
And the guards were now just looking for an excuse to attack Edward. Unlike how they were so calm before, now they loathed this boy that has just disrespected their master one too many times.
I do not know what possessed me to do something about this escalating situation. But by the grace of an unknown force I moved my hands to purpose as I sensed a territorial hostility rise within Edward. After all, it was all hardwired within our vampirism making to claim possession of our loved one and mate. And in this case Edward wanted to prove his dominion on Bella to the Volturi leader. I took a split second decision to stop this. Fast enough that I acted on instinct before Edward could read my thoughts and repel me.
He was almost succeeding in amazingly fighting Carlisle and Emmett's grip. And he never saw me coming behind him, right next to Emmett. I pressed my hand on his back and emitted a high dose of mental paralysis. Which rendered him numb and sluggish. And like a rag doll, he crumpled to the ground.
I remained focused on him to linger in such a state of catatonic for at least a few minutes. This is something he has never seen me do so it took him off guard. His eyes drooped shut in a parody of sleep. And for everyone else, he was dead to the world in all sense of the pun.
"Wow!" Emmett and Carlisle exclaimed in wonder. Emmett more impressed that it was happening in front of him than to him as he was the helpless guinea pig to my training of said skill.
"Jas ….. per." Edward tried to speak but as his whole body fell to the ground, his neck was the only think he could tilt to lift his head up. But more concentration on my part and even his head was too heavy to lift as his eyes closed completely shut. Edward pretty much looked like a pale corpse.
"Impressive." Came the admiration from the Volturi leader. But I resumed my focus on my task, as though the praise went unheard.
"Almost as skillful as your talent, Alec." Aro added.
"Not quite the same, master." Alec pouted. But Aro merely chuckled to his brooding expression.
Carlisle took a few steps toward Aro's direction. And Aro met him halfway. "Do not think ill of me, Carlisle." Aro stated, placing his hand on Carlisle's shoulder.
"I never do." Carlisle smirked.
"Then your a golden hearted man." Aro commented with a trickle of deep laughter.
Carlisle hesitated for a moment before he spoke. "About … Bella .." He tried to find the words but failing to give them voice.
"You know me well enough to know that I will ultimately decide was is best for all." Aro replied.
"Yes, of course. When the time is right. Yet shouldn't, at the very least, one of us be able see her? Bella is still family." Carlisle requested with a hesitated tone.
Aro pursed his lips. "I will never understand your need to create such unnecessary bonds." He remained silent for a moment before he sighed. "So it seems a compromise is in order."
"I will allow only one of you to be able to visit the girl." Although he didn't seem very pleased with the choice, yet I knew Alice would jump at the chance to make things right with Bella.
"I think young Jasper will be permitted the privilege." Came my name from the mouth of the leader. Me?
"Jasper?" Carlisle responded just as puzzled as we all were.
"If any of us should be able to see Bella the most, it should be Alice." I spoke.
"I have made my decision." Aro affirmed, rendering my point moot.
And I responded with the only reply I could muster. "Gratitude for your consideration."
But shit really hit the fan. As in the midst of everything coming to a conclusion …. turmoil occurred.
For just a hairline of a second, my concentration wavered. What lethargy I was projecting, dulled if only for a split moment. But that was all it took for Edward to break from my power and literally go berserk. He grabbed both my wrists, which were pushing on his back and twisted it until it cracked, causing a spike of pain to tremor through my arms.
As I dropped to my knees, Edward rose to his. Emmett attempted to push him down but Edward proved to be too fast. As he sank his nails into Emmett's bicep and ripped his arm right off the shoulder and tossed it in the direction of the house, breaking the floor to ceiling window and propelling it somewhere in the living room.
And that was all it took for me to feel the pain seep into Emmett's emotions in addition to mine, catching me off guard. Making it a golden opportunity for Edward as speed was in favor. He grabbed me by the neck and threw me across the tree line adjacent to the house. But superior reflexes worked to my advantage and I flipped to bounce off the tree I was meant to crash into and land back on the ground. Yet my wrists were still healing and fuck if it was not painful! But it was seconds too late; Edward was making a beeline towards the Volturi leader.
But Aro didn't move. Didn't crouch or mount and poise to defend. And none of the guards attempted to intercept into Edwards path to protect their king. If anything, they took steps back and shielded themselves with their black cloaks.
Then …. I cant explain nor understand what exactly happened next …
It all happened so suddenly yet so slow, and with so much lucidity.
Like time and space moved and shifted around us.
The space around the red-eyed vampire leader began to spark, zap, and crackle so loudly. The air began to shift and change, blowing against my back. Blowing towards the center of the clearing. Blowing towards the direction of the Volturi leader. It swirled around him, along with the leaves that were by his feet that now were swept up into the air by this mysterious gust of wind. And were beginning to set ablaze with the crackle that now appeared to be what was sparks of fire igniting out of thin air. All was happening in momentum speed yet to our vampire vision, with crystal clarity.
As though the Volturi leader was trapped in another realm of warped time, and Edward was running in a condensed heavy time flow. He was barely past half the distance to reach Aro.
Yet as the paradigm of vampirism speed reached its normality. The air around the Volturi leader turned into a swirling wind, and the crackle of light stretched into larger flickering flames. Small bits of pebbles began to rise from the smooth man-made graveled driveway of our clearing like they held no weight to them.
And as Edward was only but four steps away from reaching said leader ….. something happened.
"ENOUGH!" roared the leader.
Then, within the darkness of the still night, everything exploded into a white hot blinding light. It drowned the entire clearing.
It swept cross us in a flash too quick for us to fight against, and too futile to even escape. Blowing over us in a silent deafening explosion. The clearing was no more, my family nowhere to be seen. And everything went completely silent for a long moment. Like the whole world was swallowed by a white nothingness and I couldn't even get the strength to look down on my own body to be sure that my own existence was still intact.
I don't know how long the blinding light consumed me with its visceral warmth and numbness. But it couldn't have been more than minutes. As the heat of my surrounding blended with the haze of darkness that came into focus as our porch clearing came into my foggy vision.
I blinked a few times to clear my sight and when I was sure I had proper purchase over my limbs, I immediately looked down and confirmed my body was still very much unharmed and intact. And my second confirmation that it could have been minutes and more aside from the still present darkness of night was the proof that my damaged wrists were now fully healed.
But it took me a break of a second to realize I was not standing on my own two feet, but rather kneeling on the ground where my shins dug into the artificial peddles of the driveway.
While I attempted to push myself up, a strong grip over my shoulders forced me back down into a keeling submissive position. It was then that I was finally able to process and take in the sight around me. And I cursed under my breath for how bad it has become.
Standing right at the center of the clearing was Alec. His hands were extended as his open palms gushed torrents of black smoke. It crawled across the ground and spiraled in an upward swirl of five pillars. And then somewhere in the back of my mind I remembered hearing certain unique qualities about Alec's special gift. The horror of realization dawned on me that it's my family being enveloped in that capacitating black smoke. My Alice was in there!
With more purpose to will I attempted to rise to my feet once more only to have several grips dig into my skin and push down on my shoulders, keeping me kneeling like a slave. I growled at the resistance as I attempted to rid myself of what was holding me back before I took notice that two black cloaked guards were standing right behind me, holding me by my shoulders, and now by the back of my neck.
"Jasper, calm down. Your Alice is safe." Some deep male voice spoke among the heavy dark smoke. I should have been more reasonable and sensible enough to listen and be still. But when I heard mention of my Alice, my mate, my wife – a riotous drive urged me to break free.
But it was futile as I was suddenly propelled back to the ground. Not by the two guards who held me down. But by an invisible force that hit my chest with the strength of a bulldozer. It had the same numbing warmth that I experienced previously. But my thoughts weren't able to focus much as I chocked and coughed, and it burned so bad. Worse than any feeling I could ever describe. I felt some form of liquid leak from my nose and ears. I touched my hand to my nose and saw a blackish-brown substance. Catching a whiff of its russet quality immediately registered in my mind as very old animal blood. Which I have fed upon a few days back, but it wasn't fresh like it used to be, wasn't as lively or appealing as I first came across it. It was downright unappetizing. I wiped it down on my sleeve and rose to my knees once more.
I was still hyperventilating. Fuck, I have never felt this type of weak physical sensation in all my existence. Is this what it used to feel like as a human? How did I even manage to survive? Fuck. Ok. Calm down. Just calm the fuck down, Jasper. You got this. You faced much worse than this.
I carefully stood off the ground with shaky legs, attempting to wipe the slime like blood from my nose with my hands and sleeve.
"There is some coming out of your ears too." A bell of a voice commented from my right. I looked over slowly and saw the smirking face of the little witch Jane. She stood beside Demetri and Felix. All three of them had their hoods down. And the moment our eyes met they turned their attention forward, and I followed their gaze to see Aro standing right where he has always been and looking over at a cluster of more black cloaks gathered in a huddle, almost like a group would around a victim, a body, or a fainting damsel.
Leisurely Aro tilted his head to spare me a brief glance. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't slaughter you and your entire coven here and now for such unforgivable transgressions."
I hesitated in speaking, not knowing if he was truly seeking my answer. But as the silence lingered and Aro remained looking to me with such expectancy – I simply knew I had no choice but to reply.
I decided to play on my triumph card, the final ace up my sleeve.
"I can bring you Maria." I stared him down, unblinking. Showing not a single sign of a bluff.
His eyes instantly brightened yet I can sense his suspicion. "You seem very sure." Aro stated skeptically.
"Everything that Maria learned about war and strategy – she learned from me. I can predict her movement and flush out her weakness. And without her as a leader, her army will fall apart on its own." I explained.
I can see that he was considering my words, but his doubt remained the same. I knew that I had to sway Aro to this cause, and show him what certain value I had to eliminate a dormant threat that would just be as catastrophic to our kind as it would be to the entire Volturi Coven.
"I may no longer be a part of her army, but I still am very much aware of her activities. You have allowed Maria to do as she pleased because she took proper care to not attract human attention despite her malevolent intentions."
I wasn't going to deny that it pissed me off that Maria continues to take many innocent lives without consequence even after Peter and I left her. But if this goes well, her era of terror will be over.
"But recently … And I know news of this has reached your ears as well .. that Maria has become sloppy, careless, and she has expanded her army to a point beyond her control. If you wish to take her down, you need someone who knows her. Someone who was once her most trusted confidant – you need me."
I half expected some sort of satisfaction to emit from Aro at my willingness to cooperate. However, I was shocked to sense anger rolling off of the Volturi leader instead.
"Are you attempting to bargain with me? I detest such provocations." He softly hissed, with a sharp scowl on his face that could cut a figurative boulder in half.
I tucked my hands behind my back and humbly inclined by head. "I simply offer a plea for my family's life as well as mine." I replied timidly.
His scowl melted into neutral passiveness as Aro clasped his hands together. "Well …. Maria is on her way to cross the line that would break our most fundamental rule. But your family committed the same crime. Why should I pardon them?"
"Its not them that exposed us to a human. Just Edward, but he was willing to take responsibility for Bella as we all tried to do. Then we just suddenly adored her, loved her. And even you saw how enthusiastic they are to have her become one of us." I spoke indisputably.
Aro pursed his lips as he considered my words. "Is she worth it? All this trouble." He waved his hand across the clearing, across the disaster of a situation.
"Yes." And that was all I was going contribute.
But Aro shook his head. "Your blonde female counter-part does not seem to agree."
I frowned. Mostly just for the way he said it. "Rosalie has ….. her own issues."
"I know." Aro nodded. "I took the liberty to see into her mind under Alec's influence. She is close to campaigning for Isabella's humanity."
"Her opinion was rendered moot. The majority of us believe Bella becomin' immortal is vital in many ways." I clenched my hands. I tried to not let his words get to me, to remind myself what this ancient leader said to persuade Carlisle. He could give any crooked politician a run for his money.
"Actually …. your Matriarch thinks otherwise. And were her decision to be made without repercussions from her dear Carlisle then she would have weighed heavily on Isabella's humanity."
I don't think I would have been able to control the shock on my face. This was news to me. I can't believe this is what Esme wanted.
Aro smiled softly and in the light of such events, it was disturbing. "So foolish. Do you not agree?" he asked.
I pointed to him then myself. "On that we are mutual." I replied tightly.
"Hmm .. I like you, Jasper. You are unlike your …. Siblings." He sneered the word like it was foul. "You are independent in your judgment."
Digging his heel into the ground, Aro tapped his foot on the gravel while his eyes narrowed. "Yet you let this coven overpower you. Why do you allow it?"
I took a deep breath now that I was feeling much better, and swept my hair away from my eyes. "It might be hard for you to believe but I have taken a liking to them, so does my mate. They are not so bad." I shrugged.
Aro chuckled with no hint of humor as he gazed up at the night sky. "And yet they look down upon our own kind."
"We were all granted immortality when humanity was no longer an option. We were not given a choice. But we still try to live as close to what semblance of humanity we can dare to grasp. I doubt that is cause for concern."
Aro sighed as he lowered his gaze to meet mine. "So what you see around you is not a matter of concern?" he spoke with sarcasm in his smooth lulled tone.
"Carlisle has been doing this for nearly a century and more, and we were following his lead." I knew what I was about to say next was going out of line. "He once confided in me that as long as we do not jeopardize our exposure, he has your blessing. And I do recall the law stating that such exposure to our kind was to be on a mass threatening scale, not with a single harmless mortal teenage girl." I swallowed tightly. Feeling my throat constrict with each passing second.
Aro held my gaze for a long silent moment but I refused to neither deter nor submit. Suddenly, a Cheshire cat smile illuminated his face. "Well played, young Whitlock."
I could feel my scalp prickle with dread when he uttered my true surname. And it shouldn't have affected me so, after all he did have a look into my mind. But the fact that he could know more about me than possibly my mate or even myself, and could use any information to his advantage was making my nerves escalate.
And as I stood under his daunting jubilation and heavy scrutiny, Aro seemed the least bit thoughtful to how I was receiving him in any manner. Almost like he has already anticipated and predicted my reaction.
"Answer me this, Jasper." His voice pulled me from my thoughts. "If immortality was a choice, do you believe it should be to the individual to decide their own fate than have someone else make the choice?"
"I do." I replied. Knowing whole heartedly that if I was given the choice to be a vampire, I would have wanted it more willingly than having it forced upon me.
"I see. Thank you, Jasper." Aro smirked.
"Master, the boy is attempting to resist." A deep gravely voice spoke from the masses of black cloaks.
"Then sever his arms, Darius." Aro ordered sharply whipping his gaze to the direction of the voice.
The guard nodded and pushed between his fellow vampires to reach the center of the group, they automatically widened the circle they have created. They still lingered close, but with the space they have provided between them, it was clearer to see what they were gathered around. I focused on this 'Darius' person stepping to the center and crouching down next another one of his comrades who was hiding his face under the hood of his cloak and holding down someone lying on the ground but was thrashing sluggishly before I realized that person was Edward.
Darius crept closer while the other guard shifted his hold on Edward's torso so that one could hold him still and the other grabbed his shoulder and pulled hard on his arms. Edward screamed bloody murder that it echoed all across the woods, mixed with the sound of ripping metal. It was like nails on a chalkboard and I winced in discomfort while Aro looked on with a passive gaze.
If I were stupid enough I would have rushed to stop them. But it was plainly obvious to see that it was nothing more than the Volturi's right to exercise domination. So I held my place though hard it was for me to be in the presence of such mental and physical suffering.
Not a few seconds later, the screaming turned into incessant, incoherent mumbling. Darius stood back on his feet and away from Edward's slumped form, to stand to the side and with Edward's severed, still twitching, limbs in his clutches.
"No sense delaying the inevitable." Aro sighed, tapping his chin with a lone finger.
He turned to Alec and nodded to him. "Release them."
"As you wish, your highness." Alec bowed and stepped back to the proximity of where his wicked sister stood, and with each step he took the smoke that spilled like a waterfall retreated back. And when he was finally shoulder to shoulder with Jane, Demetri, and Felix, he dropped his hands idly to his side, and the smoke dispersed into nothingness.
What were once pillars of dark smolder became my family once more; they looked like they were frozen in fear with the wide-eyed gaze they blindingly displayed. But once their mental comprehension returned, they blinked rapidly and looked across their surrounding and at each other.
"Edward!" Esme screamed, while Carlisle followed her gaze and looked upon his son with horror in his eyes. Esme instantly was by Edward's side and touched his face with a shaking hand while none of the guards stopped her.
Her face twisted in anguish and her eyes shined with unshed tears as she allowed her hand to hovered over the area that was once Edward's arm, but not daring to touch the jagged shard like edges of his skin. "Oh no .. Oh no …" Esme sobbed.
"Was this really necessary, Aro?" Carlisle asked with a pained look in his eyes.
"You should be grateful I haven't taken his life for daring to defy me, much less attempt to attack one of the leaders." Aro replied, looking slightly appalled by Carlisle.
As Esme attempted to carefully wrap her arms around Edward's torso, he turned in her embrace to peer at the Volturi king. Minus the sweat that would never perspire his face, Edward looked gaunt and nearly depraved of energy from hunger and the pain of amputation, and from just everything so far.
He opened his mouth to speak but sluggish, incoherent mumbling came out. Confusion couldn't even begin to describe my sentiment. Though blood depraved and physically tortured, these attributes do not impair one's speech to the point of spouting gibberish.
Aro smirked sadistically. "Even with your tongue ripped from your mouth, you still dare to defy me you little shit?"
A symphony of sharp inhales and shocked faces mirrored across my family members. "Aro .. No!" Carlisle gasped.
But Aro didn't acknowledge Carlisle's distress as he gazed with bright red hateful eyes at Edward. "If only Carlisle had left you to die. He would have done the whole world a great favor. But alas, you walk among us. Consider it a blessing to have lived this far. However … " He then moved with speed that would even rival Edward's own. And suddenly snatched the boy from Esme and held him by his jaw with sharp nails that dug into his skin, making him hover like a limp rag doll off the ground, while Aro gazed penetratingly into Edward's frighten eyes. "From this moment on I will make it your only purpose for existing is to suffer for all the consequences of your disgusting actions. I give you my solemn word that this is only the beginning." Aro promised. He then swiftly retracted the hand that held onto Edward's jaw, and with his other hand he deftly backhanded him, sending Edward flinging to the side. And with no arms to hold him still he skidded on the ground, followed by more muddled words.
"I will hold onto that tongue of yours. I rather enjoy you as a mumbling fool." Aro mused. Then his smile widened to something more sinister. "And if you continue to anger me then next time we shall cut off your pathetic shred of manhood and burn it to ash. That should place you into a whole other league of your self titled high moral virtue."
"Whoa – And I thought you were vindictive, Rosie." Emmett muttered, while Rosalie delivered a swift jab to his side.
And if Aro heard the remark, he let it slide. "I have made my verdict." He suddenly declared looking down at Edward's shocked face. "Edward of the Cullen coven. You will hereby be punished for your crimes against our cardinal immortal rules. Your final sentence will be delivered once my brothers and I decide on a more proper course of action."
"But Aro …" Carlisle tried to intervene.
"Stay out of this Carlisle! You are no longer the leader of this coven." Aro hissed causing Carlisle to pause and hold his tongue on whatever he was about to say.
Carlisle bowed his head. He was trembling with mixed emotions of anger, fear, and regret. "As his sire I ask for what crimes is he being punished for?" he asked with clenched teeth.
"Oh … Well, let's see …" Aro's face smoothed into a passive visage, while he rubbed his hand together thoughtfully.
"For exposing a human to our secret.
For denying that same, willing, human the right to our immortality.
For total and complete disregard for our secret, and leaving such a secret in the hands of a human and then leaving that mortal to their own devices in order to relocate the coven for selfish and foolish reasons.
And last but not least, my favorite one of all …" Aro paused as he looked gleefully at Edward. " .. for ignoring the personal wellbeing of a so-called mate."
"But Bella is Edward's mate." Carlisle stated.
I thought Aro would have flipped his rage on Carlisle, but instead he smiled to himself. "Once a vampire recognizes a true companion, there is no force in this world that could separate them." He replied.
Aro turned to Carlisle with a soft look of fondness. "Would there be any reason to have you separate yourself from your mate?" he asked. But Carlisle didn't respond. Instead he appeared conflicted and looked away from Aro.
"I thought so." Aro concluded while turning to walk into the direction of his elite guards. "I will inform you soon of a temporary coven head to take reigns over your lot. And through this coven leader I will impart your boy's sentence to be carried for his crimes." He slowly turned his head to peer at us over his shoulder but his visible eye was focused on Carlisle. "For the time being, the little bastard is to remain under careful watch and control, and away from the human girl."
The other guards that were scattered across the clearing crept closer to their master while he spoke. "And for heaven's sake, Carlisle, if you do not fucking feed this spoiled little brat, I swear I will have one of my guards granted the pleasure of force feeding blood down his throat one way or the other. And trust me, it will not be your precious animal blood that he will be feeding on."
Carlisle swallowed tightly before nodding. "Understood."
"Wonderful." Aro replied with cynicism. "Do that, and perhaps I might be generous enough to return his ripped appendages."
"Farewell for now." And with that parting they disappeared back into the darkness of the trees.
I could almost feel with each distance they put between us, that rush of danger slowly fading. Each one of us stood in silence, unmoving for several minutes, like being awaken from a horrible nightmare and needing time to recollect reality. Except for us, the horror of our reality was slowly sinking in.
Carlisle was the first to break the silence. "Emmett, please take Edward for a hunt. You can accompany them if you so wish, Rose."
"Sure." Emmett nodded passively. He slowly approached Edward and hauled him to his feet with an arm around his torso. The same arm that Edward ripped off and tossed through the window to our house. I didn't know when Emmett recovered it but I didn't voice my thoughts on the matter. He got it back, which was more than I can say for the armless boy. Rosalie didn't say a word but she stood next to her husband before all three of them disappeared in the forest as well.
I sighed deeply. I needed a shower and cleaning fucking clothes. I walked at human pace towards the house.
"Jazz?" My pixie called. I peered at her over my shoulder.
"Goin' to get cleaned up, sweetheart. And …" I exhaled while wondering if it was proper to even do this. " .. probably check on Bella. See how she's doing." I spoke carefully.
"But Aro said .."
"No such command was extended to me." I replied. Alice's face immediately dropped as she averted her gaze to the ground. But she nodded none the less with an aura of tolerance.
"This is .." Carlisle began to say.
"… A fucked up situation?" I deadpanned.
"Jasper!" Esme chastised.
I shrugged. "It's the truth! If it weren't for Edward, we wouldn't have left Bella in the first place. She had a right and a say in the matter, but we didn't give her a voice." I dug my heels in the artificial gravel. "So much for a part of our family." I swept my hair out of my face. And turned toward the direction of the house.
"I still care for her." Alice whispered. I knew she did. But I wished she didn't allow Edward to walk all over her. But to say so would have been hypocritical as I had the same exploitation done to me.
What we all needed right now was some serious damage control.
Author's Note: These chapters are getting so much harder to write! And I just have to punish myself by making them longer and longer with each update. There are probably some errors here and some errors there but after 10,000+ words me just no currrrrr !