Penitent 10
It is a trial, of sorts. There are more of them. The Denali's live here, three sisters, Irina, Tanya, Althea, each fair, each cold. With them are various men…mates, I cannot tell. There is also the original group, Jasper with Alice. Emmett with Rose. There are others, but they stand back. They are silent.
"Destroy him," Tanya says. Is she bored? She lies. Her indifference as she looks at her perfect nails I nearly believe before she darts a look, first him, then me. She loves him. She hates him. He is chained, naked, to a metal chair under a blinding light. His appearance is formidable. He is thin, but muscular, each sinew on display beneath his flesh. Black words written all over him. When he strains, the words move. He does not sit still, but is agitated and angry. If I did not love him, I would fear him.
They join hands around him. He growls and strains. I stand before him, out of reach, in a white gown, my hair tied back. My hands are clasped behind and bound. I have been instructed not to move, and so I don't.
Around the inner circle of the sisters and their men, and Jasper's family, is the outer circle, the silent others. They sing, and Edward curses at them.
I know his venom is not directed at me. His fury is because they have me, and he is not free. His voice is now his only weapon against this madness.
"Read him," Tanya says after a while.
Alice steps forward and they close the circle. Inside of it are three of us now. Edward, myself, and this waif who is stronger than any man. She steps closer to him. The singing grows louder. My emotions cannot rise, and I know Jasper controls me.
I know Jasper is controlling Edward, with Alice so near. And nearer. Edward doesn't move now, but the veins in his neck bulge, and his eyes are squeezed shut and he growls and hangs his head. His hair is a crown of fire. He doesn't want her touch. But her small hand reaches, and touches lightly the first line of words running at an angle over his chest. As she touches the words, they are carved into his chest, and blood pours from them. I want to scream, but Jasper is holding my reaction.
Alice says these words in a tongue I do not know, and the singing becomes disjointed for the first time. Some stop singing altogether. One gasps and cries. But the inner circle does not lose focus.
"Tell me," I say.
Alice turns to me then. Her eyes big and round. "Are you worthy?"
I shake my head. Edward groans and strains. He is incensed that she would ask. Sweat pours from him, making him glisten in the light.
"If loving Edward makes me worthy, then that's my only claim. Tell me," desperate to know Edward's fate.
She looks to the inner circle and each nods, even Tanya, though she is the last.
"They have written with an ancient hand: He is an old enemy. The most hated. He has sung the songs as we bleed in defeat."
Alice turns to Edward and continues to trace the lines of words all along his body. Her touch leaves him in agony, and the blood smears. She does not stop or flinch, or even clean her hand. She reads in English now.
"His journey was long. Fierce. He is the one who brings the end. All who see him…must give themselves to end him. Tear off his head, rip his flesh, burn his heart. But first, kill his mate before his eyes. We shall be victorious."
Edward lifts his head and looks into the blinding light above him, he opens his mouth and even Jasper's influence cannot stifle the unholy screams that sound from his throat. They are of such force that a great swirling chaos overtakes the room. The second circle is blown about as if in gale force wind. They run into each other, into the walls, holding their ears and bent at the waist. Several fall to the floor making themselves small.
The inner circle are shaken, but they do not break ranks. I only observe. The lack of freedom to emote is making me think and think. Yes, they all want him. As do I.
"Edward," I say. "I know who I am."
Through his own screaming he hears me. He quiets, and the silence hurts our ears. He drops his chin and levels a look at me of such intensity I feel its weight. There is a new presence in his eyes. I can barely hold such a gaze.
"Who are you?" he says in a voice strong and strained.
"I am the one they would kill before your eyes. If you let that happen, they are truth-tellers."
"I will never allow this to happen."
"Then they are liars."
The tension ebbs out of his shoulders then. He pulls and snaps first one chain, then the other. Alice jumps back. The circle tightens and they growl. "Come to me," Jasper whispers to the waif, but she does not move, she is frozen.
Edward kicks the chains from his bare feet and slowly stands. He is muscle and height, beauty and horror, sweat, grime and blood. He speaks a word I do not know to Jasper, and Jasper lets go of the hands he'd held and falls to his knees. The others stare at him, then look amongst themselves.
I am free then, to go to him. I do not go with trepidation, but I go with reverence. He takes my hand, and we stand beside one another with space between.
"I know who I am," he tells them. "Their opposition has defined me. Until they lay upon me in battle, I was confused." Then he looks at me. "But her…I knew at first glance. And what I have spoken is true. She shall not be harmed. You may come to me after she is comforted. I have much to say to each of you."