CHAPTER TEN: A CHANGE OF PLANS

"Don't look so bitter, Cullen." Heidi smiled as she passed by on her way out into the city. "I could always show you a good time."

"I'm sure you could."

My reply was as acidic as the expression that crossed Jane's face while she tapped her foot on the Italian marble flooring in annoyance.

"Stick around Edward. Heidi is always known to bring something tasty home after the parade." Demetri shot her a flirtatious grin.

"He's right you know. Being a member of the guard has its …. Perks." She giggled.

Heidi winked, and quickly skipped past Gianna the receptionist, giving the human a sly glance as she departed the room and traveled out into the city in search of her next group of tourists. Heidi was a hunter, a seductress in the purest form of the word. Even if her tight dress, and knee high boots were not enough to captivate an audience, the purple gleam to her eyes would trap any unsuspecting human before they had a chance to run. That's how the Volturi worked. They kept their city safe by 'ordering in'.

"And how's my favorite human today?" Demetri cooed, propping himself up on Gianna's desk.

She just giggled, and did her best to flirt with the monster that would sooner eat her for desert than actually carry on a decent conversation. I wondered how she could stand it. How could she sit there and not care that she was surrounded with the most dangerous predators known to man. Of course, I already knew my answer. She wanted to be one of them. She was entirely too infatuated with the world of vampires, but they would never hold up their end of the bargain.

"Una donna così bella." Demetri whispered to the human receptionist, touching her cheek like they were long lost lovers. I rolled my eyes and looked away from the scene. He was attempting to woo her, and of course it was going to work. I heard Jane's shrill laughter echo quietly from across the room, followed by the relay of her petty thoughts.

Such a foolish human….

How much more of this was I to endure?

"You look displeased, Edward." Alec chimed in, appearing out of thin air at Jane's side. He took her hand and smiled to his sister before taking a seat next to her. "It is customary for a guest to show some gratitude when in another's home."

I clenched my fists. "I am not here to enjoy myself."

"Yes because you choose the cowards way out." Jane hissed.

"Now, now sister, lets not be hasty. Perhaps the Vegetarian has another agenda." Alec turned his smile towards me. "That is the proper term for someone such as yourself, am I correct?"

Jane laughed once again. "Fitting."

"We have come to call ourselves that, yes." I replied curtly.

"Carlisle never was one for our ways." Alec answered. "Though his time here is well remembered by our family."

"Carlisle chose a higher path."

Jane grinned. "Or weaker, depending on how you look at things."

"Does it matter?" I growled in frustration. Why was I even bothering to converse with them?

"Not really. We have respect for Carlisle in ways you cannot imagine." Alec snickered in reply. "He was with us for countless years. However, I am surprised he allowed you to come to us."

"Carlisle does not own me."

"That may be true, but do you honestly believe that he would accept this choice?" Alec dropped his hand from Jane.

"It is not his choice to accept."

"But it is ours." Renata exclaimed as she came into view. "The Masters have summoned you."

I was on my feet before Demetri could pull himself away from Gianna. With a few quick steps, I brushed past the twins, casting them a glance of aggravation. They simply stood and followed behind me into the throne room.

Aro, Marcus and Caius were seated on their thrones once more, only this time Aro did not rise. I followed Renata up to the white, marble steps that separated the enormous room from the elevated area where the Masters sat. Their faces gave nothing away, but I could already tell from their thoughts that Aro was not going to give me what I wanted.

"Why." I growled before he even had a chance to speak.

"I'm afraid your gift is too valuable to waste." He answered me, finally rising from his position, and walking towards me.

I should have known better. Talk about a waste. It had been a complete waste of time to sit there in that room like some kind of rabid dog waiting to be put down, being babysat by twelve year olds. I'd heard a trace of this decision in Aro's mind even before I'd made my request. He wanted me to join his family. He would stop at nothing to achieve what he wanted, and neither would I.

"You know I will do whatever it takes to ensure my death." I spat the words out with complete sincerity.

"Please reconsider this hasty action, Edward." Aro sighed, bringing his hands together almost prayer like in appearance. "If you are unhappy with your lot, you are more than welcome to become a part of my family."

"You'd like that wouldn't you."

Jane hissed in response to my disrespect, but Aro silenced her with another wave of his hand.

"We will not be granting your request. We will not take your life today, Edward. It would be such a pity to lose your services."

I looked Aro straight in the eyes, and spoke with an affirmation that even shocked myself. "One way or another, I will die today."

"Not without cause." Marcus grumbled from behind Aro.

I turned from the Masters without a single word, and marched directly out of the throne room. The last words I heard before the chamber door slammed shut was Aro's displeasure with my choice. "Such a waste."

If the Volturi were not going to end my life right here and now, I would have to find a way to provoke them. Scenarios began to flash through my mind as I calculated each decision and outcome with great reverence. I knew that I would be watched from here on out. There was no doubt about that. The Volturi couldn't risk anything ruining their precious celebration, so whatever I intended on doing needed to be done today.

Hunting was prohibited in Volterra. That was option number one. I could simply take a human life. That would be enough to ensure my death. But what would I be compromising if I went through with that plan? I didn't want to leave this world through an act of evil, so killing an innocent human being was out of the question.

I could go forward with something simple. Perhaps lift a car over my head in view of the humans, and give the Volturi no choice but act swiftly to prevent any chance of exposure. But there was a parade going on, and the plaza would be full of people. There would be no space available for any cars to pass through, so that was not an option either.

I kept walking through the tunnels of the castle as my mind ran through more scenarios. Maybe I could destroy the statue which stood near the epicenter of the festival. I could smash it with my own two hands, and give the humans a show worthy of their false celebration. But what if someone was injured in the process? I couldn't take that risk, so that wouldn't work either.

Jumping off a roof and surviving without a scratch on me might be a good way to provoke the guard. It's not every day that someone survives a massive fall, and lives to tell the tale, but I doubted that would be enough to condemn me. It would have to be something grander than that. Something so outrageous that they would execute me on the spot.

My hand lingered on the door knob that separated me from the outside world, and I had to pause as I was struck with a realization. A small band of sunlight filtered through the stain glass windows of the small door, and as it bounced of my wrist, tiny diamond like sparkles flashed across my skin. I drew my hand back instantly. It was more of an instinctual reaction than anything else, but as I stepped away from the door, I knew I had my answer.

I would expose the secret that the Volturi have keep hidden for thousands of years. I would show the world that vampires still existed in this city, and in doing so, my death would come. All I needed now was the right time of day and the perfect stage to captivate my audience.