I ran around the block a few times to clear my head. I was now standing directly across from her apartment. I was reading the thoughts of everyone within a close vicinity. Most of it was mindless boring drivel. I couldn't read Emilia''s thoughts, so her apartment was quiet. I bunkered in, readying myself for a long evening and night watching over her. I shivered as I realized this was how I had watched Bella all those years. I hoped I wouldn't have to resort to that again. I'd made that mistake once. I wasn't about to make it again.
As my mental thoughts cleared, I began to look at things a bit more rationally. I could clearly recall every single hurtful word she said to me, the way she looked while she was hurtling hateful words at me. And in my renewed mental clarity away from the situation, I recalled a new scent I had never noticed before. I remembered I had noticed it before Jim even knocked on the door. But I had been so busy trying to focus on Emilia and steer her away from her hateful words back to me.
Alice can't see your future, it's as if something is blocking her visions. Carlisle's voice came back to me now in this odd moment of clarity. I wondered what that meant. I remembered that Carlisle had once mused only two things could cloud Alice's visions, werewolves and hybrid vampires. Carlisle thought it was because Alice had never been a werewolf and she couldn't recall her human existence enough to see the half human side of a vampire hybrid. Vampire hybrids were mostly stuff of legends, even amongst us vampires. The gentle irony that we too were supposed to be nothing more then a legend or myth was not lost on me now.
My mind was rapidly working now, thinking a million thoughts at once, trying to place all the pieces together. The new scent, Alice's visions blocked, my sudden recall of a discussion with Carlisle about hybrid vampires and of course, this new threat of the Volturi and their human army trained somehow to kill vampires. But the only thing that can kill a vampire is another vampire. Which a mere human couldn't possibly do, but perhaps a hybrid vampire could...
I flew to Emilia's door and with one quick tap, I knocked the door off its hinges. I caught it before it could fall and make a noise. I propped it back up against the door frame and I entered Emilia's apartment and the new scent assaulted my nose. I let loose a deep, rumbling growl. I had been so stupidly careless. I ran through the apartment. Shadow was lying on Emilia's pillow, she didn't raise her head to acknowledge me. I searched every room in her tiny apartment. No sign of Emilia. I followed the scent towards her back door and out through the yard. It stopped at a road behind her apartment. I closed my eyes and brought up the car I had noticed sitting there as I was making my run around the block. It had been a black Jaguar. If I had been thinking straight, I would have realized that type of car was out of its league in this strictly working class neighborhood.
I' d been so stupid and careless, I'd allowed myself to get so caught up in Emilia's hateful words, I had left her in a weak position while I felt sorry for myself. I recalled the license plate number as I took off running for the house. I had no time, Emilia's life was my responsibility now.
My crazed presence at the house stunned everyone. I grabbed Emmett and dragged him downstairs, I needed him to hack the online files of the DMV and get a name and address on that Jaguar. I was back upstairs in a flash, peppering Alice with questions about her visions. Did she see anything regarding Emilia? She sadly shook her head at me.
I'm so sorry Edward.
"It's not your fault. Don't worry, I will get her back. I will. If I have to search every last square inch of this Earth, I will find her." She smiled gently at me. I didn't have to tell Alice about the power of love. She had Jasper.
Emmett was back with a name and address but it just lead back to a fake company who had rented the car. Esme was fluttering about, nervously. Carlisle was deep in thought.
"Do you think this is the work of the Volturi?" I asked him.
He nodded his head. Yes, I think Italy is where we should be looking at.
I looked at him, surprised. "We?"
You don't think we are going to let you go up against this alone do you son? Of course we are going to help you get Emilia back. You love her, and because we love you, we are going to do everything in our power to help you get her back.
I didn't say anything. I just nodded my head at him. He nodded back. This was my family and we were stuck together like a real family in the truest sense. Through thick and thin, we were all each others greatest supporters. That they would put themselves directly in harms way like this for me, made me swell on the inside. When I got Emilia back I would make her a member of this family. One way or another. I would make her see reason. I would make her love me again. I could make her love me again. If it took me forever.
Rosalie came down the stairs hauling a couple overnight bags. "I've got our passports, credit cards and various other things we may need." She placed the bags on the floor and looked at us all standing around, staring at each other. "Why are you all standing around? Waiting for a group hug?"
Jasper followed her, clutching a small bag. I looked at him and the bag curiously.
"Some forged documents I made up for Emilia. I had short notice so they aren't perfect, but they will pass."
"Let's go kick some Italian ass." Emmett's voiced boomed through the room and we moved together as one unit, moving towards a goal.
Less then 14 hours later, we landed in Florence, Italy, thanks to a favor Carlisle called in to get the exclusive use of a jet.
"How on earth did you manage to get the Pope's private jet?" Esme asked Carlisle as we got off the plane.
"It's all about who you know." He answered cryptically. "Let's just say, he owed me a favor. And he's repaid it."
Alice drove me, Emmett and Jasper all the way from Florence to Volterra, the city of the Volturi. The countryside zoomed past so fast it was just a blur. No one was interested in the sights anyway. She kept the Mercedes going at its highest speed possible smoothly. Carlisle, Esme and Rosalie followed right behind us in a matching Mercedes. We wound our way up the hill that leads to the ancient city. I could read everyone's growing thoughts. Emmett was working on his game plane. Jasper, true to his tactical nature was going about it in a bit more methodical way. Alice was just thinking of Emilia. As was I. I couldn't shake how stupid I had been. I grew angry at myself and Emilia.
Dusk was settling over the city, which was advantageous for us. This wasn't Forks. The sun was not covered by clouds here like it was back home. Home. Forks was home. And my home would be complete when I had Emilia back.
My phone was vibrating in my pocket and I knew it was Carlisle. I flipped it open and listened. It wasn't Carlisle on the other end. I listened as the voice told me exactly what to do. Suddenly, our plans had been changed it seemed. I flipped my phone closed and told Alice to pull over.
"I get out here. You all will stay here. Do not attempt to follow me, do you understand?" I barked at them as I got out of the car. Carlisle pulled up behind us and got out of his car.
What are you doing? He asked me and I could mark the deep concern in his minds voice.
"I'm going after Emilia. I have to go alone."
Carlisle took a step towards me and I held up my hand to stop him.
Are you sure?
I simply nodded and turned to face my destiny. It was right in front of me.
I walked on. The voice on the phone had given me very specific directions. I knew behind me, my family was standing grouped around the cars, watching me walk away from them. But I had been told that only I was the only who was allowed. I had to do this on my own.
A seductive purr sounded from the shadows and Heidi fell out of the shadows to walk along side me.
"Sightseeing? Need a tour guide?" She trilled at me, a mocking tone on her voice.
I didn't say anything to her, keeping my face straight on the path ahead of us. Heidi was now skipping. It was bizarre, her youthful lean figure leaping high in the air and coming back down with a thunderous slam on the path. I could see how the mortal tourists would fall for her so easily and follow her to their deaths. All vampires were like that of course, it was part of our lure to attract our prey, but the way Heidi was moving her body was just another way to tantalize.
"Cat have your tongue?" She whispered in my ear, "Last time I saw you, you were quite eager to to talk."
My nostrils flared as I remembered the time she was talking about. It had been so long ago. Not very long after I had been turned. I was disgusted with myself. I had removed myself from Carlisle's guidance and left. I let myself turn into a monster. Even though I was hunting the worst of the worst of mankind, I had grown despondent over my diet of human blood. I was disgusted with myself. I had come to this very same place to have the Volturi kill me. They wouldn't of course. I had been rejected by them. I was lost, walking alone, until I found Carlisle again. Wise and understanding Carlisle, who had never once implied in any way that I was evil for the choices I had made in my short journey away from him.
I shuddered at the past and I was instantly furious at Heidi for bringing it up. Add that fury I was feeling now on top of what I was already feeling and I felt I could kill the whole city of Volturra and not feel anything afterwards. I was that angry inside. I could be that sort of monster again.
I had walked to my destination. A plain wooden door attached to a long, high stone wall was guarded by two human men. They grouped themselves around it casually, prattling on about some soccer game, smoking cigarettes. Heidi giggled as she bounded off into the dark, probably going to alert the Volturri my family was here. I stepped up to the door and the men, roused out of their soccer debate stood in front of me, blocking my way.
"Good afternoon gentlemen, I believe I'm expected?" I greeted them in perfect Italian.
They both shook their heads at me. "No one goes in this door." The man on the left was talking to me now and the man on the right had moved so subtly into a fighting stance that a human would not have noticed it, but I noticed the glint in his eyes, the hardening of his mouth and the way he balled his fists at his side. He leaned forward just ever so slightly towards me.
"There must be some mistake, I am expected and I will go through that door." I walked forward a step and the men met my step.
"I said, no one goes in." They both had pulled themselves into fighting stances. I grinned at both of them. If I had to go through them, it would be like cutting through butter.
"I suggest you both step aside and let me in." I warned them one last time. They didn't move.
I took another step and I barely felt their hands grab my arms. I shook their arms off and with a lightning force speed, I reached out to the one on my left and took his head between my hands and just barely exerting any pressure twisted his neck in my hands. A stomach churning creak accompanied the feeling of his neck giving way under my capable hands. I opened my hands and he fell limply to the path, his head bent at an unnatural angle. The other man had backed up against the door, gasping.
"I said, open that door and let me in. Please." I said to him as if nothing had just happened turning up the charm as I said please.
He stammered for a second and I stepped up close to him and he quickly saw the errors of his way and opened the door for me.
"See? Was that so hard? Thank you," I said as I stepped in. "By the way, you might want to drag your friend there inside as well, wouldn't want anyone to see that." If this was all the human army was capable of, the Volturi training had been very pitiful. They didn't even fight me. Not that they would've stood a chance of course.
Inside the wooden door was a small courtyard of sorts, paved with dark stones. It was an older castle, I could tell by the crumbling facade. I could see another door and dim light shining from windows in the old building. I flew to the door and opened it. Inside, the entire space was illuminated by hundreds of candles. The walls were draped with tapestries and there was small groupings of chairs and tables scattered around the room. A huge stone staircase swept down the center of the room and then split in to two curves that lead left and right. I listened to my surroundings, I didn't hear any thoughts. I turned around, looking at all the doors that surrounded just the first floor and then thought of the immense staircase that lead to more floors and more doors. Emilia could be behind any of them.
I was just going to have to search every room it seemed. I went to the nearest door first and my hand was on the handle before I heard another door open. I turned around and and a man stepped out, dressed very elegantly.
"Ah, you're here. Good. Good. Did my men give you any trouble getting in?" He asked me, his eyes twinkling. He spoke with an voice that had no traces of accent.
"Not a bit of trouble." I threw his way and he grinned.
"You're probably wondering what all this is about. I dare say, you must be confused."
"You are quite mistaken, I'm not the least bit confused. I'll just be getting Emilia now, of course." I glared down at the man.
"You didn't think it would be that easy did you, Mr. Cullen? Your Emilia is quite safe. For the moment that is. Of course, her being delivered safely and in one piece back to you depends entirely upon yourself. Behave yourself and in no time, your pretty little pet will be back by your side. But give me even just the smallest glimmer that you are going to be...disruptive and well, think of the many ways she could be killed. It's like playing multiple choice with these humans! So many ways to die."
I growled at him and instinctively crouched, readying myself to fight. It was an innate nature when vampires felt threatened or one of their own was threatened. I clenched my teeth together and I could feel that venom flowing.
"I wouldn't do that. Remember what I just said," he gestured grandly toward the open door. "Won't you follow me?" It was not a request, it was a command draped in the finery of a pleasant question.
We went into a large circular room. A massive desk sat in front a dormant fireplace. Big, overstuffed leather club chairs were scattered about the room and floor to ceiling bookcases crammed full of books lined every single wall. Nestled between the bookcases was another door. It was open and I could see that it led to some steps that went down before they ended in darkness that even my eyes could not see past.
"Tell me Mr. Cullen, do you mind if I call you Edward? Mr. Cullen is such a formal thing and I want us to be friends." he had moved to the desk to sit behind it and gestured for me to take on of the many chairs spread throughout the room. "My name is of no concern to you at this moment, but the very moment we are friends, I shall tell it to you."
I fell into a chair and looked at him. "You can call me whatever you want, I just want Emilia."
He bobbed his head up and down. "Emilia is quite...busy at the time. But we will get to her in due time. Don't worry Edward.'" He winked at me and that threw me over the edge. I flew out of the chair and landed, crouched on his desk. He pushed his chair back over the stone floor, the sharp grating ringing in my ears.
He tisked his tongue at me as if he was scolding a small child and wagged a finger. "You're temper is very unsettling Mr. Cullen," he said, reverting back to using my last name title. "I'm going to have to watch myself around you, you seem so quick to anger. Perhaps you should see someone for your anger issues, I know a great therapist..." I cut him off before his rambling made me kill him.
"I want absolute proof that Emilia is indeed fine, before I go on any further with you." I sneered down at him, still crouched on his desk.
"Of course, you do. Of course. If you would just give me a moment?' He pulled himself out of his chair. My eyes followed him as he walked to one of the bookcases and he pulled out a book and flipped it open to a random page.
"We are what you would call, independent contractors. You remember your history quite well I assume Mr. Cullen?" he asked looking at me for a response. I shook my head. I had millions of things memorized in my head, historical facts were among them. "Then you can probably recall the Knights of Malta I presume?"
My mind instantly sifted through all the knowledge in my head and brought up what I knew of them. They were trained assassins from the age of the Crusades, but sometime, around 1080 they all disappeared. No one knew what had happened to them. They were helping to excavate the ruins were King Solomon's temple had been. There had been a rumor they had found the fountain of youth at the base of these excavations that allowed them to retain their ages for as long as they drank from it and it made their bodies and minds at the top peak of perfect conditions. Not unlike what happens to a vampire when we are changed and the venom begins to work on us.
"I've heard that legend before." I answered.
"But you of all people should know that some legends are true." He smiled at me as he said this. He was speaking the truth. "And I wonder, Mr. Cullen, if I may entertain a few thoughts with you?"
I sighed. I just wanted to get Emilia. It was only my fear of something happening to her if I killed this man standing before me that kept me in my place from murdering him.
"And what would those thoughts be?' I said sourly to him.
"I was hoping we could persuade you to join us, Edward," he had gone back to using my first name, perhaps in an attempt to show he was being friendly now. "What do you say? How would you like to be a knight?"
"No, thanks. I'm just fine with my current situation." I sneered at him. I was getting impatient now. It was never a good idea to make a vampire impatient.
"Are you sure? It would be so nice to have one of your kind on our team, so to speak. At any rate, I would think it over. Emilia is perfectly safe where she is." He walked back over to his desk and sat down on it.
"Where is Emilia?" I snapped at him. My hands curled into fists at my sides, I was having to talk myself down from killing him.
"Oh. She's not here. You didn't think we would keep her here, this close to you, did you? Oh, no. She is somewhere...else."
Fury shook through every part of me. So they weren't hybrid vampires after all and it wasn't an army of humans the Volturi had trained either. We had been wrong about that. Of course, we never thought that something like this was a possibility. This came so far out of left field. It might also explain the holes in Alice's visions. These men, these Knights of Malta, weren't human exactly and they weren't like our kind either. But I had another unanswered thought. How had they known we would assume it was the Volturi and that we we would've come here? Why go through all this smoke and blowscreen, this big charade? Had seeing Heidi just been a coincidence then?
"Why did you take Emilia? Why not just come to me and ask me? Why go through all this?" I asked, eying the man carefully.
"My name is Simon," was all he said.
"Excuse me, but what?" I muttered. I was a bit taken aback.
"My name. It's Simon. We are friends now, I just agreed to it."
I was getting sorely tired of playing games. I wanted answers, not his name. I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to push back the murderous thoughts I was having.
"I really don't care what your name is, I just want my questions answered." I glared at him and he shrank away from my stare. He knew I was meaning business now.
"It was all so simple, really. If you stop to think about it. We know all about your secret royal family and the one law they dictate. They have but one rule. And we used that rule to our advantage. When we began our quest to add a vampire, your family was quite interesting to us. Especially you, you were the only the one not attached to a mate. That your family had forgone a diet of human blood for animal blood was important to us. We didn't want to have to watch our backs around you."
"I'm afraid you were sorely mistaken. Even though we do consume animal blood, believe me, I would have no problem killing you right now." I stood over him now, glaring down at him, yet my words were dripping with amiableness as I smiled at him.
He cleared his throat nervously. "Right. Right. At any rate, we knew this ancient city, with your ruling kind would be the first place you looked at when you discovered your little pet was gone. We needed an incentive, if you will, for you to see things our way."
I lunged at him. Calling Emilia an incentive had put me over the edge. I could see the fright in his eyes as I jumped on top of him, knocking him over his desk and onto the floor. A small garbled scream tried to escape his throat as I picked him up around the neck by one hand and pushed him up against a bookcase.
"Emilia is not your incentive to try to bargain with me over. You will tell me where she is at. NOW!" I shook him fiercely one more time, his head hit the back of the bookcase so hard it shook the heavy shelves full of books, as my loud,shrill voice echoed through the room. I heard glass break and crack under the assault of my voice and I heard the shatters as they rained to the floor He screamed in pain as my voice went through his ears. I smelled his blood even before I saw it begin to drip from his ears. His eyes rolled back in his head and his tongued lolled over his lips. I dropped his limp body and it hit the floor with a sickening thud.
I raced through the open door I had noticed earlier and made my way down the damp, dark stone steps. It led to a small room that resembled some sort of war room for generals and other powers that be to direct important battle scenes. Maps filled every surface of the wall, and dim lights cast spots of illumination over paperwork scattered over a few desks. She's not here. The dead man's voice came back to me.
I looked at a map of Malta hanging on the wall. Malta wasn't that big, every square inch of the island had been detailed perfectly on the map. As my eyes swept over the map, I landed on a tiny cross that marked a co-ordinate on the map. I knew where Emilia was at.
I flew up the stairs and I was out of the courtyard and onto the streets of Volterra in a brilliant blur. I raced back to where I had left my family. They were still grouped around the car, quietly muttering to themselves in voices no human could have picked up. I flew up on them in such a hurry, they were taken aback by my sudden appearance and immediately crouched down into a defensive stance.
"I know where she is," I said as I breezed past them and got into the car. They stared at me startled. I had no time to explain. "She isn't here, I know where she is, let's go!"
They split up and got into the cars. Carlisle and Emmett got in my car and I pushed down as far as I could on the accelerator. Alice, Esme, Jasper and Rosalie followed suit behind me.
"Edward, what is going on?" Carlisle's voice said from the seat next to me. Emmett leaned forward in the backseat so he could be in on the conversation as well.
"We were wrong. It's not hybrids and it's not the Volturri, although I did see Heidi tonight. The Knights of Malta have her. They are using her as leverage to try to get me to join them." I spoke so fast, only my own kind such as Carlisle and Emmett could understand. "We were lured here under a false pretense." I sighed softly. "Carlisle?'
"Yes?"
"Do you think the Pope would mind too terribly much if we used his jet to go to Malta?"