*Insert thriller music here* It's finally here!!!
I shifted slightly and had to grit my teeth against a yell. Everything hurt. And I mean everything. It felt like there was a jackhammer in my left eyeball alone. "One of our guests is awake." A smooth male voice murmured. "Inform Jane." Now I have no idea who Jane is but she can't be nice. Personally I'm expecting some overly grandiose evil mistress of the Volturi.
"Alice?" I hissed, not daring to open my eyes in fear of causing myself more pain. "You alive?" A small movement to my right caught my attention. "Alice?"
"Not quite." A smooth male voice answered. Edward. That was great. Just brilliant. The only other people who know we're out here are locked in with us.
I forced my eyes open to see the cell we were in. It was a basic cell really; concrete floor and iron bars with two vampire guards outside. Edward was sat in the corner with Richard still passed out in the centre of the floor. There was no sign of Alice.
"Where's Alice?" Edward shrugged but his aura wavered with worry. Light footsteps carried from down the hall and a young girl, probably around twelve, in a dark cloak joined the guards in front of our cell. Her crimson eyes watched us with something like curiosity buried in their depths, some dark hair escaped her darker hood and her royal blue aura positively crackled with energy.
"Good evening." She murmured in an almost musical voice. "I am Jane." I couldn't hold back the snort of laughter. The Volturi sent a child. I am most unintimidated.
Pain lanced through my body and turned the laugh to a silent scream. Now I see why they sent her.
"Hello Jane." Edward muttered darkly, golden eyes watching the girl, his aura telling of his hate for her. She released me from whatever power she had over me to smile sweetly.
"Yeah. Hi half-pint." My brother once told me that my worst quality is my inability to keep my smart mouth to myself. As pain shot back through every nerve in my system I couldn't help but agree with him.
"Jane. Stop torturing the gifts." A velvety male voice told the girl and instantly the pain went away. "I'm sure Aro would like them in one piece." The boy stepped into the light next to the girl and I was surprised to see that they were all but identical. Twins. The girl's twin however didn't spare us a glance. "But I know he would like them now." Jane nodded at her brother, taking a key from the guard and unlocking the cell.
She beckoned to us and Edward walked out calmly. I think he's more bothered about finding Bella than keeping himself alive. Or Alice for that matter. "That's a lie." He whispered as Jane's brother took him by the arm.
"Whatever." I started to lift Richard from the floor but a guard took him from me seconds later and Jane took hold of my shoulder in a surprisingly strong grip. "Hey half-pint no need to hold on so tight. I'm not going anywhere without my brother." Or Alice and Bella. Edward can look after himself. Jane ignored me but if possible her grip tightened. If my blood was still flowing in my veins there was no way it would be able to get anywhere past my right shoulder.
The twins, and the guard carrying my twin, led us through various dark and damp corridors and a way past human speed until we reached a large wooden door. Jane's brother pushed it open quickly and we were taken inside. To a large cavern that looked like a massive great hall, lit solely by candles that were scattered throughout the room.
"Good evening." A voice greeted us as the guard closed the door behind him when he left, after placing Richard on the floor of course, and drew our attention to an ebony throne at the back of the room. Upon it sat a tall vampire. Undoubtedly the Aro the boy spoke of with long jet-black hair that melted into the fabric of his cloak and the same scarlet eyes that the twins had. "Veronica, Richard and Edward." He called, joy sounding in his whispery voice. I quirked an eyebrow and Edward shrugged. "Thank you Dear One." Jane giggled and somehow that was the weirdest part of the exchange.
"Your welcome Master." She offered a bow to him and the grin on his porcelain lips grew wider while the girl's twin's eyes rolled skyward.
"Alec." Aro's voice was sharp and the boy's head snapped back up to face the 'Master'.
"Sorry Master." He murmured before turning to leave. Jane stayed, her hand still a fist in the skin of my shoulder.
"Hey Short-stuff. Mind letting me go?" The door opened behind me but I ignored it as Jane snarled, her lip curling to show ice white teeth. Aro laughed.
"You are a feisty one aren't you?" He sounded strangely happy. "Let her go Dear One and join your brother. We don't want any accidents now do we?" His tone was almost condescending but with a hint of admiration and the girl bowed before leaving. But a small stab of pain was left for me. "Ah…welcome back James. Victoria." Some of the happiness left the black haired vampire's voice as he acknowledged the newcomers. I whirled around to see my mother and her new mate both with Cheshire cat grins.
"Hello Aro." Victoria crooned her eyes on Richard's prone form.
"Leave him alone!" I saw the glint in her eye. It was the same one that was there before she ripped my head from my shoulders.
"I'm sorry Veronica. I forgot that you and your mother didn't get along." I turned back to him, catching a glimpse of Edward's half-amused smirk.
"How would you know anything about me in the first place?" I almost yelled but the serene smile on his face didn't shift an inch.
"I can read minds young one. Only in contact with another of course but my young friend here was happy to provide the caress needed." He was doing it deliberately. Never giving a detail so that he was always two steps ahead. But sure enough I could pick out another black-cloaked vampire in the shadows. Their form was slight deceptively so and the aura was deep, hypnotising purple. "Show yourself my friend." The vampire stepped forwards into a shaft of candlelight.
The light reflected from dark gold eyes and the unneeded breath was driven from my lungs. I heard Edward fall to his knees beside me as I felt like a werewolf had torn my entrails through my windpipe. There, standing beside Aro, wearing a black hooded cloak and a guilty smile was Alice.
Well I can't be alone in thinking that Alice would make one hell of a villain...can I?
