12. Rescue

I ran like never before. A broken shoulder hurt like hell and my soles were burning, but I ran nevertheless. Faster than any wolf or vampire ever did.

I reached the outskirts of the city and ran to the car, left previously on the roadside, before entering Volterra. Though it was locked, I used all of my strength to break the lock. After a few attempts, it gave in and I heard a heavenly click. I jumped into the driver's seat and started the car.

But then something stopped me. I turned off the engine and opened my purse. The note was still inside.

"It will keep you safe", Alex said.

Frantically, I took it off and skimmed through.

"Oh my God..."

Involuntarily, my mouth opened into a wide "O". I knew it all along.

But I swept the tears off with the back of my hand. It was not the time to be a crybaby. I had a mission to do. And a person to save. If it would help me, it would help us both, too.

My vision blacked out and I felt cold. Abruptly, I stepped out of the car and yelled aloud.

"You can stop it, I'll go back on my own!"

My vision returned as dark capes surrounded me and brought me back to the hall.

"Traitor!" Aro hissed at me as soon as I appeared before him again. The other vampires hissed at me, too. I must have looked pitifully, with my clothes ripped and dirty, my skin heavily bruised. A true piece of vampire trash. But they didn't know one small secret, whereas I did.

A pile of fur, pulp and bones lie on the floor, with several vampires holding it down. Across the hall, another pile of pulp lie. I noticed a red shining coming from there. A woman was caressing the pile lovingly, with another hooded dark cape touching her shoulder slightly.

I sighed. Alex got his revenge on Caius.

I turned to Aro.

"You killed my mate."

"You are a disgrace to our species, forming an alliance with a Child of the Moon! Tonight, you die!"

Guards grabbed my hands to hold me in place. I didn't protest.

"I wish Master Marcus to hear my final words, then."

Marcus seemed bewildered, but he still came closer. I smiled to him sheepishly.

"I beg you to allow me to kneel in front of your highness and tell the story of my mate, which he told me and my family and some other friends. After I finish, I swear to vanish in peace."

Marcus nodded. The guards released me.

Theatrically, I fell to the ground and passionately grabbed the vampire's hands.

"My dear Alexander's family was killed by Master Caius. Caius ripped his parents' hearts out. But there was another, a human person, whom Caius had killed in that home on the same night. It was Alexander's baby sister. Should I..."

Now! I thought as I turned to Aro to look him straight into the eyes. I spoke each word slowly as I rose from the ground, with my palm reaching out Marcus' cheek.

"... show you who killed the baby sister?"

Aro's eyes almost popped out of their eye sockets.

"Stop", he managed to breath out.

I knew he was terrified: my mate killed one of his coven mates, now I threatened to break another.

"All of my family knows the tragic story" , I reminded him as I stepped towards the remains of Caius.

Confused, Marcus turned to Aro. The latter closed his eyes in agony and spit out through clenched teeth.

"Let her leave."

I smiled devilishly and bent to gather the ruby necklace.

"I'll have this."

Athenodora spat at me.

"Whore!"

I shrugged. There was nothing I could do to make her feel better. And I didn't exactly believe she deserved feeling better than that.

I scooped up the remains of the werewolf.

"I'll take his remains to bury them properly. And, as I've promised..."

I looked at Aro with a sad smile. "I shall never return again."

"Get out of my sight!" He yelled.

I didn't waste another second. I jumped from the same balcony again, but this time I was carrying a heavy werewolf on my back. And, this time, I ran free.