PP2 TAINTED
CHAPTER 13
A/N: Don't hate me...we're gonna visit with the Cullens for a bit. This next part is a little bit of a flashback from the time that Edward is first taken up until the X-Men return to Volterra. I think it's necessary for the story.
Just a few more chapters and I'll mark this baby complete. I had a recent resurgence of inspiration for this fic, so I apologize for the weak middle chapters. I hope I didn't lose too many readers.
Thanks for your continued support.
When Emmett and Rosalie decided to head out to the Xavier Institute they did not ask anyone's permission, nor use Alice's Sight to foretell the outcome of their endeavors. Emmett went with his gut and his gut told him to go to his sister's aid. Alice tried to delay them, pleading that she had no clear vision of what they were headed into.
Rosalie did not care to waste another breath on Alice. Her determination and annoyance rocked Jasper. "Darlin', why don't you back off a bit. Let them do what they think is right," Jasper implored to his tiny mate. Alice threw up her hands in defeat and moved out of her siblings' way.
The remaining Cullens watched as Emmett and Rosalie raced away into the forest.
Alice paced. Her anxiety was palpable. "You heard Bella, she's gutted and angry. Why didn't I See?"
"What do you See now, Alice?" Esme asked. Her long dead heart was broken over the loss of two of her children.
"Nothing! Just Edward clawing at the earth. Aro is all over the place. He has mutant women stashed all over the world and then they just appear somewhere else. So much blood..." Alice wailed.
"Has Edward harmed any of them? Has he..." Carlisle could not bring himself to utter the words that he dreaded. He knew his son's control surpassed even his own, but he had no idea the depths of depravity Aro would stoop to achieve his objective of having Edward breed with other mutant women.
"No, Carlisle. Not that I can See. They'll keep him in that cave for several days to break his will and then try to seduce him. That much has been decided."
"What about Bella? How is she holding up?" Esme asked. Alice's heart grew heavy and Jasper held her tightly to support her.
"I'm sorry. She has decided that Carlisle is somewhat responsible for Edward being taken. She's operating off of instinct and is pushing herself to expand her abilities." Alice's head throbbed as she pushed her Sight hoping to learn something more.
"I understand. I too hold myself responsible for their pain.," Carlisle admitted.
"Before the throne of the Almighty, man will be judged—not by his acts but by his intentions," Jasper whispered, quoting Gandhi. Carlisle calmed slightly at the reassuring words.
"But, Jasper, I acted incorrectly. My poor judgement has created a mountain of pain and destruction. I believed that meeting Aro with violence would spark another war. 'I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent,'" Carlisle replied, quoting Gandhi himself.
A chuckle escaped the vampire's lips as they curled up into a small smile at his adoptive father. "'Power is of two kinds. One obtained by fear of punishment, the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than that which is derived from fear,'" Jasper quoted.
Carlisle clapped him on the shoulder, laughing full out. "We could sit here and quote Gandhi all day, Jasper. Thank you for reminding me of my purpose, son. Now, what do you propose we can do to bring your brother back home safely? I cannot remain idle while my children suffer."
"I fear, Carlisle, that there is little that can be done. Alice has little to go on and Bella isn't responding to our calls nor asked for our assistance. The Volturi have nothing of note to share—they swear that Aro is locked up tight in his cell. Aro's teleporter is crafty and will be difficult to capture without the X-Men." Jasper's strategic mind worked overtime looking for a weakness they could exploit. He wanted Aro to burn. And the teleporter, Jasper wanted to scatter his limbs to the four winds.
Alice was proving to be a hindrance to productive counsel. But as her mate, Jasper could not follow Emmett while his wife was struggling, no matter how much his instinct pointed him to follow his brother. He settled himself and prepared to watch events unfold, helpless to contribute to a positive outcome.
"Life must go on Carlisle. We cannot sit still hoping that the answers will fall into our laps. Although I hate to sit and wait, I'm afraid it is our only recourse," Jasper said emphatically while he shot a sideways glance at his mate. "In a way I envy Emmett and his ways. He faces problems head on with no need to See the future, read minds, or manipulate emotions. He is one of the wisest and bravest men I've ever met."
"Emmett is a fool for flying blind," Alice chided. Her anger had gotten the best of her and she was lashing out. "If he wants to go and get him and Rosalie killed, then fine by me!"
Esme gasped at Alice's outburst. "What do you mean killed, Alice? Please tell me no harm will come to them. I don't know if I could bear it!" Esme begged, shaking Alice by the shoulders.
"I'm sorry, Esme," Alice said as she hung her head in shame. "I shouldn't have said that. I don't See anything except that they're getting on a plane to New York. Bella won't know they're coming. I don't know if she's happy to see them or not. She's just so angry, it's scaring me..."
Jasper gathered his mate into his arms, cradling her like a small child. He cooed softly into her ear as her body shook with dry sobs. "Now, now. Don't stress yourself out. How about we go for a hunt and then we'll look some more later?"
Alice refused to accept any comfort until her brothers and their wives were home safely.
For days Alice stared out onto the expanse of the Cullen's property. She never moved and barely acknowledged her family. Lost in her visions. The only constant about them was that they continually changed. Jasper could not coax his mate from her catatonic state. A cloak of heavy sorrow and uncertainty enveloped the entire house.
Alice gasped, drawing everyone's attention as a vision overtook her. "They were going to Tibet to find a mutant woman...Rogue? But their plans changed. Marcus called them—they're going to Volterra. They'll be there tomorrow!"
The excitement of this vague new information exploded through the four vampires. At least there was something they could act on.
"Should we go? Is there anything else that you See, Alice?" Esme begged. Her eyes shined with a desperate plea for her family to be reunited. "Are Em and Rose with Bella and the mutants?"
Alice closed her eyes and focused on her vision. She shook her head slowly as she looked at her adoptive mother. "Rose isn't on the jet. Just the usual suspects, plus Bella and Em. There's another male there that I don't know. He's the one who told them about Tibet."
Overcome with emotion Esme waved her hands in front of her face. A human mannerism she carried over in a feeble attempt to stave off an onslaught of emotion. Jasper and Carlisle laughed at the display. "Go on, you...I'm happy," she groaned, shoving her husband and son roughly as she moved past them. Esme flew up the stairs to pack a bag. There was nothing that could stop her from going to Volterra; she didn't care if Alice saw them all going up in smoke, at least her family would be together.
The four remaining Cullens boarded a flight to Italy, hoping they'd make it to Volterra before the X-Men moved on.
~PP2~
Edward stumbled, disoriented from from Azazel's preferred mode of transportation. Blinking rapidly, he regained his bearings and found that he was yet again in Rogue's tower.
"Why are we back here?" Rogue asked.
"I thought you'd like to collect some of your affects," Azazel answered. Bella still retained primary control over the mutant.
"Yeah...I guess I could never get back in here. Wherever here is..."
Bella formed Azazel's mouth to respond, "Remy guesses that you're in Tibet, in the Himalayan mountains somewhere on Mount Kailash."
"Treacherous terrain for humans. A perfect hideout for immortals," Edward added, finishing Bella's thoughts.
"Bella, right?" Rogue asked, wishing to address their deliverer directly. Azazel nodded. "Gambit is with you, working with you to find me?" Azazel nodded again. It took a great deal of effort to control Azazel's mind. Directing him to speak was a massive strain on Bella's powers.
Rogue's smile was blinding at the news.
"I told you..." Edward teased, playfully nudging his new friend. Rogue flitted about the room gathering clothing and other items in a small bag. She stopped beside the sofa and stood staring at the floor where her mother died. Edward placed a hand on her shoulder, understanding her quiet mourning. Azazel moved to Rogue's other side and placed his hand on her other shoulder.
"I am sorry, Anna. I cared for Raven, deeply," he said. Gone was the feminine harmony that softened the mutant's voice. Azazel spoke for himself. Edward became nervous, fearing that Bella lost control of the powerful mutant.
He knew there was a hidden door, but he had no money or identification on him to purchase their fare back home. They were high in the mountains. Edward briefly calculated how quickly he'd have to race down the mountainside with Rogue on his back in order to keep her from freezing to death. If they made it that far, he'd have to traverse Asia to find a sympathetic coven that could get word to his family so they could send for them.
If Bella had lost her grasp on Azazel Edward feared they may be trapped.
Rogue turned to her former captor and hugged him gently. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Bella..." Azazel nodded and Edward smiled. "I'm ready to go home now, Love. I've missed you." Azazel nodded again and the three of them vanished in a red wisp of smoke.
~PP2~
The Cullens threw a lot of money around Seattle, and then Tuscany, in order to get swift and first class accommodations that would carry them to Volterra. Alice suggested they rent out several suites at the Four Seasons in Tuscany. "You never know if someone might need them," she hinted. Waggling her eyebrows in a manner reminiscent of Emmett.
Jasper reveled in the lightness of his mate. She had lost herself for a while. He surmised that she must have Seen something positive. He dared to hope her vision showed an end to Edward and Bella's torment.
Pushing feelings of joy and optimism her husband's way, Alice sauntered up to the statuesque vampire and pulled him down to her level. She kissed his mouth firmly, hoping to convey her feelings. How sorry she was for shutting down and shutting them all out.
"It's all right, sugar. Don't you fret none. I got a feeling that everything will work out in our favor," Jasper drawled.
Alice squealed as a yellow Porsche pulled up in front of her. Jasper laughed as he took the key from the valet and moved to climb into the driver's seat. Not bothering with human facades, Alice yanked her husband out of the car. "Nuh uh, bucco. I'm driving. Your scrawny ass is riding shotgun."
Carlisle and Esme chuckled at the Whitlocks and climbed into their own car—Carlisle's standard black Mercedes.
Jasper walked lithely around the hood of the car. Alice revved the engine excitedly while she waited for her husband to get settled into the passenger seat. "Can we go now, Jasper? Edward will arrive any moment!" Alice squealed as she put the car in gear. The Cullens took off like a shot. It was a little more than an hour to Volterra. The Cullens would make it in less than half the time.
~PP2~
Edward and Rogue found themselves in the opulence of the Volturi's reception area. Azazel stood nearby, but the familiar glint in his eye had vanished.
The mutant made no aggressive moves towards the pair. Instead he nodded at Gianna who stood shocked at the trio's arrival. Azazel turned to walk toward the large doors of the antechamber. Edward reluctantly followed with Rogue clutching onto his arm as if it were a lifeline.
"Edward, can you hear me?" Rogue silently asked as her eyes darted around the ancient hallway. She'd never been in this part of the castle before and had no idea what dangers may lurk in the shadows.
Edward snickered at her question. No one's mind had ever been truly closed to him save for Bella and Wolverine's. "Yes, Anna. I can hear you. And you can hear me. We'll be fine. Our family is just beyond those doors. Listen...Don't you hear them?"
He stilled their movements to allow Rogue a moment to absorb the thoughts around her. She saw another vampire, ashen and ancient like Aro, sitting upon a throne. He had a triumphant smile on his face as he looked down upon Aro. Rogue nearly cried out at the sight of him lounging on the steps of the throne platform as if all was right with the world. His smugness boiled her blood. Now that she knew the truth about Aro's intentions, Rogue was angry with herself but more-so wanted Aro to pay.
Glancing up at Edward she knew he saw the same image. He nodded, encouraging her to keep looking. Storm was there. Rogue spied her teacher and friend through Colossus' mind. Logan held onto Storm tightly as they both stood near a brown haired girl Rogue immediately recognized through Edward's memories as Bella. Beside Bella was another vampire she didn't know. Tall, handsome, and burly with light eyes like Edward's. On the other side of Bella stood Remy.
Edward growled at the Cajun's thoughts. He was drawn to Bella but was unsure of what the attraction meant. She was beautiful and kind. Fierce and powerful. So much like Rogue...Gambit thought. Edward calmed a bit, believing nothing untoward was afoot, and continued to touch on the other minds in the room. Like everyone in the room, Remy stood in awe of the young mutant who, a moment ago was frozen in concentration and now her movements were suddenly a blur.
The doors to the antechamber buckled and then burst open as if pulled down by a giant. Edward found himself tackled to the ground, his face peppered with kisses, and hot tears rained down on his face.
Surprised and curious minds resonated all around immediately followed by laughter.
Edward's mind and heart were too full to care that he had an audience. The creature he held in his arms overwhelmed all his senses. He kissed her sweet lips, lapping at them before claiming her mouth fully. The couple groaned under the all-consuming power of their reunion.
A mass of jumbled images and incoherent thoughts flooded Edward's mind. His bride had been through hell. Her rapid-fire retelling gutted him. "I'm so sorry, Love. I'll never leave you again. I swear it."
"Edward...Oh, Edward! I can't believe you're really here. Please tell me that this is real." Even in her mind Bella was sobbing.
Edward sat up, still holding his bride tightly. Bella clawed at his back and arms, terrified to let him go. She wrapped her legs around his waist and locked her ankles. Nothing would be able to separate them. They remained on the stone floor for quite a while, locked in a never-ending kiss.
Rogue's eyes welled up with confused tears. Edward was a good man and had quickly become a devoted friend. Hearing all the thoughts that coursed through Edward and Bella's minds, Rogue's knees nearly buckled at the intensity of their love. She prayed for Edward's gift to dissipate and give her peace. She was happy for him being reunited with his young bride, but witnessing Bella and Edward's elation with her eyes and also through their own was torture.
Colossus noticed Rogue's distress and moved to support her. The others moved as well and greeted Rogue, welcoming her back into the fold. She was warmly embraced by her mutant brethren. Then she finally faced Gambit.
"Hello Remy."
"Anna...I missed you, cher,"
She couldn't hold his gaze, her eyes darted around the chamber looking for another.
"Thank you for coming for me, Gambit. I didn't think anyone cared. I was lost for so long. I really—," Rogue's voice cracked as she was overcome by emotion. Gambit reached out to catch a fat tear as it fell from her eye.
"Don't cry, shh," he cooed, pulling her into a tight embrace. "We'll figure it all out. You don't have to decide right now, okay?"
Rogue nodded and wiped her tears. "We'll talk, okay? I'm just really confused right now, Gambit. I'm not sure what I want or where I belong."
"You've been gone a long time, Anna," Bobby added, coming up quietly beside the couple. "There's a lot you need to sort through. There's a whole new world out there, you've missed a lot!"
Rogue threw herself into Bobby's waiting arms and then moved to embrace Kitty, always careful not to touch anyone skin to skin. "Welcome back, Rogue."
She scoffed and shook her head. "I don't know yet if it's good to be back, Kit. Thanks for taking care of everybody while I was away," Rogue said with a coy wink causing the younger woman to blush and grip Iceman's hand.
"Hey kid, c'mere!" Logan growled. "Why am I the last one that gets some love? I thought we had a good thing going, then you up and get kidnapped on me. I'm hurt, deeply wounded," Logan said playfully.
"I thought about you every day, Logan. I missed you," Rogue cried as she threw her arms around her mentor and friend.
Behind them the outer castle doors flew open. Gianna threw up her hands in exasperation. "Doesn't anybody make appointments anymore!?" she yelled and began muttering obscenities in Italian.
A/N: The Cullens did a whole lot of nothing while Edward was gone. I needed Carlisle to acknowledge his hand in this mess so that they all can heal. I'm not a huge canon Alice fan. I think she's a tyrant and enjoys everyone being beholden to her. That being said, I do enjoy fics where Alice embraces the dark side. I've only come across a couple like that. Bloody Kisses by CaraNo is an excellent O/S.
I came across Downward Spiral by content1 which has Edward being kidnapped for the same purpose as in my fic, except it isn't mutants. It is an intelligent and well written fic. Edward embraces his dark side in this one. It is sexy and funny, especially when Tanya comes to visit. I think it is a sequel, but it stands alone in my opinion.
So...everyone is together again. Next couple of chapters we'll deal with Aro and Azazel, if he's still hanging around. The happy couple have a proper reunion—without an audience. They need to make up for lost time.
Some think that Rogue and Gambit are a threat to Edward and Bella's relationship. They're not. In traumatic events victims may forge relationships and romantic feelings toward one another because of the commonality of the trauma. Usually, once things get back to normal, the infatuation or dependency fades. In R/G & E/B's cases, I chose these characters because of the physical similarities which would comfort and confuse the other.
Thanks for reading!
Until next time...