Chapter Fourteen

Edward

I was wary of using my phone lest one of Jasper's friends was able to trace my whereabouts but it was my only contact with the outside world. I had made a big mistake running for a secluded place to hide. Sure I could see Jasper if, no make that when, he came for me but I couldn't beat him I'd already tried that and got myself almost killed for my effort. I should have found a hotel full of humans and hidden among them. Sure he could track me down but it wouldn't be easy to kill me with so many witnesses around. That he would come I had no doubt and I was frantic trying to think of a place that would offer me sanctuary. Of course, there was one place but Alec was not exactly a fan of mine any longer and the brothers would certainly have something to say about my actions. Was I prepared for any sanctions Aro and his brothers might decide to impose on me?

Not knowing what was happening was torture and eventually, I decided it was worth the risk to call Carlisle. He and Aro were friends, maybe he could put a good word in for me. It was December so the family would be in Denali but that couldn't be helped. If Eleazar heard anything he wouldn't give me away to the Volturi for the sake of his friendship with Carlisle.

It took me three attempts to get through, the first few times it had gone straight to voicemail and I did not want to leave a message in case it was intercepted.

"Edward! I didn't expect to be hearing from you."

I could tell from his tone that he already knew what I'd done so I didn't have to explain it all, just the reasons my actions.

"Carlisle, I understand you are probably hurt by my actions and I apologize for that but I did have my reasons, I…"

He cut me off abruptly.

"It's not me you have to explain your actions to Edward, save them for Jasper if he gives you time to say anything at all. Did I teach you nothing at all over the past century?"

"Yes, of course, but you must understand…"

"No, I don't. Nor do I condone your actions. What do you intend doing now you have managed to alienate everyone in our world?"

I felt sick as I understood the import of his words.

"Aro? Has he spoken to you?"

"Of course and he was most embarrassed that you had persuaded Alec to work with you behind his back. What were you thinking, boy? It seems to me that you weren't thinking at all. How could you do such a thing to another person? Your own brother no less."

"He's not my brother, that was your idea, not mine. I never wanted him in our family. He ruined everything."

"No Edward, you ruined things for yourself, you didn't need any help to do that and now you are a fugitive with nowhere to run. That is why you are calling me, isn't it? For help."

I cursed silently, I hadn't expected him to take the moral high ground. He sounded positively hostile, taking Jaspers side against me.

"I did hope you would help me, after all, I am truly your creation, your son."

"Edward, I can't help you. For one thing, you have put yourself beyond any help I could offer. Jasper will hunt you down and kill you and no one could prevent him or talk him out of it. The only place that can offer you sanctuary now is Volterra and it seems to me that the only way they will help you is if you go down on bended knee and beg for it."

"Aro values my gift, he'll offer me help."

"Aro also values loyalty and you have undermined that but yes he will offer you sanctuary but you should understand that it will not be without strings. You will be punished for what you did."

"Punished? Why? Jasper wasn't Volturi and Alec made his own decision to help me, I never forced him to."

"Oh, Alec is to be punished too. So, you must decide what you want to do. Bow to Aro's justice or run until Jasper catches up with you."

"Could I come home? He wouldn't attack me in the family, not in front of Esme and you. I'd be safe there wouldn't I?"

"I doubt it and I am not prepared to take the risk. You have, as they say, made your bed, now you must lie on it. I just hope you make the right decision in time. Please don't call again Edward, I am ashamed of your actions and I've done as much as I feel able to, more than I should have done under the circumstances, in asking Aro to allow you a safe haven.

I couldn't believe it when he cut the connection leaving me with an empty line. Carlisle had turned his back on me, I was truly alone and that realization crashed down on me so heavily that my knees buckled and I fell to the ground in despair. My only option now was indeed Aro Volturi although I feared what his sanctions might be.

I was so scared that I wanted somewhere I would be safe but I was also scared of Aro and what he might decide on as a punishment for my actions. It hadn't occurred to me that by swearing Alec to secrecy I was doing anything particularly wrong although one reason for doing so was that I knew the Volturi might disapprove of our actions. That's probably why he agreed so readily.

My fear grew steadily until I couldn't contain it any longer. I was a mental wreck straining to hear any thoughts that would warn me Jasper was close by. Had his friend traced me by the call I placed to Carlisle?

I didn't want to die, there was so much I still wanted to do.

Eventually unable to bear it any longer I bit the bullet and called Volterra to ask to speak to Aro who eventually came on the line. His tone was cold and unfriendly but his message gave me heart, he was prepared to allow me to go to Volterra. Then came the crunch, he would only allow it on the understanding that I handed myself over to the Volturi for trial on charges as yet unspecified and when I tried to argue about this I was told there was no room for negotiation. It was Aro's way or no way, my choice.

With nowhere else to turn I agreed and it was arranged that I would travel to Italy under my own steam and call Aro when I arrived in Pisa. From there I would be collected and escorted to Volterra by members of the guard.

"Strictly speaking the charge should be treason and you know the penalty for that don't you, Edward?"

I didn't need to answer him, of course I did, every vampire knew the consequences of betraying the Volturi.

I had hoped he would offer to send someone to pick me up, I would be safer with a Volturi escort but that option wasn't on the table and I spent two days in terror as I booked a ticket and then flew from New York to Pisa via Heathrow. At every step, I expected to walk straight into Jasper waiting to rip me to pieces and could have wept with relief when he didn't appear.

To my shame, it wasn't until I reached Pisa to find Felix and Jane waiting to escort me to Volterra that I was finally able to relax and feel safe. At least I was no longer in danger of losing my life and that reminded me of the note I had written to Jasper. The one Alec had given him once he was our prisoner, the taunting one I had enjoyed composing. With a sick lurc,h I remembered mentioning Bella Swan in that note. I had intimated that she was a party to the predicament he found himself in.

Had he believed me? If so then she too was in terrible danger. I should have tried to warn her but what could she do to protect herself? If Jasper wanted revenge on her there was no way she would ever be safe. I suppose she could retreat to the Quileute reservation but unless she and wolf boy had become a couple I doubted the wolf pack would want her there luring the most dangerous vampire of all to come to take her from them.

Perhaps I could ask Aro to allow me a call to Carlisle once I arrived in Volterra although Carlisle had told me not to call again and I could hardly tell Aro why I needed to speak to him. To draw Aro's attention to Bella was to sign her death warrant. Besides, what was the use of putting my neck further on the block by mentioning her or trying to warn her. She would just have to take her chances like me. At least if he decided to kill her it would be quick and fairly painless. He wasn't a sadist, he wouldn't make her suffer like he had, would he?

Poor Bella, I had been right all along, knowing me could only bring her pain and peril. I still loved her, of course I did, but there was nothing I could do to help her. Maybe he would ignore her as a human, he was likely to be far more interested in getting his hands on Alec and myself.

As we walked into the dimly lit clock tower entrance Felix grasped my arm and marched me straight to the audience chamber. I think the gesture was supposed to underline the fact I was now a prisoner but I let it go. Aro and his brothers wanted my valuable gift, they weren't going to come up with a terrible sentence, if I was even found guilty of anything. I had begun to believe that Aro's words had been designed to unnerve me and nothing more. After all, what had I done that could hurt the Volturi? Jasper knew I was the one responsible even though it had been Alec who did the actual imprisoning. The Volturi could wash their hands of any responsibility, deny all knowledge of his actions, and then I could be given a place in the guard, untouchable by my dear brother. A valued member of the guard. Aro would never punish me, not his best friend's favorite.

Carlisle

Esme was terribly upset when I told her of Edward's call. She was ashamed of his actions and furious with him for dragging the Cullen name through the mud. I think mainly on my behalf as she knew how much I valued my reputation for integrity.

"I'm so glad that you made a stand, Carlisle. It would have been impossible for him to return to the family, I refuse to have anyone else put in danger on his behalf. Do you really think Aro will offer him a safe haven?"

"Yes, for my sake if no other. He said as much but I don't doubt he will make Edward pay for his loss of face. I just hope that Edward can get to Volterra before Jasper finds him. I hate to think of Edward's blood on Jasper's hands."

"Me too, but only for Jasper's sake. He must have been devastated by Edward's betrayal, poor boy. Do you think we'll hear from him again? I do hope he understands that we had nothing to do with Edward's actions and do not condone them."

I smiled and pulled her in for a reassuring hug.

"I think the others will make sure of that my love."

She frowned.

"The others? What do they have to do with it? Have they found Jasper? Is he OK? I didn't know they planned on hunting for him. Why didn't they say something, we would have stayed to help."

"I know very little except that they have seen Jasper and he understands they are innocent of any complicity. I doubt he ever suspected us but it's good to hear."

"So, did Jasper go home? We should go back, Carlisle. At least reassure him of our love and support."

"No my love, Jasper isn't in Boston and neither are the others. And before you ask, all I can tell you is that Alice had a plan for something special this Christmas and she's enlisted the others to help her. Their paths crossed with Jasper but I don't know any details and there's no point in calling her. She told me they are going to be very busy the next few weeks and may not have the time to explain everything."

I could see Esme was curious, that she wanted to go home and see what the family were up to but it was none of our concern. Eleazar and Carmen deserved better than guests who just decided to up and leave especially at the festive season. Besides, if Edward did take up Aro's offer I wanted to be there for his trial.

"I promise you that everything will be fine. Now come on, our hosts are waiting for us."

We had arranged to go hunting in the national park and I hoped it would take Esme's mind off Jasper and the others. I hadn't been lying either, Alice hadn't given me any details although I would hazard a guess that whatever she was doing involved the young woman we had treated so badly six years ago in Forks. I wonder what Edward would think of that!