Chapter 21. Lissa VS Jane
"Bella is alive after all, and Alice is here too, isn't that wonderful?" Aro declared with a little too much enthusiasm. they didn't look as thought they would use the word wonderful. "and little Lissa" they seemed to respond to that, both heads whipping towards me with curiosity. "it's rude to stare" I snapped rudely. Alice jerked on my hand, "would you cut it out!" she hissed. I rolled my eyes then sat by her feet and remained silent. I was so bored, I almost regretted coming. all they did was talk, talk, talk. blah, blah, blah. I'd heard it all before.
"how can you stand so close to her like that? Aro asked suddenly re capturing my attention. "it's not without effort" Edward reassured him. I smiled to myself. "but still-la tua cantante! what a waste!" Edward chuckled once without humor, "I look at it more as a price". Aro was skeptical, "a very high price". Edward shrugged, "opportunity cost". Aro laughed. "if I hadn't smelled her through your memories, I wouldn't have believed the call of anyone's blood could be so strong. I've never felt anything like it myself. Most of us would trade much more for such a gift, and yet you…" Edward cut him off, "waste it" he finished his sentence for him.
I rolled my eyes and banged my head on Alice's leg. she kicked me slightly then picked it up off the ground and wrapped her arms around my waist holding me protectively in front of her. she was also trying to keep me still. "this won't take much longer" she lied trying to calm me. "I'm bored" I whined quietly. she seemed a little shocked that I wasn't scared. I was face to face with the Voltaire. I should be petrified. they were deciding what to do and who to kill. for all I knew the story line could have changed and they do end up killing us. a sudden shiver ran down my spine. surely they wouldn't want to kill me. I was to precious. it would be a waist, as Aro put it. my gift was one of the most powerful they'd ever seen. they weren't about to let it slip thought their fingers.
"Just remembering how she appeals to you…" Aro chuckled causing me to jump and refocus on the conversation. "it makes me thirsty" Edward tensed. "don't be disturbed I mean her no harm. but I am so curious, about one thing in particular" he turned to Bella with great interest. "may I?" he asked Edward as though she was his possession. "ask her" Edward suggested in a flat voice. "of course how rude of me!" Aro exclaimed. "Bella, I'm fascinated that you are the only exception to Edwards impressive talent- so very interesting that such a thing would occur!- and I was wondering since our talents are so similar in ways, if you would be so kind as to allow me to try- to see if you are an exception for me as well?" he was addressing Bella directly. Her eyes flashed to Edward in terror, she was scared, like I should have been.
Edward nodded once in encouragement then watched as she slowly lifted her hand and offered it to Aro. he had a friendly smile on as he took her hand. when he realized he couldn't read her mind his face altered. from confidence to doubt. he calmed into a friendly mask then let go and slipped away. "so very interesting" he whispered. "I wonder if she is immune to our other talents…Jane dear?" Aro suggested turning to the blond girl. "No!" Edward snarled the words. Alice grabbed his arm throwing me to the side slightly. Edward shook her off. Jane smiled happily as Bella watched confused. "Yes master?" she asked watching him. "I was wondering if Bella was immune to you my dear one" Edward was growling so loud that I could barely hear Aro's words. Jane turned towards us with a smile. "Don't" Alice cried as Edward launched himself at Jane. before anyone could react Edward was on the ground. he withered in obvious agony as Bella watched on terrified. "stop!" she shrieked.
"Jane" Aro muttered re capturing her attention. Edward was still on the floor as the girl looked up still smiling with pleasure. Aro looked towards Bella and Jane followed his gaze. "he's fine" Alice whispered in a tight voice pulling me back to her side. Edward sprang lightly to his feet. Jane was attacking, you could see it on her face, but of course Bella didn't have a clue of what was going on. Jane's face turned to annoyance. Jane hissed in frustration. "now, now Jane. there's no need to throw a temper tantrum just because you can't do something" I laughed before I could stop myself. Alice looked down and glared at me. Jane's eyes narrowed and she turned her attention to me.
I imagined myself immune to her power and I was. "is that the best you got?" I asked teasing her. Aro watched amused. Jane tried again, much harder this time. I felt a slight zap. I burst out laughing. "it tickles" I chuckled smiling hugely. she screamed in anger then glared at me. "now you've had your turn, it's time for mine" I smirked looking towards Edward for permission. he nodded once, smiling slightly to himself. Aro looked confused. suddenly Jane dropped down on the floor screaming hysterically. she rolled back and forth withering in pain. Aro turned to the girl then back to me. "bout time she got a taste of her own medicine" I muttered flatly. Edward was fighting back a smile.
"this is wonderful" Aro chuckled. Jane jumped up off the floor and looked like she was about to pounce. "bring it on Blondie" I snapped copying her stance. she pounced and I stopped her mid air then slammed her into the stone floor. "Jane, my dear one, I think you should stop" Aro warned pulling her back. "you are stronger then I thought" he smiled turning to me. I shrugged my shoulder like it was nothing. it really was nothing. "so what do we do with you now?" he asked, finally the end! "I don't suppose there's any chance you've changed you mind?" Aro asked Edward hopefully. "I'd rather not" Edward spoke slowly and flatly. "Alice? would you perhaps be interested in joining with us? Aro was still hopeful but he didn't want them that much. he only really wanted one thing. one person. a person who could replace all his guards.
"No, thank you" Alice said wrapping her arms around me to signify that I was already taken. "and what of you my dear little one?" Aro asked eagerly reaching for me. "your talent would make a wonderful addition to our little company" I knew this was coming. "I have a family and I will not leave them" I whispered sharply. "of course but if you should ever want to there will always be a space" he smiled. "And you Bella?" he asked losing hope. she raised her eyebrows in shock. I laughed at her face then jumped aside as Alice tried to kick me again. "What!" Caius demanded flatly. "surely you see the potential" Aro chided him affectionately. "can you imagine the possibilities when she is one of us?" he asked smiling at Bella. "why not just take the child? she is all in one" Caius suggested walking towards me.
"she has a family, she chooses not to leave them" Marcus spoke suddenly. "Chelsea" Caius whispered turning to the guard. "she won't join so you'll force her to? is that what you do, just take whoever you want. she has a mother. I'm sure you don't want pissed off parents on your door step demanding there child back" Alice snapped taking my hand. Caius took my other one and pulled me away from her. Chelsea was breaking my bonds. I stopped her suddenly and dropped down to the floor curling up in a ball. "I don't want o go. I want to stay with my family. you can't make me! you can't make me!" I screeched. Alice came over to me. "she's a child. only seven years old and you want to just rip her away from her family. selfish is what you are. and she's right, you can't make her come. her gift will beat anything you throw at it" Alice picked me up off the floor and pulled me back towards Edward.
"join or die, is that it? I suspected as much when you brought us to this room" Edward hissed disgusted. "of course not! we where already convened here, Edward, awaiting Heidi's return. not for you" Aro was hurt by Edwards words. "Aro, the law claims them" Caius hissed. "in what way?" Edward asked even though he already knew. "she knows too much you have exposed our secret" this guy needed some help. all he ever wanted to do was kill someone or ruin someone else's life. he was just plain selfish. "we're not going to let them keep you" Alice whispered in my ear. I nodded quickly pulling myself back together. "but I'm afraid you would have to mean it" Aro sighed looking to Edward sadly. I'd spaced out and missed half the conversation.
Alice suddenly let go of me and walked forward to meet Aro. she placed her hand in his and showed him what she sore. this was their proof. as much as Edward hated it she was still going to become one of us. moments passed and Bella became more stressed as she waited for Alice to step back. "ha, ha, ha, that was fascinating" Aro laughed breaking the silence. "I'm glad you enjoyed it" Alice smiled dryly. "to see things you've seen-especially the ones that haven't happened yet" he shook his head in wonder. "but will happen" Alice reassured him. I glanced towards Jane for a quick second then noticed she was glaring at me. I smiled at her then gave her one of her painful shocks. She fell to the floor screaming before anyone could have even worked out what was happening. "it's rude to stare" I whispered turning away from her.
She jumped up and let out an ear splitting scream. "please Jane use your indoor voice" I commanded treating her like a child. "kill her!" Jane screamed furiously. "Jane dear one, I will not kill someone just because you don't like them. I'm sure in time you two will learn to get along" Aro sighed returning to his conversation with Edward. "yes Jane lets be friends" I smiled teasingly. "I'd rather not" she hissed getting down into a crouch. "have it your way then" I laughed mimicking her stance. She pounced first. Suddenly we were rolling on the floor clawing each other. She kicked and I hit. I think I even bit her a few times. We both screamed as we continued to fight. "friends? Really?" Edward laughed stepping out of our way.
"I hate you, I hate you" Jane screamed trying to punch threw my shield. "tell me something I don't know" I muttered pushing her away with such force that she hit the back wall. "Jane dear one I think we have already established that the little girl cant be beaten. No matter how much you might hate her. You will never hurt her. Please stop your fighting before she hurts you" Aro sighed picking the girl up. Before he could grab her she lunged at me again. I was knocked to the floor and hit in the face with her claw before I could react. I kicked and screamed trying to get her off me.
"you get Lissa" Alec laughed pulling his sister away from me kicking and screaming as I continued to punch her. Suddenly I was pulled up off the floor and held tight in Alice's arms. "I hate you" Jane screamed again. I continued to zap her with my mind. Alec struggled to keep a hold of her as she kicked and screamed trying to get to me. I turned into a four year old and slipped straight thought Alice's arms before she could stop me.
She was finally free of Alec. She charged towards me. I jumped over her and onto her back pulling her hair as she tried to get me off. "well this is the start of a great friendship" Edward muttered sarcastically. "Lissa stop biting her! Your acting like a two year old" Alice yelled pulling me away. "perhaps we better leave sooner rather the later" Edward laughed taking me from Alice's arms as she struggled to contain me. Jane was held back by three of the other guards. "that's a good idea. Accidents do happen. Please wait below until after dark, though if you don't mind" Aro instructed Edward as he looked back and forth between Jane and me. "of course" Edward nodded.