Desperate Measures
They say freak,
When you're singled out,
The red, well it filters through
So lay down, the threat is real
When his sight goes red again.
Seeing red again,
Seeing red again.
[Lyrics to Song: The Red. Artist: Chevelle}
Edward paced the floor in the den, like a caged animal with enough pent up energy to take on the entirety of the Volturi single-handed. Jasper didn't have to ask what was wrong; he could feel Edward's anger and concern boiling just beneath the surface of his usual cool, calm exterior. His eyes were cold as they gazed into oblivion, their irises as black as the soles of a coal miner's boots.
"Talk to me, you're obviously fuming and I wouldn't have to be an empath to feel the stress pouring from you at this moment." Jasper insisted radiating waves of calm against Edward's stressed anger in an effort to calm his brother before he injured himself or worse went and did something stupid.
He continued to pace back and forth, his gaze doing nothing to hide his overwhelming anger and concern. "Ulysses has Bell and Ness. He has them caged like animals and he's injured them. How is it that you expect me to be?!" He snapped, his temper boiling to the surface to blot out the underlying concern for his family.
Even though the revelation about Bella and Nessie's situation forged a fire of urgency and concern deep in Jasper's core, he held the emotions at bay and forced himself to remain logical, and composed in front of his brother for calm, confidence was what Edward needed most at this moment. "Rushing to their rescue is not going to make their situation or our own any better, in fact the last thing we need to do is walk into any sort of trap that Ulysses might have set using them as bait."
"I won't stand by and allow Ulysses to kill them!" Edward's voice rose as the fire fueling his temper grew the more time he spent in what he saw as an idle state. "I worked to damn hard and suffered through too many trials to just let them be abused by that ingrate. Something must be done and if I have to I will destroy Ulysses and all of his followers myself!"
"You're not going to do anyone else any good if you get your own self killed." Jasper retorted his voice never rising above the calm, collected tone that he carried when he was projecting his power.
"If that's what it takes then so be it." Edward continued his tone so firm that it sounded as though he was irritated with Jasper.
Jasper sucked in a deep breath, even though Vampires had no need to do so and once again found his calm internal center. "Do you think your wife and your daughter would want you trying to take on Ulysses alone and end up dead, leaving them widowed and fatherless?"
Edward rolled his eyes, his pacing only growing more intense as time went on, "I will do whatever it takes to keep them out of harms way, if that means that I die in the process then so be it but at least I will know that they are alive and safe!" His demeanor had shifted to agitation laced with rage at the current situation.
"You won't be dealing with Ulysses alone." Theron spoke, his tone firm as he entered the den and took a seat in one of the vacant chairs. "There's no reason for drastic action and no one is going to battle Ulysses or any of his newborns alone, not even you."
"I won't leave my wife and daughter in the hands of that…" Edward's voice broke as his emotions cut off his breath.
"And you're not going to have to," Theron soothed his voice eerily calm. "We are going to rescue your wife and daughter and destroy Ulysses and his armies."
"How? His newborns are infinitely more intelligent than any newborns we've faced in the past and we are by far outnumbered even more so than before." Jasper admitted his gaze shifting to focus to Theron.
"Edward, call the rest of the family in here, I have news to reveal that everyone needs to hear." Theron commanded, "It is time to plan for war."
Edward did as Theron had asked and within a few minutes the entire Cullen family, along with Lucien and several members of the Pack had taken seats in the den to hear what Theron had to say and discuss plans to not only rescue Bella and Nessie but also destroy Ulysses and his armies once and for all.
"The time has come when we must deal with the rogue Ulysses once and for all," Theron began his tone formal and eerily calm. It was a tone that Lucien had heard a few times in the past and it usually signified that the situation at hand had required his life long friend to go and set events into motion that could change the tide of war but not always for the better. "In light of the current chain of events and the hostage situation occurring with Bella and Nessie, I have forged a tentative alliance, I hope, with the members of the Volturi. Ulysses has grown much too powerful for us to handle alone and I fear that Aro Volturi may be the only chance we have at destroying Ulysses permanently."
"And Aro Volturi is very likely to turn and stab us all in the back," Emmett merely said aloud what several others were thinking to themselves as they listened to Theron's explanation if his actions.
"Now Emmett, I'm sure Theron is quite capable of dealing with Aro in a way that will prevent that outcome," Carlisle insisted halting any further protest before it could be voiced.
"What makes you believe that the Volturi won't turn against us?" Jake questioned voicing one of the many concerns that had thus far been shrouded in silence.
"Theron has had many dealings in the past with Aro Volturi. I know that doesn't seem like much in the way of assurance but he has yet to allow Aro to bully him or anyone related to or affiliated with him." Lucien's voice broke what had been a rather stale, almost tepid silence as the concerns out-weighed the possibility of a positive outcome to the coming war.
"The tentative alliance is still in the works as Aro is supposed to meet with me again in the next hour. He wished to speak with his brothers first before he made any sort of commitment." Theron revealed. "I need everyone here to be willing to work with the Volturi otherwise this alliance will fail and there is a great possibility that Ulysses will not only destroy Bella and Ness but also much of the known environment which you all call home." He allowed his gaze to encompass the room, catching the gazes of each and every individual present there. "This may be the only hope you have of saving your family and defeating Ulysses once and for all."
"We will do what we must and if that means working with the Volturi then so be it." Carlisle answered firmly. Being the head of his family, there would be no further argument from any of them but it was obvious as he let his gaze lock with Jake's that he could not answer for the members of the Quileute Pack. "The choice is yours and no matter what choice you make as alpha of the Quileute Packs, we will hold no hard feelings toward you or your pack Jake." He assured watching the swarm of emotions and concerns move like a fast moving hurricane across Jake's expression.
The tepid silence returned and the tension within the room could have been sliced with one's little finger as Jake took time to consider all the options and all of the outcomes before responding with his answer as to whether the Pack would be involved in the up and coming battle to not only free Ness and Bella but also to destroy Ulysses. He surveyed the room, his expression filled with obvious concern for the safety of the child that had imprinted upon him not so long ago and the young lady who he'd once had deeper feelings for than just the sisterly love that he held so close to his heart now. He focused upon Carlisle, his gaze sweeping the room, locking with Theron's briefly before returning to its initial focus. "A temporary alliance with the Volturi is the lesser of two evils. I was given some helpful advice from one who has been through quite a traumatic injury because of the chaos that Ulysses' presence has brought to this land. I was told that if we wish to destroy Ulysses that we have to stand as a united front and put our past problems aside for now. The Quileute Packs have, in the past, had no love for bloodsuckers such as the Volturi but if an alliance is what it takes to purge this land of the taint that is Ulysses then the Pack will stand united in this alliance." Jake answered looking then to Lucien.
Lucien gave a nod, "We'll handle the ramifications that are sure to come from the former members of Sam's pack together." He could see the relief overtake Jake in response to his words even before the young alpha managed to silently show his gratitude.
"We will need to be cautious; Ulysses' newborns are a dangerous threat to everyone." Jasper reminded knowing from personal experience just how lethal the venom from those newborns could be. Even with Theron's aid he had nearly lost his existence.
"The newborns will pose more of a danger than Ulysses himself as we will have to deal with them in order to reach Ulysses. Ulysses is far from unaware of our intentions and he will be watching for any attempt to rescue Bella and Ness from his clutches." Theron reminded knowing that the likelihood of everyone returning in one piece from this battle was going to be slim even with the aide of the Volturi.
"That's where the pack becomes the element of surprise," A husky, slightly winded voice spoke from the just beyond the archway leading into the other parts of the house. The room fell silent as everyone's attention was drawn to the origin of the voice. "Ulysses will never know what hit him, if we do it right that is."
"Paul," Jake acknowledged relief and concern flooding his tone as he stood in an effort to help the still injured member of his pack to one of the few vacant seats that still lined the room. "Are you sure you should be…I mean you seem a bit winded and…"
Paul shook his head, his expression one of gratitude in response to the concern for his well-being, "I'll manage," He insisted his voice weary and pained. He clutched his still healing abdomen as Jake helped him to sit down and placed a pillow in his lap to prop up the heavily padded sling that supported his injured arm and recently surgically repaired shoulder. "I know there is no way that Jared and I will be healthy enough to actually be a part of the battle but there are things I can do to help and one of those is helping you deal with the part of the pack that was Sam's." He focused then on Jake. "If you can lead them Jake, then I'll help you coordinate our part so that we give Ulysses all he ever bargained for in battle."
Jake managed a smile before putting his hand on Paul's shoulder. They locked gazes only briefly, "You just do what you can, nothing more, and nothing less." He paused shaking a finger as Paul was about to protest. "I know that I can't force you to just let go and let fate fall where it may, so if you think you feel up to helping me coordinate the attack of the Pack in this battle then let's do this."
Paul nodded and their hands gripped each other's briefly before Jake retook his seat and Theron once again took control of the meeting. He was about to continue when there came loud growling from the yard. Lucien, Theron and Carlisle all stood, with Lucien motioning for everyone else to keep their places, and exited the room for the veranda…
…
There at the edge of the yard nearly circled by members of the Pack stood Aro Volturi along with his brothers. None of them moved nor did they make any gesture of harm toward the half dozen Quileute wolves that now surrounded them. "Lucien call them off," Theron ordered moving to meet Aro so that he would not step foot any further onto the Cullens' homestead.
Lucien did as he was commanded and even though he was not technically the alpha male of this pack, he was an elder of the Wolven clans and they responded backing down from their clustered circular attack formation to a position that allowed Aro and his brothers enough space to take care of their business but nothing more.
"Aro, I assume you have come to a decision as to where your coven will stand as far as the matter of Ulysses?" Theron was all business and with no fear of Aro or his brothers.
"Ah Carlisle, my old friend," Aro greeted seeming to totally ignore Theron's question as he focused on Carlisle, "I understand that these have been rather trying times for you and yours."
"Yes Aro, this situation has been quite intense." Carlisle replied his tone stiff, almost mirroring the tension of the situation and also the threat of danger that came from the high-ranking members of the Volturi being within striking distance of his family.
"So Aro, are you going to answer Theron's question or did you decide to align with the rogue Ulysses?" Lucien questioned coarsely. He had always found great amusement in providing the Volturi leader and his brothers with as much irritation and annoyance as possible.
Lucien's snide sarcasm set Caius' temper on edge and he began to snarl low in his throat. His gaze hardened and his muscles seemed to tense beneath a forced calm exterior. "Aro will answer the question when he wishes to and not a second before."
Theron shook his head, holding up a hand in the direction of his long-time friend. He turned his gaze toward Caius. "It's not wise to pose a threatening posture on lands where your control is tenuous at best Caius. I don't think you wish to tangle with me as there are several here who know already what the outcome would be."
"My brothers and I have come to a decision." Aro interrupted before Caius' threatening posture ended up starting an unnecessary showdown. "I will align my coven with you and the Cullens until such a time as I find that the situation is either hoax, in which case there will be grave consequences, or this rogue by the name of Ulysses is no longer a threat." The alliance had officially been made even though the terms were far beyond tenuous and everyone knew that it could fall apart at any time as Aro's moods were about as shifty as a winter snow storm.
"Thank you Aro, your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated." Carlisle, as much as he didn't want to, he had no choice but to be more civil than usual to Aro as this alliance could mean the difference between life and death for certain members of his own family.
"Just know Carlisle that I will not be forgiving should I find that this situation is not the threat that it has been perceived to be."
"The warning will not be taken lightly," Carlisle agreed as Theron finished up the final details, giving Aro the current battle plans and also the status of the others that were to be involved in this attempt to not only rescue Bella and Ness but also to destroy Ulysses and his armies once and for all.