AN: OK, time for something COMPLETELY different. I hope this works. Thank you to all of you who reviewed the last chapter- twilightdaydream, catherine-moonlessnight, Mimi-Love-4ever, bloomsky, Breeze.x.x, edwardmyantidrug, i'm.dazzled., Nicolie the Goalie (I'm sorry this didn't get up before your vacation- hope you're having fun though!)
This is a shorter chapter than most, but I wanted to post what i've got done now, and I'll try and write more tomorrow!!
Chapter 20: Council
Edward Cullen stood, straight and very still in front of the long table. His greeting and requests had been formal and solemn, and now they sat watching him stand in silence, waiting for their response. Caius stared at him with confronting eyes, hoping that his sullen face would break down in fear. How could one stand in front of the Volturi council and not be scared? Caius thought, and Edward's eye flickered to meet his, filled with determination and anger. They stared at each other for a moment, before Aro shifted in his seat and coughed, glancing between them.
Edward turned to look at Aro, his fists clenched firmly at his side. "I have travelled all the way to Italy, for many hours, so that I could make this request in person. I don't mean to be impatient but --"
"Of course, of course" Aro stood, clasping his hands together. "But we wont be able to make any decisions at this very moment, if you desire, we can offer you a change of fresh clothes, possibly some refreshment, while you wait."
Edward smiled dryly, which Caius guessed was about the refreshments Aro had in mind. They had not been surprised by Edward's eyes, he had been evidence that all of Carlisle Cullen's family followed his contrary diet.
"I thank you for the offer, but I have no such needs at this moment. I will await your response in the public part of the city."
He bowed slightly, before turning to leave. Aro was at his side before he could move any further.
"There is something, I wish to know before we do confer." Aro gestured with a hand towards Caius, and then Marcus, "something I'm sure my brothers would also like to understand."
Edward looked at Aro, a frown wrinkling his forehead, waiting for his question.
Caius leaned forward expectantly, he was sure he knew what Aro was planning, was happy to let him attempt to read the boy's mind. Marcus sighed, his boredom evident.
Aro shook his head, laughing gently. "We only wish to know why you have come here, why you would dare to make such a request of us?"
Edward looked away, staring at the window which held a view of the Italian countryside. The afternoon sun was slowly setting in the distance, casting an orange haze through the meeting room. Caius wondered for the moments that the boy was silent, what his thoughts were, or rather, wherehis thoughts were. What circumstances had driven the boy to request imprisonment for no crime? Caius knew that they could never consider the Edward's request without knowing the reasons for it, because of their friendship with Carlisle. Finally Edward sighed, and looked directly at Aro.
"Love." He said softly.
Caius sat back in his chair, his nose wrinkled in disgust. What a pathetic reason for a waste of existence, of ability, he thought, and knew that no matter the story, he would not agree to damaging their goodwill relationship with Carlisle, because this boy had let his emotions control his destiny.
Aro however, chuckled softly, rubbing his hands together, almost in glee. Caius knew that Aro was an ethusiast for love stories and happy endings.
"Oh, I do look forward to hearing such a story that could lead to these circumstances." He said, holding his hand out to Edward.
Edward at first looked at the hand confused, then understanding filled his eyes, Caius assumed he heard Aro's intentions in their thoughts.
"I don't think I can...I mean...I'm not sure..." Edward hesitated, glancing from Aro, to the rest of them sitting behind the table. Caius was satisfied that the boy now seemed scared, or at least nervous.
Aro chortled, even more gleefully, stepping closer to Edward.
"Rest assured, Edward, it is only to further understand your dilemma and make the decision which will be best for you as well as your family and ours. "
Edward grimaced slightly at the mention of his family, and Caius wondered if Carlisle had any knowledge of where his 'son' was, if Edward had planned on contacting his family after this day. He continued to frown before reaching forward and offering Aro his hand.
Aro covered Edward's offered hand with both of his, and closed his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips.
After Edward had been allowed to leave, Aro had quickly explained the background behind his request- the boy was in love, the object of his interest deceased. Marcus was disgusted by this part of the story.
"She was human," he spat, "then how could the boy possibly...how would he have resisted...?"
Aro lay a soothing hand on Marcus' sleeve, smiling pitifully. "With great strength it seems. Just imagine the potential of the boy, his talent and his resilience, he could be a powerful weapon."
Caius nodded thoughtfully, Aro's suggestion was conceivable, but Carlisle's 'son' had come to them wishing for imprisonment, not work.
"Could he be conscripted?" Caius wondered out loud, but his thoughts were more. Would Carlisle permit a member of his family to become a member of theirs?
They allowed themselves to deliberate over the matter through the night at a leisurely pace, though Marcus wanted to dismiss the boy and his heartbreak immediately. Caius was concerned of the hassle which convincing the boy to join them would require, that possibility of spoiling the relationship between them and Carlisle.
While Caius had never approved of Carlisle's choices, had believed him to be a fool and would torment himself and others with his foolish ideas, they had supported Carlisle's endeavor to move to the 'new world'. And Carlisle had become a financial and political advantage, for while the Volturi were rich beyond their means, having an independent, grounded connection in the Americas seemed to be a tactical strategy. It was a means of gaining knowledge of the happenings of their kind on the other continent if they ever required it.
However hearing what the Cullens had allowed, that they had exposed a human to their true natures and notdealt with her as the Volturi expected, unsettled Caius. He was even more convinced of Carlisle's foolishness, allowing a younger vampire to bond with a human, allowing such a bond to extend to the degree that the human's eventual death, which Caius was surprised had taken so long to occur, had affected Edward, had influenced him to seek punishment from them. It seemed contrary to all of Caius's beliefs, after all, a human who knew about their world should be put to death. Why should the boy request imprisonment for this?
Aro continued to argue they should take the opportunity to capture Edward as one of their own. He believed that Edward had been delivered to them by the fates as an addition to their small but powerful forces. Marcus however was resentful of this idea.
"There is so much anger in that boy, so much grief. He could never be useful, could never see the potential in himself under our direction. This love, this connection to a human," he said the words as though it was a curse, "has weakened him. Edward Cullen will not agree to work for us, to call us master. You cannot bend his will that way. Turn him away at dawn, why should we keep him here, punish him for a thousand years for a crime which has already been repaired. The human girl is dead, her knowledge of us and her life itself was his only offense. Turn him away, and let him deal with his foolish remorse."
"How can you say such things, Marcus?" Aro asked softly, "The boy has run from his grief, to us. This is a chance for us and him to gain. The illegality has been solved by the girl's death, yes, so we can ignore the misdeed of his former life, and direct him towards a gratifying one as ours. We should not allow him to walk away, we should offer him no other option but a thousand years, not of punishment and torment, but as our kind are meant to live. He would grow in power and knowledge under us."
Caius did agree to this. "If you truly wish for the boy to stay, he must not be allowed to continue the preposterous ways he has been taught. He cannot possibly resist if he is to remain here, I insist that he should undertake our lifestyles entirely. He cannot be trusted if he continues his expedient dietary habits."
Aro smiled, "I do believe that, with the right temptation, we can convince young Edward to remain here with us, and assume our lifestyle to even your satisfaction, Caius."
AN: ARGH I'M NEVER GOING TO FINISH IN TIME!! Do you promise to continue reading even after Breaking Dawn is released?? What if on Friday i stop posting for a few days, i give you a week or so to finish the series (or re-read it many times as I plan to do), I'll start posting again next week?? Will any one still be reading??