I checked my watch once again, despite instinctively knowing the time. Eleazar was supposed to arrive an hour ago. I knew that there was already a welcoming party of guards at the airport he was set to land in.
I could hear Bella, Caius, and Aro talking in a foreign language as they sat in the throne room. I'm sure I could figure it out if I tried, but at this point I was too restless, hoping for good news about my family. None of the royalty had banned me from talking to him, but there was always the chance that they'd change their minds.
Finally I heard the footsteps of a group of vampires coming into the castle. I kept myself pressed against the back wall of the throne room, behind a taller vampire. I caught Eleazar's scent almost immediately. He started looking around the room, but I slipped out of sight. I listened closely to his movement and didn't look at him again until I was sure he was facing the other way.
"It has been a long time, Eleazar." Aro said with a smile that could be disingenuous, but it was always hard to tell when it came to Aro.
"Thank you. I'm glad to be here. I also want to congratulate you, Master Caius and Mistress Bella for finding each other." Caius nodded at him, but said nothing. "Is Marcus not joining us?"
"Not today, he is busy." Bella said, pulling all the attention to her. Her voice had an undertone of sadness. Eleazar stared at her a moment before nodding.
"After a certain trusted associate broke the law we thought it was prudent to check on our other trusted associates. You were at the top of the list, because you're the most trusted." Aro over explained and I doubted that was really the reason why he summoned Eleazar. He probably did because of our association, having such a large coven, and sticking to my lifestyle.
"I hope to regain your trust for me that has been eroded by others, Master Aro." Eleazar gave him a slight bow as he spoke.
"Your very presence has soothed my worrying already." Aro held out his hand. Eleazar carefully moved towards the dais before touching Aro's palm. Aro's eyes slowly slid close as he took in all of Eleazar's thoughts. He was gaining all the answers so effortlessly… Such knowledge placed into his head instantly.
Now that I think about it, Eleazar was the only vampire to leave the Volturi. Though he said that they only let him go because he had a mate that was outside the Volturi… A realization made my heart clench up. What if… what if they would have let Amelia go if I had not broken the law? Would we both be free of this place if I had only been wise? The idea that I could have freed her from this place, but didn't was painful.
"Very good, Eleazar." Aro said a moment later, pulling me away of my thoughts. "Shall we retire to my office? I do have a few things I'd like to discuss with you before you leave."
"I too, have a few things that I wish to discuss." I couldn't read Eleazar's voice, but I hoped he was going to petition() for my freedom. Aro and Eleazar disappeared through one of the hidden doors. Caius stood and held his hand out for Bella. She smiled at him before taking his hand and following him out the main door. The rest of the guards quickly filtered out of the room.
I followed Eleazar's scent through the hidden door. I wasn't going to let this opportunity slip through my hands.
As expected the scent lead to the royal wing. I waited at the neck of the hallway, the main exit to the wing. If I went any closer I could be order to leave.
I could just barely hear Aro and Eleazar.
"… rumors were true. What do you think of her?" I couldn't discern the first half of Eleazar's sentence.
"You've only heard terrible things about her, which is understandable." Aro chuckled. "She has changed since then, blooming into a flower." Aro paused. "I have your confidence, I assume."
"Yes, Master. You gave me my freedom despite me pledging my eternity to you." I was a bit baffled by his response. I had always assumed that he had been looped in and never really cared for the Volturi, but to pledge his whole life to them…
"Fantastic. Try not to let any thoughts slip when you are home. Here." I could hear a sort of shuffling and almost an uncorking noise.
"You're not going to run any tests on me, are you?" Eleazar joked and Aro took in an exaggerated gasp.
"Of course not!" There was the sound of a cork being put back in place. "Thank you. Carlisle is in the () wing if you'd like to talk to him." Another pause. "Farewell then." The door squeaked. I moved further down the hallway to a distance where I wouldn't have been able to hear them.
I kept my eyes downcast as I waited. I hated the idea of one of my friends seeing me with red eyes.
"Carlisle…" Eleazar said in the kindest of tones. I smiled at him, relieved to hear from an old friend. Automatically my eyes went up to meet his. Eleazar's smile faltered for a fraction of a second. "I half suspected that they'd let you keep your diet."
"I've tried to convince the many times, but you know how Aro is. Once he's made a decision there is no changing his mind." Eleazar nodded in agreement. "My room is this way. We'll have a bit of privacy there." I lead the way, and as I was at the door Eleazar laughed. "What?"
"This was my old room. My lover lived in the adjoining room." He said as I opened the door. "Who lives in the adjoining room now?"
"My mate, Amelia. She's out on a mission right now."
"I am sad that she is not here. I would have liked to have met her." I smiled, just thinking about her made me a bit happier. "I'm glad to see that they were telling the truth when they said you'd found your mate?"
"They?"
"Yes, Edward and Esme. They are living with us now." I couldn't read Eleazar's expression.
"How… are they?" I knew I had no right to ask about Esme, but I needed to know.
"Edward," Eleazar sighed, "he seems a bit lost. We've talked a few times. You were his closest friend, followed by Alice. He needs a strong male figure in his life. I'm trying to be that for him." His news was both saddening and relieving.
"Thank you for doing that." If I wasn't there to guide him, at least Eleazar was. "And how is Esme?"
"She was very sad, but had been holding out hope until," Eleazar frowned.
"Until the divorce papers arrived." I added on and he nodded. "I shouldn't have done that to her. I wanted to send a letter with it to explain myself, but Aro would let me. Can you tell her-"
"No, I can't deliver any messages for you. That would be breaking your agreement, Aro made that clear."
"Why is he so set on isolating me?" My voice was close to breaking, but I composed myself.
"Aro has lived a million lives at least. The way he thinks will probably never be understood."
"That almost feels like an understatement."
"That's because it is." We were both silent for a long minute.
"Do you have any news on Rosalie and Emmett?" My youngest children…
"Just a tad, all from Edward. He's mad at them and you." I could understand why he was mad at me, but not at them. "After the Volturi left they packed up to leave. Emmett got into a big argument with Edward. They were trying to take Esme with them, but she wanted to stay at your home in Forks to wait for you. Emmett was convinced that they weren't safe there, and that they need to go into hiding. Rosalie was despondent and going along with whatever Emmett told her. Edward told me that she was traumatized from the 'milk glass incident' and that hearing about Alice and Jasper has completely shut her down."
The 'milk glass incident'… such a clear sign. Rosalie had been decapitated. I was so caught up in myself that I never spoke to her about it. I knew the mental cost she took whenever she was hurt even a little bit… I should have known to talk to her about what happened.
"Where are they now?"
"I don't know." Why had I even asked? It's not like I'd ever be able to visit them anyways. "A month after you made your deal with the Volturi we held a funeral for Alice, Jasper, and Peter at the cemetery on my property. Edward had collected all their ashes, he even found Alice's." That news completely choked me up. I cleared my throat.
"I'm glad to hear that." Eleazar looked at me a long moment, and I don't know what he saw on my features, but it made him nod.
"I asked Aro's permission to give you these." Eleazar pulled out his wallet. "They're small, but I'm sure you'll appreciate them." A painful love tore my heart up. "Here." I took the five photos. Each one an image of my child.
"Thank you. This means the world to me." I whispered, trying to hold myself together. "Thank you for visiting me, Eleazar, but now I need to…" My voice broke.
"I can stay another day, if you'd like?" He offered and I forced a smile.
"No, go be with your mate." Eleazar gave me another long look before nodding and leaving. I waited for him to be out of hearing range before breaking down. It felt like I had lost my children all over again.