Chapter 25
I spent the rest of the day and the evening deep in thought. Jacob was right and so were my parents those few years ago. It was time to let go of what had happened back in Forks and time to start a new chapter. This chapter I had to write on my own though. I had to do it without the safety of Jacob, I had to face my responsibilities alone. It was wrong of me to drag him out here. It was wrong of me to cause my family such stress, I knew deep down in my heart that I was no burden to them, that I really wasn't helping them by leaving. They had always managed through precarious and downright dangerous situations long before I had come around and would continue to do so long weren't mad or disappointed in me for what I did to that boy. I left out of fear, I left because I didn't want to live up to what I had done, I probably made a bigger mess leaving than I would have made if I had stayed. I was selfish and self indulgent. It was time to be a bigger person and let Jacob have the life he would never leave and even if I could convince him to do so, who could know if the Volturi would let him? My next step was to bargain with Aros and see if he was honorable enough to allow Jacob to leave, and then I had to convince him to leave. I could think of only one way to do that; lying and transformation. First things first though, I had to conference with Aro and the elders, which made me more than just a bit apprehensive.
The next morning I awoke and went about business as usual. I had some breakfast, did some chores, read a little, spent some time with Jacob, had lunch, etc. As I carried on throughout the day I maintained a sense of ease that was extremely convincing; even to me. But, like a duck in the water, while my semblance was calm, my mind was racing like I was paddling to stay afloat as I tried to come up with the right words to present Aro with. I waited until after dinner, when Jacob usually left to go for his "jog". Like clockwork each night he would go running for hours. I used to think he would actually jog around the city like a normal human, until one night I found his clothes at the edge of the woods on the property. He later told me that he would take his wolf form and run around the countryside just smelling the air and relishing in the quiet. I wondered if he could still communicate with the pack and he just wasn't telling me. Something told me that he was, but I would never know for sure.
Once I knew that Jacob was gone, I prepared myself for my confrontation with the Volturi. I dug through my sparse belongings and picked out my most solemn, mature outfit. I wiggled into a pair of black skinny jeans and a black knitted shirt and pulled a longish grey sweater vest over my head. I looked very grown up until I added shoes to the ensemble; the best I could do was a tall pair of black combat boots. Fashion may be rampant in Italy, but not so much an asset at the castle of the Volturi. I smoothed my hair and pinned it up halfway, and taking a deep breath, marched down the long corridor to the main part of the house.
I exchanged niceties with the two burly guards that stood in front of the palatial doors of the dining room. I mostly got along with all the staff here. Maybe they didn't see me as a threat. Besides, I had been living here for so long. I was considered a part of the organization, I wasn't quite cozy with the elders, but I was well known enough to not be given any trouble. I likened it to having long distance relatives overstaying their welcome, in that, I was considered part of the whole, but nobody was really comfortable with it or made me feel welcome.
I entered the dining room; Aro sat at the head of the table, on either side of him was Caius, Marcus, Jane, and Alec; Felix, a square jawed brute of a bodyguard stood to the right of Aro keeping watch. It was clear by the glaring crimson of their eyes that they had just eaten. Luckily, whatever grotesque mess that was made in the process had been cleaned up by the endless rabble of servants that they had.
Aro was murmuring something to the others, when he looked up and saw me. He seemed startled by my presence, quite a feat for a teenage halfbreed.
"Why, lady Cullen, what a pleasant surprise!" he exalted, rising from his seat like a gentleman. "It is not very often that you come to this part of the castle, to what do we owe this little drop in of yours?"
I paused for a moment, a little dizzy from my shot nerves, but I quickly regained my focus. "I am sorry I didn't announce that I was coming sooner, I hope it's alright…"
"Why of course my dear," in a flash, he was by my side, pulling out a chair for me. It unnerved me when vampires moved like that. Some of them, like my father, did it by nature, but I think Aro did it to intimidate others. "I do love surprises." He cooed.
"Um, yes, thank you." I was losing my ground, my confidence was not at all convincing, time to take control. "I need to speak with you." I continued, looking Aro bravely in the eye.
"But of course my child, please, sit." He said, eagerly gesturing to the chair. As I sat down, he made way to his own chair, and waited for me to sit. If I didn't know what Aro was capable of, it could almost be believed that he was simply an eccentric, charming, older man, but because I did, it made him absolutely terrifying.
I settled myself down into the sturdy leather chair, Aro mimicking me simultaneously. The expressions on the faces of the others ranged from Felix's downright hostile glare, to Marcus's curious chagrin, to Jane's indifference, quite the crowd we had here indeed, they'd probably be a blast at a karaoke bar. I quietly sighed to myself and began to speak.
"I am concerned for Jacob Black." I said very matter of factly.
"Is that so, please do explain Miss Cullen." He encouraged, rapt with attention.
"Jacob's transition into the organization has been difficult, but I feel as if he has done it with a great deal of dignity and grace and served the Volturi to the best of his ability."
"He has indeed, it was wrong of us to have doubted him."
"But he is a wolf, my lord, he is a sworn enemy of our kind." Felix argued.
"Felix, this is a conversation between Renessmee and I, of which you will not partake. However, even though you pose a true argument, Mr. Black has proven himself to be quite useful to us and has been an honorable servant." Aro stated with the hint of a smirk.
I felt an angry thrust of heat rise in my chest at the sound of the word 'servant' being used to describe Jacob. However, I bit my tongue and decided to use Aro's crassness to my advantage. "He has," I chimed in, "but I fear that this is not the right life for Jacob and I am here to bargain for his freedom, one servant for another."
"But Miss Cullen, Jacob is here by choice, he may leave whenever he chooses."
"You and I both know that is not entirely true, my lord." I challenged with a slight arch of an eyebrow.
"How so, Miss Cullen?"
"All I am saying is that I would feel more comfortable if Jacob left knowing that someone is in his stead. Someone valuable." I added.
"Jacob is very valuable Miss Cullen, there has never been an alliance between the species, well, not since your family began one back in Washington. There wouldn't have been one if not for your mother or for you. Apparently, all you need is love to get things done!" Aro giggled maniacally.
I was unmoved, "I am well aware of my family history, which is why I would like to bargain for Jacob's freedom with my own allegiance, to the Volturi."
There were muffled chuckles from all corners of the room and I felt like my plan was about to go south. "Oh Miss Cullen, how you do remind me of your father, it warms my heart to see family traditions carry on even when you are miles away. You see, Renessmee, I already have your allegiance. You've lived under our roof for several years now, doing our work, protecting our cause. Why would I bargain for something that I already have?"
"But you don't have me."
"Are you saying that you are a fake? That you are a spy? That would be very disheartening." Aro warned, his face grave.
"No, I am neither of those things." I replied coolly, glancing down casually at my nails. "True, I have been here for many years, working, protecting, following. I have done all that you have asked me to do with a clear conscience and complete honesty. This is truly who I am, no tricks. However, it has only been a halfhearted effort. My efforts have been divided between the Volturi and Jacob. I love him, you know this, but we have grown apart considerably. If he were able to leave, I could concentrate on forgetting him and focusing on my work."
"Are you simply saying, that with him gone you can be a better employee?" Aro asked, putting things into lay terms sarcasm lilting in his voice.
I thought about that for a moment, yes, I guess that's what it sounded like, and Aro was starting to lose interest and the others were starting to lose patience. Then, I had another thought. "I also have something else to offer."
"Go on," Aro pressed, regaining interest.
"The reason I came here, was because in Forks I killed a boy for his blood. Everyone in this room knows that in one way or another. Since then, I have been fighting a constant urge to repeat this behavior over and over again."
"In other words, you have urges that you are not catering to?"
"Yes, Jane knows, she's seen them. She's seen me when I am being affected by them. She even offered to help. She said she could help me find a way to satisfy myself without actually taking a human life. I refused."
"Is this true Jane?" Aro asked glancing over at his tiny witch. Jane looked a little intimidated by him and a little ticked off at me for throwing her under the bus.
"Yes, my lord, it is. Even though you can tell that her urges are deeply affecting her, she still refused."
Aro seemed a little confused by the whole thing, speechless in fact.
"Think of what I could become with human blood in me. Think of the enhancement of my powers, my strength. I am a hybrid of two gifted vampires, I have had powers since my birth, and even without blood, they are noteworthy powers, you said so yourself." I wheedled feverishly, "I choose not to indulge my nature because I do not want to upset Jacob. I have always wanted to unlock my potential, but didn't feel like it was the right thing to do. If I am here alone, I can do that without upsetting the people I care about, if you just let me try. It is a known fact that the strongest vampires are newborns because they still have human tissues remaining that combine with their supernatural tissues. I have both tissues as long as I'm alive. The most logical assumption would be that human blood will be the antidote that unlocks that strength." I had to stop and let this marinate with Aro for a moment. I also had to stop because I was beginning to believe what I was saying. I had been powerless for so long it seemed, a slave to this life and to this craving. It was almost invigorating to think I could gain back some of my power by doing this.
"You pose an excellent point Renessmee." Aro pondered. "What you say, makes a great deal of sense and may prove to be quite true."
"Not only will my mind powers fully bloom, but my strength may do the same, I could be your executioner and your recorder…" I stated darkly, "let Jacob go, please, and I will do your bidding."
"Jacob is not a fearful man, he is bold and stubborn, if he wanted to leave, he would have found a way to do so by now. He stays for you Renessmee," Aro explained, saying the last part a little more gently than I would have liked. It made my chest hurt. "How are you so sure that he will leave if you stay?"
"Leave Jacob to me, just promise me, that if I can convince him to go, you will allow him to live a long, happy, peaceful life unharmed."
"I give you my word." Aro said easily.
"Good, but if you'll pardon my bluntness, your word is not good enough. Which brings me to my final condition; If any harm befalls Jacob, by your hand, or by any of your staff," I said crossly, looking at Felix. "Then I will kill myself and you will be left with nothing. Now, do we have a deal?"
Aro clapped his hands together, and laughed in exultation, "oh, that is wonderful. I feel like I am in the presence of an old friend of mine. Giving up your life for the one you love, literally and figuratively. I will never understand you Cullens and your self-martyring ways! But very well, you strike a hard bargain. Renessmee, your beloved Jacob is safe from the hand of the Volturi, as long as he follows the rules of his pack of course."
"Of course my lord. Then we have a deal?" I asked, rising from the table and putting out my hand to shake. Aro appeared by my side. He took my palm and gently held it, trying to read whether or not I was lying. I wasn't.
"We have a deal, Jacob may leave and he will never be bothered by us. You, however, may stay." I nodded my head at him and stared into his grusome ruby eyes. "That is a promise, as long as you hold up your end, Renessmee."
"Goodnight Aro." He slowly unfurled his cold fingers from my hand and watched me as I walked away. "Good evening everybody, thank you for your time." I called as I strode out of the room. I could feel their eyes boring through me; the eyes of my new family.
As I crossed the threshold into the hallway Aro called back to me almost musically, "oh and Renessmee, if you don't deliver, I'll kill you myself. Have a good night my dear."
I paused mid stride and nodded, " you have nothing to worry about." Aro gave me a little wave and with that, the dining room door slowly swung shut. I continued down the hallway and just before I reached the bedroom Jacob and I shared, tears welled up in my eyes.
I had just made a pact with the Devil to save Jacob's soul.