Chapter 25 - Volterra

Aro sat behind his massive mahogany desk in his private, soundproof study, staring pensively at the telephone, as he carefully masked his uppermost thoughts and made no decisions. Upon reading young Edward's mind and seeing his entire history, Aro had also been made aware of the most effective ways of working around or blocking both Edward's and Alice's gifts. He had immediately begun employing those methods to keep the foolish boy unaware of his true thoughts, feelings, and plans.

Waiting and watching had paid off quickly and better than Aro had dared to hope. Only one more step needed to be taken to complete his current master plan, ensuring his eternal reign over vampires everywhere. All that was left was to get the blessing of his old friend Carlisle, removing the last obstacle that could cause a snag. Not that Carlisle could stop him, of course, but he would still hate to lose such an entertaining and intriguing ally.

Besides being such an oddity in the vampire world, attempting to turn all the known and accepted understandings of vampire nature on their head, through his bizarre lifestyle choices, Carlisle breathed new life into old mindsets, providing a refreshing change of view to the same old boring routine of millennia of existence. He brought a degree of compassion, camaraderie, and acceptance for others not normally felt by vampires. As a result, he had many friends and allies all over the world, as Edward's and then Alice's minds had clearly shown.

Alice's visions had shown Aro that any attack on Carlisle or his family would be met with suspicion and uproar throughout the entire vampire community. It would cause a rift that would eventually depose him and his brothers, as their actions suddenly would then come under close scrutiny, and the currently complacent subjects of their rule would begin asking difficult questions. The brothers' subtle misdeeds would be gradually exposed by truth seekers.

Even worse, if ever Carlisle felt threatened enough to take a stand to protect his coven, he had more experienced vampires who would risk their lives to fight alongside him than Aro had in all the Guard. Not to mention that all Carlisle's friends would be helping him out of true bonds of loyalty, not the fake kind like Aro had Chelsea manufacture on his behalf. Yet, if Carlisle were properly pacified, he could be one of Aro's greatest allies. With Carlisle's backing, the Volturi would be undefeatable.

It bothered Aro that one single vampire could make or break him and the kingdom he had worked so long and hard to create. He had killed his own blood sister, his brother's mate, for the sake of his dream of world domination. He hated that it could all disappear with a single wrong action on his part. His consolation was that Carlisle naively believed the cover, the mask, that Aro showed to the world. Carlisle truly believed Aro was good and just, acting in the best interests of the vampire community at large, rather than merely serving himself and his own ends. The good doctor had no idea the depths to which Aro was willing to descend, or the lengths he was willing to go, to protect his position of power.

Edward's and Alice's minds both showed Carlisle's respect for all sentient beings, his complete lack of lust for power, his absolute contentment with his lifestyle and 'live and let live' philosophy, and his dedication to only use violence as a last possible resort. Despite Carlisle's ability to draw in other vampires, especially gifted ones, and win their loyalty and devotion without even trying, he was no threat to Aro at all, unless Aro provoked him first.

Carlisle was perfectly willing to be a sheep and follow wherever his Master led, as long as he and his family could comfortably graze their pasture without conflict. The moment his family was under attack and needed his strength to protect them, however, he would rise up and be a leader like no other. He would gain the backing of all the other sheep and take out any threat to those under his protection. Though Carlisle had no desire to rule the vampire world and did not want or seek power for himself, he was fully capable of fulfilling that role and would be thrust into it if the spot was suddenly vacated.

So, Aro could antagonize Carlisle, making the biggest mistake of his existence, resulting in the loss of not only his kingdom, but also his mate and then his own life. Or, Aro could pacify Carlisle and gain for himself the strongest ally in existence in the supernatural world. For Carlisle would bring all his loyal friends and supporters with him into any battle. It wasn't a hard choice to make. The only difficulty was deciding on the best approach to accomplish his goal.

Aro finally picked up the phone and dialed the number he had gotten from Alice's mind. Carlisle himself answered after the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Carlisle, my old friend! It's good to hear your voice after so many years."

"Aro? Indeed, it is a pleasure. How can I help you?"

"Hmm, I'm afraid I have a bit of a situation here and could use your guidance on the best way to handle it."

"Oh, I see! Well, what can I do for you, my friend?"

"It seems your first born was rather distraught about the rejection he received from his newly awakened former mate and came here asking us to kill him. Quite a dreadful business really."

"What? Edward asked you to kill him?"

"Yes, we don't get many suicidal vampires here, and really, the way he treated the poor girl was horrendous. I lost track of the number of times she asked him to change her, which would, of course, have been in compliance with our laws, rather than in defiance, which he clearly was and intended to continue to be, had your young warrior not taken it upon himself to put matters right."

"Yes, well, I always intended to see her changed, Aro, I promise. I just thought Edward would come to his senses and see the error of his ways, if I gave him a little time."

"Of course, of course, I understand," Aro murmured placatingly, smirking to himself and enjoying Carlisle's defensive tone. He knew he now had the upper hand in the conversation. "Unfortunately, young Edward doesn't seem terribly fond of logic or reason. His thoughts and impulsive actions are incredibly irrational for a vampire over a century old."

"Yes, you're right," Carlisle sighed, then tightened his voice in anger. "I can't believe he would be stupid enough to attempt suicide after the disaster we just had with him driving his former mate to attempt suicide. Did he even stop to think how this would make Esme feel, how it would affect our family, or even about Alice, who was patiently waiting to join him? Did he stop to think at all? I just don't understand him, Aro. What did you tell him? I assume you didn't grant his request."

"Of course not. We refused to allow him to foolishly squander his existence. I would not kill your son, Carlisle, unless I absolutely had to for the good of our kind. Causing oneself heartache, out of some misguided belief in the need to suffer simply due to one's existence, is hardly a crime punishable by death. Honestly, he has punished himself far worse than any of us ever could."

"True," Carlisle sighed. "Thank you for your patience with him. He has always had a penchant for being melodramatic."

Aro chuckled. "I agree, dear friend. Upon our refusal to execute him, he decided to force our hand. He planned to walk out shirtless into the Piazza under the clock tower at high noon, glittering for all to see in the bright sunshine. Obviously, we could not allow him to do that. Your little Alice showed up to stop him, just moments before the bell began to toll the hour, her inhuman speed nearly enough to expose herself. It was lucky for her there were no witnesses to her mad dash through the alleyway. Rather than kill him on the spot, as Edward hoped we would do, my Guardsmen simply restrained them both, preventing any exposure, and brought them back into the castle. I must now reprimand them both, but must also ensure there is not a repeat elsewhere in the world and cannot have my Guards follow him all over the world, just waiting to see whether or not he will make another attempt."

"No, of course you can't," Carlisle agreed, his voice full of concern. "Aro, is it possible for a vampire to develop psychological issues after the change? He didn't have any evidence of madness beforehand, I assure you."

Aro snorted. "Well, yes, there are certain factors that can drive a vampire insane, but I don't think that's truly the problem with Edward. I don't wish to offend you, Carlisle, but I'm afraid you're a rather indulgent parent and coven leader both. Alice and Edward behave like spoiled, selfish children used to getting their own way."

Carlisle groaned. "My apologies, Aro. I overestimated their maturity levels and allowed them far too much freedom and responsibility based upon their incredible gifts. I treated them more like adults, capable of making good decisions, rather than the teenagers they truly are. I should have been more developmentally appropriate in what I expected of them, however, I was blinded by the knowledge that their physical age wasn't all that much younger than my own. The emotional gap between 17 and 23 is much larger than I originally believed."

"Ah, well, your intentions were good, I'm sure," Aro comforted him. "Things have changed greatly since the Industrial Revolution and mandatory free education for the masses. As average life expectancy has steadily risen, children have been allowed more and more time to enjoy childhood before being expected to accept responsibility and do their part to contribute to the welfare of the family. Technology has freed up children to be creatures of leisure these days, having to worry only about school and minor household chores, before devoting hours daily to fun and games. If your Edward had been born only a few decades earlier, he no doubt would have been accustomed to working dawn to dusk, rather than reading, playing the piano, and attending school, and would have been more appreciative of the gift you gave him when you saved his existence."

"Hmmm, you may be right. Is there any hope for him now? Or is he too fixed in his ways?"

"Carlisle," Aro chuckled. "If vampires were unable to change and adapt, would I now be calling you on a telephone? Would I even know how to operate a computer? I assure you that it is possible for a vampire to change, if not their basic personality, then at least their behavior. With the right amount of supervision, structure, and discipline, I feel certain both Edward and Alice can become well-behaved citizens. It will probably help that they are mates."

"They are mates?" Carlisle asked in surprise.

Aro laughed. "Yes, Edward was quite surprised himself when he read the connection in Marcus's mind. You see, even though Edward had closed himself off, so the mating bond hadn't yet formed, Marcus could still see the potential there and that they were a perfect match, if both would be open to it."

"That's good news. Some of us had suspected something of that nature. I'm glad they have each other, but Aro, I can't have them back here. I can't take responsibility for their existence any longer or provide them with the structure, discipline, and supervision they require. My youngest daughter requires my full time and attention right now, and since it is their fault that she is in this situation, it only seems fair that she be given first consideration. I'm sure you saw it all in their memories and know that I had banished them for the time being. I suppose that was irresponsible of me, I now see, but even after all they put us through, I still didn't grasp the full depth of their immaturity. I don't want them killed though. Maybe I can work something out with the Denali coven?"

"Well, Carlisle, I suppose . . .," Aro began, making a show of hesitation. "I don't normally accept troublemakers in the Guard, as you know, but I do think those two show promise. If you'd like, I could offer them a place here with me. They would have plenty of supervision and role models of appropriate behavior, but still have plenty of younger vampires that could be good friends. The training we provide would be an excellent medium for teaching structure and discipline, as well as evaluating all options with a team before making decisions, rather than acting like a lone wolf. This training would also enable them to better protect themselves and their loved ones later in life."

"Really? You would take care of them for me?" Carlisle inquired hopefully. "There is so much they could learn there with you. Although, . . ." He paused, likely looking for the appropriate way to phrase what he wanted to say.

"Before you say it, I would certainly never force them to feed the way we do or ask them to take anyone's life. They both feel strongly about the lifestyle and philosophies you have taught them, Carlisle, and I respect that. They would have a special place at my left hand, where I can keep a close eye on them, and would act in a strictly advisory capacity. Truly, in their current state, I would be very uncomfortable allowing them to simply roam. They are both rather naïve as to the way the majority of covens, the human drinkers, function around the world, and they could easily be taken advantage of by an experienced vampire. If their gifts fell into the wrong hands, into the hands of an unscrupulous vampire, like the Romanians, or like Maria and the other vampires who run the territory wars in Central America, I shudder to think what the outcome might be. Now that they are mates, they could easily be used against one another and convinced to do just about anything to save each other from pain and suffering. I really don't want to release them into the world in their current state of immaturity and unable to properly defend themselves."

Carlisle gasped in horror. "Oh, my! I never even thought of that! Dear me. I would greatly appreciate it if you would take them under your wing, Aro, and teach them the error of their ways. I know they won't be able to pull the wool over your eyes or hide anything from you, so you'll know when they're lying or trying to shift things in their own favor at the expense of others. I know I benefited from my decades with you in Volterra, and I'm sure Edward and Alice will as well."

"Anything for you, my dear Carlisle," Aro crooned. "I still remember our time together fondly and wish you only the best with your family. Your compassion and moral standards are an example to us all, and even though I don't share your lifestyle, I hold the greatest respect for you and the highest esteem. I continue to expect great things for you, and if anyone can teach this old dog new tricks, I'm sure you'll be the one to do it."

Carlisle chuckled. "Perhaps spending time with Edward and Alice will be beneficial for you as well, oh wise one."

Aro chuckled indulgently. "We'll see. Maybe I'll surprise you and actually be persuaded to try a mountain lion or grizzly bear when next we meet, hmmm?"

"I'll look forward to it!" Carlisle promised, his tone relaxed and hopeful.

"Goodbye for now, my friend. Keep in touch."

"I will, and please keep me informed of their progress. Perhaps after a few decades, we will allow them to return to us," Carlisle offered.

Aro smiled, knowing he had no intention of ever allowing Edward and Alice to leave. "As you wish," he calmly replied, keeping up the façade.

"Thanks again, Aro. Goodbye."

Aro leaned back in his chair after hanging up the phone, well pleased with himself. Not only had he gained two powerful gifts for his coven and received Carlisle's blessing to keep them, but he had left Carlisle feeling obligated to him for it. He rose to his feet wearing a smug smile, still maintaining his mental defenses, and left to confront Edward and Alice where they were being restrained.

He took his place on the center throne, his expression alerting Caius that he had a plan worked out in the Volturi's favor.

"Despite my misgivings as to your level of emotional maturity and your ability to handle any amount of responsibility, I am willing to take you two under my wing and train you up to be useful members of the Guard," he announced, studying the two rebellious teens impassively.

"No thanks, we're not interested," Edward sneered. "We want no part of your coven."

"It is an honor to be offered a place in the Guard!" Caius shouted, enraged by Edward's disrespectful attitude.

Alice gave Edward a look that silenced whatever he'd been about to say. "We do appreciate the offer, of course, but I'm afraid we'll have to decline. We already have a family, a coven, and we are loyal to them. We could not betray them by joining another coven without even discussing it with them first."

Aro smirked, recognizing it as a diversionary technique. Alice was simply hoping to get out of Volterra and then would likely try to disappear, believing her visions and Edward's mind-reading could keep them one step ahead of Demetri.

"I've already spoken to Carlisle about your transgressions, and he has given his blessing to me keeping you here," Aro informed them smugly.

Both their faces fell, realizing their family had truly turned their backs on them and left them here at Aro's mercy.

"We have other family that will give us shelter," Edward replied stiffly. Alice looked up to him with hope.

She turned to Aro and smiled eagerly, "Yes, the Denali coven would love to have us, I'm sure. No need to trouble yourself with us."

Aro smirked. "No trouble at all. You see, I don't really need your permission to keep you here. I simply wanted to give you the opportunity to join of your own free will, though I suspected you would refuse. Alec."

He waved a finger in their direction, and they rapidly lost all their senses. Chelsea cut their bonds to everyone but each other, and tied a weak thread from them to Aro. Their current hatred and suspicion was strong enough that the bond holding them to Aro was tenuous at best.

When their senses were restored to them a few hours later, they found themselves facing one another, close enough to kiss. It took a few seconds for the true horror of their new situation to sink into their shocked brains. Once it did, they opened their mouths in voiceless screams, only to hear Aro chuckling evilly from somewhere up above them.

Aro observed the disembodied heads of Alice and Edward in the aquarium beside his throne. An inch deep layer of blood flooded the bottom of the tank and was kept circulating by use of a small pump. The exposed flesh of the severed necks absorbed the blood and carried it to their brains via capillary action.

Since they had no lungs to push air past their vocal cords, they were unable to make noise. This was only considered a benefit by Aro, who had no need to hear words from their mouths anyway. The glass of the tank was curtained, to keep the heads from being viewed by anyone but him, so that none but his special Guard would even know what he kept in the box by his throne. Even fewer would be aware that the body parts that belonged to these heads were now in storage vaults deep in the earth beneath the castle.

Aro beckoned Jane, his personal favorite, over to stand beside him. "I haven't fully introduced you to Jane and her talents, have I, my pets?" he taunted, knowing they couldn't respond. "Jane, dear, do please give them a brief demonstration."

Jane eagerly turned her gift on them, torturing them each in turn with a pain equal to that of the change. After only seconds, both had eyes full of venom, as much for their own pain as for the pain of each other. It was awful for a vampire to witness his or her mate in pain and be helpless to prevent it or stop it.

"Now, here are the rules," Aro growled menacingly. "When I touch your heads, you will give me whatever I want to hear or see. If I touch Edward, he will focus his gift on hearing the thoughts of every person within the castle grounds, both human and vampire. If I touch Alice, she will actively search for new visions and show me any previous visions she has had that may affect my future or the future of my coven. If I ask her to search for something specific, she will do so immediately and without complaint. If either of you displeases me or fails to obey me, Jane will use her gift on the other, until both are obedient again. So, if Alice refuses to show me a vision or tries to hide something from me, Jane will torture Edward until Alice submits. If Edward refuses to listen or tries to hide anything he has heard at any time, Alice will be tortured until he submits."

Alice and Edward stared into each other's eyes feeling defeated. Both would have accepted pain onto themselves for rebellion, but neither could bear to have the other hurt in their stead. They would have no choice but to comply. They sought comfort in one another, enjoying the simple kisses they could still share. They also found that if Edward decided what he would say whenever he was finally reunited with his body, they could communicate and even carry on conversations with one another, using their gifts.

Caius leaned over in his throne so he could peek into the box to see the heads. He snickered when he saw them kissing. "Well, it could be worse. At least they have each other," he snidely remarked.

Aro nodded and grinned. "Though it seems now Edward will be an eternal virgin. He really should have taken up Bella's offers for sex while he had the chance."

Edward flinched and Alice's eyes narrowed in hatred and jealousy, hatred for the Volturi and jealousy for Bella, both on so many different levels.

Protecting his thoughts, Aro acknowledged to himself that he might someday put the two back together, perhaps in a few decades. By then, they would be so broken by their circumstances, that the bond Chelsea would continue to reinforce between them would be ironclad. Even so, they would no doubt do anything he wanted, anything at all, to avoid being put back in the box.

"How lucky we are to have a matched set," Caius continued taunting them, enjoying the pained looks on their disembodied faces.

"Yes," Aro agreed, smirking widely. "I'm so glad Alice decided to join us as well, in hopes of saving her foolish Edward from himself. After all, everybody knows two heads are better than one!"

His evil cackle reverberated around the throne room, echoing down the hall, and causing the hairs on the backs of the corpseless pair's necks to stand on end . . .

xxxxxxx

AN: Buahahaha! How's that for drama?