Author's Note: I do not own Twilight. Twilight and all of the characters are the creation of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.
I thought I would update today in spite of someone... Happy birthday TheDancerSG!
This is what you've been waiting for, and the main idea that started this whole story. See if you recognize any lines in this chapter.
It all comes down TO THIS.
Let's get to the story...
Chapter 25: Confrontation
-oOo-
"Goodbye, everyone," Alice said. She snapped he phone shut and whirled around to look at me.
"You may have them fooled, Alex, but you can't fool me," she said.
"It will only be as a last resort," I said, looking her right in the eye.
"What are we talking about?" Jasper asked. He didn't dare mess with the moods in this room.
"Alex, if you will please speak with me in the bedroom," Alice muttered. I followed her into the bedroom. She shut the door as I sat down on the bed.
"This is risky, Alex. What if he doesn't agree with your bargain?" she said quietly.
"I'll be giving him what he wants," I said. "How could he refuse that?"
Alice looked at me and sighed. "You don't need to do this. There could be some other way-"
"I have to do this!" I shouted, standing up. "Don't you see? Carlisle and Esme have done everything for me. They took me in when I had nowhere else to go. The loved me when no one else did. They introduced me to the six greatest siblings ever, when I never even dreamed of having parents, let alone siblings! They have done everything in their power to make my life amazing. I'm not going to let them die because of me. If I do, they will have died in vain..."
Alice was silent for a second, but it felt like an hour.
"You are extremely brave, extremely smart, and extremely mature for your age. I have a feeling that you can do this," she said.
"You'll still be coming in with me, right?" I asked. "This won't work without you."
She smiled and grabbed my hand.
"The hell I am."
-oOo-
Alice, Jasper, and I quickly walked through the streets of Volterra at nine am on Saturday morning. It was dark and overcast, so Alice and Jasper had no need to cover up.
I wore a bright pink blouse with equally bright pink flats and black pants. I would not wear dark, depressing clothes. I'm not giving up.
We approached the alley where we had first been led to the throne room of the Volturi just days before. Sure enough, two cloaks were standing in the alley.
"What do you want?" one of the vampires said, lowering their hood. I could see it was a male vampire.
"Alice and I wish to speak to Aro about Carlisle and Esme," I said.
The male looked at his cloaked partner, then pointed a finger at Jasper.
"He's not allowed," he said.
"I wasn't planning on coming in, Felix," Jasper replied.
I grabbed Jasper's wrist. That was his signal to mess with their emotions and get them to listen to our commands.
"Very well," Felix said. "Demetri and I will lead you ladies in."
Alice gave Jasper a kiss on the lips, and then grabbed my wrist. The first part of the plan worked.
We followed behind Felix and Demetri through the dark passageways until we reached the lobby. The same receptionist was sitting at the desk.
"Nice to see you again, ma'am," she said to me. I gave her a slight nod in response.
When we got to the large double doors, we stopped.
"One moment, please," Demetri said. He quickly opened the door, went inside, and shut it. What seemed like a half a minute later, he opened the door again.
"Please follow behind Felix and I, ladies," Demetri said, opening the doors so we could enter. They walked in and we proceeded behind them. As the stepped aside, Alice and I walked to the center of the throne room. Aro, Caius, and Marcus were sitting in their thrones. Two vampires that I did not know where holding Carlisle and Esme over in the same spot as two days ago. When Alice caught a glimpse of them held captive, for a split second, her face showed horror. As soon as it came, however, it was gone.
"Ah, Alice!" Aro said, getting out of his seat. "Such a pleasure to see you again!"
"Same to you, Aro," Alice replied.
He walked towards me, and I did not back away. I did not flinch.
"Alex. Back here so soon, hmm?" he said.
"Yes," I replied, stepping forward so I was standing closer to him. "I have an idea as to why you think I am here."
"Well, you are here to say goodbye! That is why I allowed you to come in with Alice. You were, in a way, invited," he said.
I smiled. "I was invited, wasn't I? But, sir, that is not why I am here."
He raised an eyebrow. "Now I am intrigued. Why are you here, my dear?"
"I have a proposition for you," I said. "An agreement for Carlisle and Esme's freedom."
He frowned. "Usually I would stop you now, but I would like to hear what you have come up with. Continue."
"Thank you sir," I said. I took a deep breath. "I remember you said that it did not matter that Carlisle and Esme didn't tell me they were vampires, but you were more upset with the fact that they kept me human. Am I correct in saying that?"
"Yes," he said flatly.
"Well, what if I am turned?" I said. I could hear Esme gasp slightly, but I did not turn to look at her.
"More details, please," Aro said.
"I will make a promise to you, sir, that I will be changed three weeks from my eighteenth birthday. My birthday is July 18th, so my transformation would occur in August of 2013. I will have completed high school, so it will not be highly noticed if I do not show up around town for a while. Also, since I will be older and more mature, I will be able to keep better control and not have a high risk of exposing myself," I said.
"Hmm, I do not know," Aro replied. "Sometimes promises are just empty words."
"Alice has seen my future," I told him. "I am a vampire."
He looked at Alice, then at me. He was silent for a while. I decided to speak up again.
"Sir," I began. "If you do not believe me, why not ask her? Or look for yourself, if you wish. You will see I tell you no lies."
"What a marvelous idea," he replied, turning to Alice. "Come here, darling. Give me your hand."
Alice held out her hand and Aro swiftly grabbed it. He closed his eyes, then opened them a minute later.
"It is true," he said. "You are a vampire in the future."
"So, if I promise to you that I will be turned three weeks from my eighteenth birthday, will you free Carlisle and Esme?" I asked.
He just stared at me for a moment.
Agree with me, agree with me, I chanted over and over in my head.
"You know, my dear, I usually would not have allowed something like this to occur, but you have changed my mind. I agree."
He held out his hand and I shook it.
"I sense great things from you," he said. "When you are a vampire and have discovered if you have a special ability or not, will you join us?"
"Thank you for the offer, sir, but I think I will stick with my family," I said.
"Very well," he muttered. "If you and Alice head out, Carlisle and Esme will follow."
I glanced over at them and then back to Aro.
"If you don't mind, I would like them to leave with Alice and I."
Aro smiled. "We were not planning on doing anything to them, but you are a driven young lady. Felix, Demetri, escort Carlisle and Esme out with Alice and Alex."
Felix and Demetri grabbed a hold of Carlisle and Esme then led Alice and I out of the room.
"I hope to see you after your transformation, Alex!" Aro said as the doors shut behind us.
Felix and Demetri led the four of us through the hallways, and I hoped that I wouldn't be back here for a while.
We made it to the alleyway and Jasper was still in the same spot as before. Alice ran to him and embraced him.
I watched Demetri and Alec leave without saying a word. As they replaced the grate behind them, I started to cry tears of joy. The plan worked! Carlisle and Esme were free!
I turned to look at them and they had the biggest smiles on their faces. Carlisle lifted me off of the ground and spun me around. Esme wrapped her arms around me for a tight hug, and Carlisle wrapped his arms around the both of us. He then knelt down so he was at eye level with me.
"We can never thank you enough," he said. "You saved us." He planted a kiss on my forehead.
"You should have seen yourself, Alex," Esme said. "Do you know how brave you looked?"
I laughed as more joyful tears meandered down my face. "I do now."
"You know," Carlisle said with a chuckle, "you should be a lawyer. You negotiated like a pro."
"I had always considered being a lawyer," I said truthfully. "People always seemed to listen and agree with what I said."
-oOo-
Carlisle and Esme are safe, but now Alex's future is set in stone. How will things turn out?