DISCLAIMER: I'm a dinosaur who still doesn't own Twilight (:
A/N !! I'm on my way home now, back to sunny old Scotland. Not. It's raining :|
Chapter 25
Carlisle's POV:
Bella was quivering beside me, and my insides were doing tumble turns. As we walked through the ancient metal doors, we were greeted by the smell of flowers, and I saw that the enormous lobby was surrounded by vases of big red and white roses.
We strode over to the empty reception and waited a few moments for Gianna to return to her seat. She began sorting through some files, and spoke before she looked up to see us.
"Good morning, welcome to Volterra Royal Hotel How can I help you?" Interesting. They'd changed their cover story since I'd last visited, but I suppose the large building could look like a hotel.
"We were looking for Aro, please." I spoke in a hushed voice, but still loud enough for her human ears to hear. She looked up, a shocked look on her face, then realisation.
"Oh, I'm sorry Sir. One moment." She disappeared behind the desk again, and came back moments later.
"I'm sorry, it appears that he is busy all day today. He will be able to see you in a couple of weeks, if you would like to come back then . . ." Bella still stood – barely upright – shaking like a leaf. This was not going as planned.
"Tell him that it's Carlisle. And it's urgent. We need to see him today." I could see that Gianna was about to shake her head, and tell me that it was impossible, but I glared at her, using the full power of my vicious mortal eyes. Her wide eyes showed her fear and she stammered as she tried to respond.
"I-I'll ggo and see if it is possible Sir." She practically ran to the door of the small reception, probably terrified.
I patted Bella's arm comfortingly, and she looked up with a thankful half-smile.
It was a couple of minutes until Gianna returned.
"Aro says he will see you today, but it may take a while. They are um. . .eating just now. You can stay in the waiting area for the time being." She pointed with a shaking hand to the left where there was a row of chairs and small sofas.
"Thank you for your help." I lead Bella over to the waiting area, and she sat down in one of the armchairs, her face emotionless.
It seemed like every 20 seconds Bella would look at her wristwatch – A present from Edward – and with every glance, she seemed to sink further into the chair, and further into despair and depression.
I tried to keep optimistic, but it was hard to do so in the gloomy atmosphere, despite the brightly coloured room.
I kept trying to call the house phone, but no matter where I went in the massive lobby, I had no phone reception at all. I prayed that Alice could see that we had arrived safely.
At almost four o'clock – More than six hours after we arrived at the 'hotel' – Alec came out into the lobby, and stared in our direction, signalling with a flick of his head for us to follow him.
We caught up with him by the time we got to the large marble elevators. We entered it in silence, but as soon as the doors closed, Alec turned to Bella, and spoke in a sarcastic voice.
"Where's the vampire child?" He smirked. I had to grab Bella's arm to hold her back from advancing towards Alec, probably planning to snap his neck. A fight in the elevator before hand probably wouldn't bid well when we asked the Volturi for help. I'm sure Bella remembered this but I kept my hand firmly on her elbow in case. Alec just stood smirking at his snide comment until we reached the bottom floor, way beyond ground level.
The doors opened with a pinging sound and we all exited quickly.
We then went down two stairwells, their walls covered with priceless paintings and ancient marble busts.
Alec led us into the large, eerie room where Aro, Caius and Marcus sat in the large metal chairs – Aro in the middle, or course – looking like royalty.
"Ah, Carlisle. And Bella too! What a pleasure it is to see you again, and in much happier circumstances too!" Yes, he was right that the last meeting hadn't been to cheery, but I didn't expect this one to be joyful either.
"I'm afraid not, Aro. We come bearing great grief." I tried to make my voice sound sad, and it didn't take much work, all things considered.
"Oh?" He turned to face Bella, who was standing slightly behind me. "I'm surprised Edward isn't with you. I'd had the impression he wouldn't let you out of his sight. I'm intrigued."
In my peripheral vision I saw Bella wince at Aro's words. And assuming that she didn't have the energy to answer for herself, I spoke on behalf of both of us.
"That is our reason for being here. It appears that we have had some trouble with another immortal bothering our family." Aro raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Have our rules here been broke, my friend, by this immortal?" Damn. I had hoped he wouldn't ask that.
"Not directly" I answered cautiously.
"Then I'm afraid I don't understand the problem" Aro stroked his chin thoughtfully. I was about to explain when Caius interrupted rudely.
"If no rules have been broken, you shouldn't be bothering the royal guard pointlessly. This is not a social get together venue. Please do not waste our time." He finished the complaint with a roll of his eyes and disregarding flick of his wrist.
Bella surprised me by speaking up, in a tiny frail voice.
"Aro, we're here to ask for your help."
Louise's POV:
I lay on the leather sofa, playing spider solitaire on my laptop. I was now seven months pregnant and pretty much useless for anything but beating my personal best on virtual card games.
Paul had said he had to go out and do something, which probably meant a pack meeting or whatever they do. I wasn't bothered. Yes, I missed Paul when he was out but it was nice to get some alone time. Well, as alone as you can be when your expecting twins.
Denise had already left for work, which meant I had probably about two hours – or more, depending how long Paul was gone for – to do whatever I wanted, which was nothing at all.
When I'd finished my seventh game of solitaire in a row, I pushed the laptop off of my knee and unplugged it. I lay out flat and closed my eyes, though I had no intentions to sleep. I lay thinking. And remembering. Remembering the day we'd told my Mum and Dad about the engagement.
My mum had been happy for us. My dad. . .Not so much.
* * *
My dad's face stayed stone like and emotionless, as if I hadn't just said the dreaded words, 'we're engaged'
My mum managed a smile, but it didn't look that put on, so I smiled shyly back.
"Congratulations, sweetie. God, I think that's the only thing we've said to you in the last few months!" I laughed nervously, as I tried to see my dads reaction over my mums shoulder as she hugged me.
He was glaring at Paul, deadly daggers apparent in his stare.
My mum didn't seem to notice and she lifted up my left hand.
"oooh. What a lovely ring! You have good taste Paul darlin'." Mum had got into the habit of calling Paul 'darlin', like he was her own son, which I guess, in a way, he kind of was now. He would be soon, anyway.
"Thank you" Paul nodded in my mums direction, smiling in a way that made my heart melt.
"Colin, what's wrong? What are you staring at?" My dad snapped out of it and looked at my mum from his armchair.
"You can't tell me you're happy about this Helen! She's only 18 for Christ's sake!" I felt the need to butt in.
"Dad I'm nineteen in two weeks. ."
He glared at me.
"Not the point, Louise." He spat at me, His brow was furrowed and the wrinkles on his forehead were deaper than normal.
"Then what is your point?" My mum sounded angry with him, and I was surprised she was on our side, not his. "I wasn't much older when you asked me to marry you." She raised an eyebrow at him, waiting on a come back.
He came up short, and rolled is eyes in defeat.
"I'm still not happy about it." He mumbled, and I wasn't even sure I'd heard him correctly.
Paul had looked at me meaningfully. I knew what he meant. He wanted me to tell them the other news.
I knew I had to. I took in a deep breathe, let it out, and turned to my mum, not wanting to look my dad in the face when I said it out loud.
"And I'm kind of having twins. . ."
That hadn't gone down too well.
* * *
I opened my eyes to the sound of the front door opening. I must have nodded off thinking about telling them. I was surprised it hadn't caused me a nightmare.
Paul came into the living room, with a plastic shopping bag in each hand. He'd been shopping?
"Hello sweetheart" He put the bags down beside the sofa and leaned over to kiss me gently. "Did you have a good sleep?" I held out my hands for him to help me sit up and he took them in both of his, helping me up.
"I didn't really sleep. Just nodded off for a while." He smiled, and sat down on the couch beside me.
"You look tired, love." He stroked the dark bags under my eyes before kissing my forehead. "Lie down and get some sleep."
I did what he said and lay down, putting my head on his lap. He stroked my hair soothingly, and by the time I remembered to ask him what he'd been buying at the shops, I was floating softly into unconsciousness.
Bella's POV:
"Aro, we're here to ask for your help." My voice came out as a tiny whisper, and if everyone in the room hadn't had otherworldly hearing, my statement would have gone unnoticed.
Aro stood up from his throne-like chair and walked towards me with such grace. He held out both hands ready to grasp mine. I looked at Carlisle cautiously, and he nodded slowly. My hand shook madly as I stretched out my arm.
Aro's icy touch startled me. I'd presumed that now that I was immortal, his touch would feel normal, perhaps even arm when he held my hand, but it still felt as could as it had in spring of last year, colder maybe.
He gasped as he saw my thoughts. . . . memories. . . .fears.
He removed his icicle fingers from my own and stared between Carlisle and I.
"What dreadful pain you have been put through. I ask that you share my remorse with the rest of your family. And the poor child Renesmee. Such horrors shouldn't have been put upon you, Isabella. I am deeply sorry."
I tried to swallow the lump in my throat but the intensity of the room kept me in pain. Did that mean they would help?
"I understand what you are asking of us, Isabella." When he spoke my name, he rolled the 'S', making it last for a couple of seconds.
"Please," I begged, whispering in a low, desperate voice. "It's all I want. And we can't do it without your help."
"Yes, I can see that. We shall consider it. Please, leave us to discuss the matter." He gestured with hiss hand towards the door.
Carlisle led me back up to the waiting area, his hands now vibrating unsteadily too.
Then we waited. Waited. Waited.
It felt like days passing. Weeks, perhaps.
Then Alec finally returned, a smug grin slapped on his face yet again.
"Come," He said, and his voice sounded almost amused. "We have some things to. . .discuss." He choked back a laugh at the end. What was even remotely funny about any of this?
We returned down to the underground death hall and stood again in front of the three thrones.
Aro – who was also smiling – Was gazing intently at me, and it made me nervous. And suspicious.
"Isabella." Again with the strange pronunciation. "We currently have a serious problem. It needs dealt with, I can see that. But how do we proceed. . ."
I noticed that Demetri had joined the group in the large room along with Felix.
"We aren't know for our charity work." Caius scoffed.
Carlisle, who had been very quiet, spoke up next.
"We know, but we were wondering, as a favour. You know, a one off thing?" He didn't sound that hopeful, and Caius shattered any tiny piece of hope anyway.
"You wondered in vain. We are not going to help anyone let alone those who-" Aro raised his hand and Caius was silenced.
Aro was staring me right in the eye, as if looking deep into my soul.
"What would you give, Isabella? What would you give for us to help?" He tilted his head, his hands clasped in front of him.
I spoke without thinking, but it was truthful at the time. "Anything." I spoke loudly this time, and repeated it. "Anything." my tone was almost aggressive.
"Really?" Aro raised his eyebrows. "How. . . . interesting."
A/N Wow, this is a long chapter :S Hope you enjoyed it! Please review! It makes me smile, and write, and eat Easter eggs.
Over and Out peeps! x