CHAPTER 26
I was watching Bella closely now. I noticed a movement from Edward; he must have said something to her. She replied and I was shocked when he lurched toward Carlisle, speaking to him. Carlisle said something back, a look of surprise on his face.
"Jane," Edward said just loudly enough that I heard it. He sounded angry.
I looked at Jane. She had a small smile on her face as she looked at our opponents. Her smiled faded, a grimace soon replacing it completely. Before a second had passed the grimace became a sneer. I could hear her growling quietly. She was glaring at Bella now.
My eyes flickered back and forth between them. Bella smiled. Jane seemed to be concentrating, trying to hurt her. Bella smiled wider and Jane flipped out. She snarled; a high-pitched, frightening sound. Alec grabbed her arm just as she was about to pounce.
The entire guard was watching the exchange, and when I looked back at the witnesses who were still there, I noted that they were also paying attention. Jane's gift was legendary in the vampire world.
I heard dark laughter coming from the other side of the clearing and I looked back. The Romanians were enjoying the show.
"I told you this was our time," one of the men said.
"Just look at the witch's face," the other replied.
They weren't trying to be quiet. The rapture on their faces was an interesting response to what was happening in front of them.
I looked back to Jane. Alec was patting and rubbing her arm, talking quietly into her ear. He embraced her and looked at the Cullens. I wondered if he was about to use his power against them.
I could see the intense look of concentration on his face. He was definitely using his gift, but it hadn't affected them yet. I wondered how long it would take before they were all begging to see again. I looked at the strange mist-like substance flowing over the field, toward the Cullens. I hadn't realized that Alec's gift had a physical form. It shimmered and rolled along the ground.
I was concentrating so hard on the mist, that I was completely shocked when a rumbling came from beneath my feet. A gust of wind blew snow through the clear area between their side and ours. The snow blew past the mist from Alec, which was completely unaffected. After a few seconds, a groan sounded in the ground, and a sharp cracking sound was followed by a deep fissure opening up between our groups. I felt shaking under my feet. The mist continued to move forward.
The shaking was enough to get the attention of the deadly trio. They broke apart. All of them seemed to focus on the new opening in the earth in front of them.
It was silent on both sides of the clearing, except for the shrill wind that continued to blow the snow up and through the mist. I watched the mist approach the Cullens and their friends, but it suddenly stopped. It lagged for a moment, then started creeping upward, as if there were a bubble over the vampires standing there.
There were gasps of horror from our side of the field. I heard excitement from those on the other side.
"Well done, Bella," I heard a man say.
I looked at her and she was luminous. Her smile was huge and she beamed with the excitement of having accomplished something impossible. But, how was she responsible for this? How was she stopping the mist?
I looked at Alec. He looked uncertain. Jane was staring at his face in shock.
"What's the matter, Alec? Why aren't they screaming?" she asked.
"I don't know. This has never happened to me before. I didn't expect to affect Bella, but everyone else should be in the dark by now."
When I looked back at Bella, I could tell she was whispering to Edward. One word came through loud and clear – Demetri. I had seen her lips form the word, and I was stunned. More than that, I was scared. I could see how he would be the priority in a battle, and I wanted to grab his hand and run away from this meadow, away from the Volturi, before they could get him killed.
I almost moved, almost broke ranks at that moment. But, I realized that others were moving around me slightly. They were whispering.
"What can we do without Alec and Jane?"
"Why can't he affect any of them?"
"Can we take on that many of them without Alec and Jane to help us?"
There was suddenly a sense of fear among the guard; real, cloying fear, grabbing at our throats, sitting in the pits of our stomachs. I could feel it, like a physical presence in our midst. I knew that if the leaders didn't react soon, the guard would be lost to the sensation that was hanging over us.
I looked at the group surrounding the Cullens. Each set of lips carried the name of their intended victim. They were preparing for the assault. The attack had begun the moment that Jane tried to hurt Bella, and was continuing with Alec, although it had been ineffective to this point.
"I just want Caius," I heard one of Irina's sisters say.
I shuddered.
Aro's voice finally broke the silence on our side. "Before we vote…"
Angry glares met him as he started to speak. The Cullens were tired of his game. They knew what he was trying to do.
He went on, as if nothing was wrong. "Let me remind you, whatever the council's decision, there need be no violence here."
He had obviously seen the division of victims that I had seen.
Edward snarled, choking out a sound that was almost a laugh.
I watched Aro's head swinging back and forth. He was staring at them now, and I couldn't even see his face in profile.
"It will be a regrettable waste to our kind to lose any of you. But you especially, young Edward, and your newborn mate. The Volturi would be glad to welcome many of you into our ranks. Bella, Benjamin, Zafrina, Kate. There are many choices before you. Consider them."
There it was - his plan from the beginning – to take home the talented and destroy the rest. I held my breath, awaiting the response I was afraid was coming.
I watched Aro's head as he looked from one side of their line to the other. Their faces were unchanged. They would not accept his 'offer'. I crouched again, waiting for the signal.
"Let us vote, then," he said, flippantly, as if this weren't a life of death decision.
Caius jumped right in, his hands moving as he spoke. "The child is an unknown quantity. There is no reason to allow such a risk to exist. It must be destroyed, along with all who protect it." I could hear the smile behind his words.
A cool, mellow voice was next. Although I'd only heard him speak a few times, I knew it was Marcus. "I see no immediate danger. We can always reevaluate later. Let us leave in peace." There was compassion there and I wondered if he was thinking of his lost love as he spoke.
The guard around me moved into a deeper crouch, waiting for Aro to decide this matter. His vote would determine our fates this day.
"I must make the deciding vote, it seems," Aro said. He was almost singing the words.
And then, the most unexpected thing happened. Edward stood up, his body stiff, and he hissed out the last word I would have believed, "Yes!"
His face was exultant. He looked as if he had already won this battle. I was suddenly terrified. I had no idea what was happening now. Murmurs ran through the guard. They had all seen Edward's victorious face.
"Aro?" he called out. He was pleased about something.
After a brief pause, Aro said, "Yes, Edward? You have something further?"
"Perhaps," Edward said. He seemed like he was about to burst with happiness. Confusion clouded my thoughts.
"First," he went on, "if I could clarify one point?"
"Certainly," Aro said.
"The danger you foresee from my daughter – this stems entirely from our inability to guess how she will develop? That is the crux of the matter?"
"Yes, friend Edward. If we could but be positive…be sure that, as she grows, she will be able to stay concealed from the human world – not endanger the safety of our obscurity…" He shrugged. His voice was smug.
"So, if we could only know for sure, exactly what she will become…then there would be no need for a council at all?" Edward asked. I wished I could know what he was thinking.
"If there was some way to be absolutely sure, then, yes, there would be no question to debate." Aro didn't sound as sure this time. His voice was slightly higher in pitch. He wondered what Edward was doing, too. His hand twitched at his side, as if he longed to touch Edward and know his thoughts.
"And we would part in peace, good friends once again?" Edward asked. He was smiling widely.
"Of course, my young friend. Nothing would please me more." Aro was obviously lying. His voice had taken on an unreal tone.
Edward laughed out loud. "Then I do have something more to offer."
Aro and Caius stiffened visibly.
"She is absolutely unique. Her future can only be guessed at." Aro was sounding uncertain.
"Not absolutely unique. Rare, certainly, but not one of a kind."
Startled looks crossed every face I could see. Both sides of the battle lines reacted with amazement and curiosity. Bella looked stricken for just a moment, then as she looked at Edward, her face lit up. Joy, followed by a momentary glare in Jane's direction.
"Aro, would you ask Jane to stop attacking my wife? We are still discussing evidence." Now Edward was smug.
Aro raised his hand. "Peace, dear ones. Let us hear him out."
Jane growled quietly. Alec still had a hand on her arm and I watched his fingers grasp her wrist, holding her in place.
"Why don't you join us, Alice?" Edward called.
I turned my gaze back to him and to Bella. They were glowing with happiness.
"Alice." The word carried on the breeze, many voices joining in the refrain. Most noticeable on our side was Aro's. His voice caressed the word.
At this point, everyone present could hear the footsteps approaching us through the forest. Nobody moved, but I could hear unrest in the witnesses behind us.
And then, they were there. Alice and Jasper ran into the clearing. They were followed by three other vampires, two women and a man. One of the women seemed to be related to the tall, frightening looking women who were already with the Cullens, the other woman, and the man, seemed dark toned and had long dark hair twisted into braids.
Suddenly, Aro stiffened. One by one, the guard members followed suit. We all heard the beating heart that had joined us. But, the only people who had joined us were obviously vampires. They ran with amazing speed and grace. Then, I looked at the man again. His skin did not have the deathly pallor that the rest of us had. His skin was a rich, dark brown. Human - yet not.
Alice ran to Edward's side. All of the Cullen's reached for her, touching her face, her arm, her hair. They had truly missed her presence. Jasper quietly moved in behind them, avoiding attention.
I heard Felix chuckle. His hissing whisper crossed to me.
"The barrier will not hold out a physical attack, only a mental one."
The eyes of several guard members scanned the area where Alice had entered their line. The mist was unbroken, still trying to permeate the fringe of the bubble around them.
"Bella first," Felix whispered to Demetri. He nodded, with a grim look on his face. Several of the guard members around me passed the message along.
Edward snapped up, stiffening his back. He remained in control of his voice and his facial expressions.
"Alice has been searching for her own witnesses these last weeks. And she does not come back empty-handed." He turned to her, and moved his hand, as if prompting her to talk. "Alice, why don't you introduce the witnesses you've brought?"
Caius was furious. He snarled and stomped his foot. "The time for witnesses is past! Cast your vote, Aro!"
Aro simply raised a finger. His curiosity was enormous, there was no way this young man would not be explored.
Alice took a few steps toward us. "This is Huilen and her nephew, Nahuel."
Most of the guard gasped. Several hissed. Our witnesses grew more restless, their feet shuffled as they edged toward the tree line. I could see Caius stiffen at the words Alice had spoken.
"Speak, Huilen," Aro prompted. "Give us the witness you were brought to bear."
The small dark woman looked at Alice for support. Alice nodded and the tall woman placed her hand on Huilen's shoulder.
"I am Huilen. A century and a half ago, I lived with my people, the Mapuche. My sister was Pire. Our parents named her after the snow on the mountains because of her fair skin. And she was very beautiful – too beautiful. She came to me one day in secret and told me of the angel that found her in the woods; that visited her by night. I warned her." Huilen was shaking her head. She continued, her accent was thick. "As if the bruises on her skin were not warning enough. I knew it was the Libishomen of our legends, but she would not listen. She was bewitched.
"She told me when she was sure her dark angel's child was growing inside her. I didn't try to discourage her from her plan to run away – I knew even our father and mother would agree that the child must be destroyed, Pire with it. I went with her into the deepest parts of the forest. She searched for her demon angel but found nothing. I cared for her, hunted for her when her strength failed. She ate the animals raw, drinking their blood. I needed no more confirmation of what she carried in her womb. Ihoped to save her life before I killed the monster.
"But, she loved the child inside her. She called him Nahuel, after the jungle cat, when he grew strong and broke her bones – and loved him still.
"I could not save her. The child ripped his way free of her, and she died quickly, begging all the while that I would care for her Nahuel. Her dying wish – and I agreed.
"He bit me, though, when I tried to lift him from her body. I crawled away into the jungle to die. I didn't get far – the pain was too much. But he found me; the newborn child struggled through the underbrush to my side and waited for me. When the pain ended, he was curled against my side, sleeping.
"I cared for him until he was able to hunt for himself. We hunted the villages around our forest, staying to ourselves. We have never come so far from our home, but Nahuel wished to see the child here."
The small woman bowed her head and tried to hide behind the other woman.
Aro's stature shifted. He wasn't pleased.
"Nahuel," he queried, "you are one hundred and fifty years old?"
"Give or take a decade. We don't keep track." His voice was smooth and self-assured, and his accent was less noticeable.
"And you reached maturity at what age?"
"About seven years after my birth, more or less, I was full grown."
Seven years! Amazing.
"You have not changed since then?" Aro asked.
The man shrugged, looking completely at ease. "Not that I've noticed."
"And your diet?"
"Mostly blood, but some human food, too. I can survive on either."
"You were able to create an immortal?" I could hear shifting feet all around me. We were all tense over this development.
"Yes, but none of the rest can."
Now everyone murmured. There was a cacophony of sound on either side of the divide.
"The rest?" Aro asked, sounding stunned and frightened.
"My sisters," Nahuel said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Aro paused for five seconds. He squared his shoulders and held his head high again.
"Perhaps you would tell us the rest of your story, for there seems to be more," Aro finally said.
Nahuel scowled. He was intense.
"My father came looking for me a few years after my mother's death. He was pleased to find me. He had two daughters, but no sons. He expected me to join him, as my sisters had.
"He was surprised I was not alone. My sisters are not venomous, but whether that's due to gender or a random chance, who knows? I already had my family with Huilen, and I was not interested in making a change." His lips twisted around the words, anger leaking out. "I see him from time to time. I have a new sister; she reached maturity about ten years back."
"Your father's name?" Caius asked. His voice was strained.
"Joham. He considers himself a scientist. He thinks he's creating a new super-race." He was obviously disgusted.
Caius turned to Bella. "Your daughter, is she venomous?"
"No," she replied.
Nahuel looked at her with shock evident on his face.
Aro's head moved slightly, taking in the people on the other side. He was contemplating, deciding what he should do now. He had affirmed Edward's statement. He was stuck.
I heard Caius growling softly. "We take care of the aberration here, and then follow it south."
Aro stood silently, weighing his options. He was in a bad place. The movement behind us, witnesses leaving the scene, was a testament to his problem.
His voice was soft when he finally spoke. "Brothers, there appears to be no danger. This is an unusual development, but I see no threat. These half-vampire children are much like us, it appears."
Caius was furious, his stance changed, he was moving toward a crouch, preparing to attack Aro. "Is that your vote?"
"It is." He turned to look at Caius, glaring as he took in his stance. Caius stood up fully again.
"And this Joham? This immortal so fond of experimentation?"
"Perhaps we should speak with him," Aro said.
Nahuel spoke again. "Stop Joham, if you will. But leave my sisters be. They are innocent."
Aro nodded at him, agreeing. Then, he turned to look at all of us. "Dear ones," he crooned, "we do not fight today."
And just like that, it was over. There would be no grand battle. The guard all nodded in agreement with Aro, and stood up, straightening out of our battle positions. Alec's mist disappeared. We were really done here.
I should have felt relieved. I should have been happy that none of my friends would die today. I should have rejoiced that Demetri was no longer a target and that I would not have to test my battle skills.
I couldn't.
Demetri and I had been thwarted; our plan was over before it started. Our scheme had been to fight when the battle started. Demetri was sure that he would have to destroy at least one of the vampires on the other side. I was going to play along, helping to capture Alice, or fight another, if I must. But, we were going to use the distraction of the fight, the smoke of the fires, to leave. Demetri had hoped that if nobody saw our departure, they would assume that we had burned.
Now, there would be no chaos, no fires. I looked at Demetri, begging for an answer to our dilemma. He shrugged softly. He didn't have one for me.
I could hear the witnesses leaving the scene, and I wanted desperately to grab Demetri's hand and leave with them. Neither of us would survive returning to Volterra.
We moved in our formation again, heading out of the clearing. I watched Demetri's form, walking with Caius and Marcus. I was surprised when I heard Aro speak again.
"I'm so glad this could be resolved without violence. My friend, Carlisle – how pleased I am to call you friend again! I hope there are no hard feelings. I know you understand the strict burden that our duty places on our shoulders." Aro was trying to clean up his mess.
"Leave in peace, Aro," Carlisle said, his voice was harsh. He said more, and Aro responded, but I was too scared to listen.
As I approached the tree line with the guard, I tried one desperate measure.
"Edward, I know you can hear me. This is Alyssa Brooks. Demetri and I need your help. We will contact you," I thought, as loudly as I could. I envisioned the scene at the Volturi castle, as we listened from the turret. I projected our dilemma. I allowed him to see my love for Demetri, and our plans for escape.
He probably didn't care. But, I had to try.
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A/N Yes, the dialogue is SM's. I'm just telling this part from the other side of the field. Now…I can move on to what happened after they left the field of battle!! I hope you'll continue to follow my story.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!!