A/N: Apologies for the delay in publishing this chapter, as you know this tale is coming to an end and as it does so I find it increasingly difficult to write. That said I'm quite pleased with this chap and hope you enjoy it too. Elsewhere I am working on another fic, totally different to this one, Being Good, which you'll find if you visit my profile. If you have time please, do read it and review, I'm getting a few follows but not much in the way of words and I'd love to know whether I'm on the right track there! Still, enjoy...I'll try to be quicker next time! EQ x Bella
I was unable to suppress the shiver that ran down my spine. I had spent the past week hiding out in the bedrooms and library, but now I was faced with them, a room full of vampires, and not all of them were politely suppressing the look of hunger in their eyes…
After Alice had spoken to Carlisle on that blistering hot afternoon in Egypt she had insisted we take the first plane out of the country and travel back to Bethlehem. Edward was unsure, unconvinced even by the images she was showing him of the Volturi retreating, but he was unable to argue with the will of his family, the conviction of his sister that we could triumph over our enemy, my desire to go home, to have this nightmare over with.
I had kept from them all my fears and misgivings. I didn't believe that Alice was giving Edward all the information, all the possible outcomes of us standing before the Volturi. But I didn't want to keep running. I was tired, exhausted in fact. Something Alice had said in anger rang in my head constantly.
"Should we just keep running? Should we just keep one step ahead? How long for?"
I couldn't do it. I couldn't ask Edward to do it. I would rather face my fate and hope that I would walk away.
So we left. We left Egypt with Benjamin's reassurance that he wouldn't be far behind us. The other members of the coven made no such promises but Benjamin's smiling face as he wished us well on our journey and told us he couldn't wait to see America gave me just a spark of hope, a spark which ignited in to a small flame when less than a week later he arrived at the Cullen home, bringing with him not only Tia but the reassurance that Amun and Kebi, despite their deep misgivings, would join them soon.
The Cullens' house was full of energy and activity, the family taking it in turns to make phone calls, begging old friends to visit, to help them in their hour of need. Many shied away from committing themselves to a potential fight while others embraced the opportunity to honour their friendship, such was the depth of feeling towards Carlisle and his unusual family.
The next day after Benjamin and Tia's arrival I found myself face to face with some of the most beautiful women I had ever seen.
The Denali coven I had learned, much to my relief, were like the Cullens, in that they fed only on animals. But my relief at this news was soon replaced by misgivings of another sort.
Tanya – tall, blonde and with legs up to her neck – was the only being I had seen who could match Rosalie in beauty. I was used to feeling plain and scruffy, next to humans much less vampires, but Tanya made me feel uneasy in my skin like no other before.
She hovered around Edward like she was a moth and he was the brightest flame in the room. Only calling her a moth wasn't doing Tanya justice – she was the most beautiful, delicate butterfly washed in otherworldly colours and flitting around the man I had over the last weeks accepted that I was in love with. Forever.
"She only teases you know."
I was sat glumly at the Cullens breakfast bar, perched on a stool, my chin resting on crossed wrists, watching as Tanya threw her arms around Edward's waist from behind, laughing as he told her, not for the first time, that there was no way to sneak up on him.
"Maybe," I mumbled in to my sleeve, "but this is what it'll be like isn't it?"
Eleazar leaned against the bar and sighed deeply, "his love for you Bella, it's different. He seems always aware of where you are, he never takes his eyes away for a second when you're in the room. When you're away from him, even for a moment, he dulls visibly."
"But how can I compete with that?" I threw an arm out to indicate where Tanya was now giggling at something Edward said to her.
"He is talking to Tanya yes, but where is he looking Bella?"
As if Eleazar had given Edward a silent instruction his smile faltered and his eyes shifted from Tanya's face, scanning the room before coming to rest on my face. He broke in to a broad smile, his eyes softening as I raised a hand in greeting, feeling idiotic.
Eleazar rested a cold hand on my shoulder, the temperature searing through even the weighty sweater I wore, "when you are one of us you'll be just as beautiful as Tanya. Then perhaps you won't feel worried."
"Who said I would become one of you?"
He faltered, "I'm sorry. I had assumed…" his voice trailed off and he thought for a moment, "do you know what my life was before I found Tanya? And Kate and Irina?"
I shook my head, suddenly distracted from my miserable observation of the incredible blonde flirting with the man I loved.
"Carmen and I were part of the Volturi," he began, his eyes becoming – I thought – almost wistful, "it was there that we first met and fell in love.
"I have a gift Bella, one which was extremely useful to Aro. But my gift saw too many people changed, too many brought in to the Volturi against their will. I felt responsible, I was responsible, that was why I had to leave. The guilt was too much, leaving the Volturi was hard for us both but living under Aro's command, knowing that I had brought him so many innocents, decided their fate for them, was harder."
"What did you do?" I gasped, intrigued and appalled in equal measure.
"I have an ability unlike any other – I can guess," he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "no, perhaps see is a better word, the gifts of others, even before they themselves have discovered them.
"As you can no doubt imagine this was very useful to Aro. He likes to surround himself with those who have themselves unusual power. It's not only that their abilities make his coven more powerful but it is as though Aro regards those members of the Volturi with special abilities as collectables if you will."
I shuddered, "why are you telling me this?"
"Aro employed me as a talent hunter, someone who could track down those humans who promised great things."
He smiled as my mouth dropped open in shock.
"Yes, it is possible for me to know that a human will display extraordinary powers as an immortal. And yes, I was responsible for finding those humans and assisting in leading them to the Volturi. Those humans who promised to be useful were made immortal, usually against their will.
"Although it should be added that those who are in the Volturi's coven are there willingly, most love the power and the recognition. Most wouldn't dream of leaving for an existence of relative normality and drudge."
I felt bile rising in my throat, it shocked me that the Volturi could be so ruthless. I knew they were vicious but even so I regarded them, knowing what little I had been told by Edward and his family, as law makers, protectors of the secrets of the immortal, not as the cold blooded villains Eleazar described. I was reminded of the tales I had read of cults, of people brainwashed in to believing only good of the evil surrounding them.
"The reason I tell you this is not only to make you aware of the power the Volturi holds but because I see something in you Bella," he continued, "you are stronger than you realise. I don't know how your strength might manifest itself but I can see that as an immortal you will have great abilities, abilities to match Edward's, perhaps even better them."
My mind reeled with this new, unexpected information, "you mean I'll be able to hear people's thoughts?"
"No, no that's unlikely, these abilities tend to be rather singular, no two the same. No, I see a strength in you that you'll take in to your next life. I can see your ability to love is immense."
"I don't know if I want to love him any more than I already do Eleazar," I moaned, "it hurts too much."
He chuckled, "you'll find that your relationship changes once you're like us, once you and Edward are equals. And besides I mean rather that your ability to love, your desire to protect those around you, your strength of mind…I think they will be the things which will solidify when you are immortal."
"You mean if," I corrected, unsure how it could be that so many people were so sure I would allow myself to be changed, that Edward would allow it. Eleazar certainly hadn't been the first to talk of my transformation as if it was a given.
"If," he repeated with a small smile, "of course."
With that he drifted away, joining Carmen and Kate where they sat in the sun, allowing the light to prism off of their skin in the privacy of the Cullens' gated garden.
Though with the Denalis, Benjamin and Tia in the house I felt safe, when others started to arrive I took to keeping my distance. Holed up in other rooms, guarded by one of the Cullens at all times, most usually Edward, I awaited reports of the new arrivals as one 'guard' took over from another.
The first to arrive were a group of Irish vampires who, I was reassured time and again, were civilized enough to respect the Cullens' desire to keep hunting grounds far away from Bethlehem and, in particular, from me.
Nonetheless I was alerted to their arrival with the sound of a woman's loud laugh followed by her smooth, strong accent declaring, "I could smell that gorgeous human miles away, I wonder how you manage it!"
Though Siobhan meant nothing by the statement it was enough to put Edward on edge and for me to agree to his over-protective suggestion that I stay away from the visitors from then on.
Of course it wasn't the last time that I heard myself mentioned but as more and more vampires arrived – friends of Jasper's from elsewhere in America, closely followed by another American who travelled alone, Amun and Kebi and, finally, a pair of terrifying vampires from Romania.
It was the arrival of the final two which solidified Edward's conviction that I be kept locked away. Rose had been with me when Alice saw them coming. She burst through the door, panicked.
"Rose the Romanians are coming and I can't see what they want!"
"So?" Rose had drawled, a disinterested expression on her face.
"So?" Alice scoffed her eyes wandering to where I sat curled on a sofa reading one of Carlisle's old volumes.
"Shit," I huffed, "somebody else who'll want to eat me is it?"
"It's not a joke Bella," Alice looked paler than ever, if that was even possible, "the Romanians are the only coven as old as, if not older, than the Volturi. They're the vampires all your human'fiction' is based on."
"Yup," Rose agreed, "they really don't like garlic breath."
"You guys can laugh about this all you want but when they get here you'll soon wise up."
Alice was right. I only had one brief glimpse of Vladimir and Stefan, a glimpse that earned Emmett – who had let me travel to the bathroom without his assistance just that once - a royal beating from Edward. But that one glimpse was enough to make me more than happy to stay locked away for as long as I had to.
The two vampires, lingering in the darkest corner of the hallway, speaking in whispers stiffened as I approached the bathroom, thankfully positioned closer to me than they were. I knew they smelled me and I knew how I smelled to vampires.
"That must be her," one said, as they both turned, so slowly that I felt as if the world was moving in slow motion.
Once they were facing me, serene smiles plastered across their faces, but their nostrils flared, I took only a second to observe them. My skin ran cold at the sight of their paper white skin and eyes the colour of dried blood. Alice was right. If Dracula had ever lived he was doubtless one of these two.
"Excuse me…I'm just…" I had darted in to the bathroom, slamming the door and locking it behind me before hurridley pulling out my cell.
But before I could so much as pull up Edward's number I heard an angry voice outside.
"What did you two say to her?"
"Why, nothing at all my dear," one of the Romanians drawled in his thick Eastern European accent, "I think simply our presence – how do you say? - spooked her."
I listened, my heart pounding in my chest, as Edward suggested they find Carlisle downstairs in the study. Barely a moment passed before he was rattling the door handle of the bathroom and shouting my name.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," I soothed, unlocking the door and letting him join me inside, "I just didn't expect…that."
He had pulled me to him, tucking my head in to his chest where, if it had not been frozen by venom and time, I would have felt his heart beat.
"I know you said no more sorrys but truly Bella, I am," he whispered. I had nodded in response, silent tears soaking his shirt.
"The only positive thing I can give you is this," he began, lifting me on to the edge of the bath and kneeling in front of me, "Alice says the Volturi will be here in a matter of days – two, three at most – and then, one way or another, all this will be over."
"One way or another," I echoed, knowing exactly what he meant.
"I will do everything Bella, everything in my power to keep you safe from the Volturi. And if I survive this please know that I will never do anything this recklessly stupid or selfish again."
"Hey," I had chuckled, pushing tears away with angry hands, "I won't let you do anything this stupid or selfish again!"
He blinked disbelievingly at me, "you mean you'll stay with me? Even after everything?"
I shrugged, "there's a lot to think about. When I told you before that I wasn't the same girl you used to love I wasn't lying, I have my own life, other priorities."
"I understand, I'll do anything…I'll go anywhere…"
I put a finger to his lips to stop him babbling, "I love you Edward. I always have. And even if I can't forget what happened I can try to forgive you. It won't be easy but I want us to move on."
"I do too," he said pulling me down to him so we were kneeling knee to knee, "this might not be the perfect time or the perfect situation but I promise, Isabella Swan, to spend the rest of my existence proving to you how much I love you and how sorry I am."
I swatted him gently, blushing all over my face at his gushing words – sentiment never had been my thing – but he caught my hand in his, pulling it towards him and with it the rest of me, until I was straddling his lap and we were kissing passionately, our fingers tangling in each others hair, our hot breath on each other, whispering promises and love.
"I'm aware that most of you have met Bella now, at least in passing, but it seems only right that you are officially introduced," Carlisle announced as I lurked behind him, hanging on to Edward's arm, my fingernails digging hard in to his skin.
Benjamin was the first to move towards me, Tia trailing him as always, his constant shadow.
"Bella, I've missed you," he grinned, winking. Tia only nodded, Amun and Kebi following suit from their position across the room.
"Hi Bella," a large woman, her curves undulating in the most sensuous way floated across the room, her arms stretched out in front of her, "I'm so sorry, Edward told me that you heard me speaking about your scent. I meant no harm by it at all but still I cannot apologise enough."
I glared at Edward, not in the least pleased that he had apparently scolded this woman on my behalf.
"I'm Siobhan," she continued before indicating the two vampires at her side, "and this right here is Maggie and Liam."
The introductions continued, each in turn either coming towards me to shake my hand or waving from across the room, preferring not to touch the human or come too close. I couldn't be offended by their decision to stay away.
I wondered what they thought of me, these bizarre and exquisite creatures, these immortal beings with strength and power I could only dream of. I wondered if they thought me dull or stupid for getting caught up in this unlikely world, in this dangerous situation, or if those of them who had said as much really thought me brave.
"You're a hit, as always," Edward whispered, as if he had suddenly discovered he could read my thoughts after all.
I only had time to shake my head dismissively before Carlisle clapped his hands together, indicating that he wished for the room to be silent.
It was an illustration of the respect that Edward's father commanded that immediately the entire room was hushed, allowing him to address the not insubstantial crowd which was gathered.
"As you are no doubt aware, Alice calculates that we have mere hours before we are to be visited by our Italian cousins.
"Again I wish to thank you all for coming, you really do have no idea how much your presence means to myself and my family. I expect nothing of any of you and only ask that if you believe Edward to be trustworthy, to deserve a second chance, and if you wish to protect Bella – an innocent, an innocent who has kept our secret for years – from the wrath of the Volturi, that you stand by us.
"I ask none of you to fight, I expect nobody to speak on our behalf. The reason we have asked you to be with us, as reasonable, fair thinking beings," his eyes were magnetically drawn to the Romanians, knowing that they were present, uninvited, only in hopes of a fight, "is to show the Volturi that there are others who disagree with their ways."
There was a smattering of applause, led by Garrett, the cheerful nomad who appeared to find the whole affair exciting, another page in a life of adventures.
Carlisle raised his hand, smiling wryly.
"I'd rather we kept the Volturi away from the local towns and so, as I have previously discussed with each of you, I suggest we leave now, towards the agreed place. Alice will lead us."
I glanced at Edward questioningly, I had no idea we were expected to be somewhere else. It was dark, early morning and I knew I had no hope of walking anywhere free of pavements without injury.
"You and I are taking the car as far as we can. Then I'll carry you."
We watched the assembled vampires disperse, led by Alice and Jasper, leaping lightly across the lawn and disappearing in to the surrounding trees soundlessly until the house was silent and it was as if the gathering of mythical creatures had been only a dream. A strange, colourful dream.
