Stubborn
"Welcome, welcome," Aro chimed, standing up from the pedestal. "Isn't this wonderful," Aro asked the men who sat on either side of him.
Caius and Marcus, who sat upon the same dais as Aro, stared blankly in the sullenly decor of the room, more ancient than the stones that made the bricks of the walls. Neither of them looked as if they shared any of the same entrainment as Aro and the rest of The Guard did with our display. Their faces were molded with too many days and too little culture to hold the same essence as Aro. Aro seemed one of those who were built to be Gods, as where his brothers seem to find their power boring and the curse of immortality dulling.
Not Aro... From this meeting with him, I saw that he, like Laurent, praised the little things of time with the fullest attention and concentration - a product of having the talent he possessed, no doubt.
"It is so happy that you are still in our grace, Edward. From what Jane has shown me, it is in much thanks to Victoria. Through Jane's eyes, you were so very close to extinction. That would have been a sorrow in my heart that I would forever bear." Aro's language was so decorated and tone so cheerful, I felt as if I was under-animated about the situation.
"Yes, Aro," Edward said simply, his voice masked of emotion. He was clutching Bella to him, as if she were a treasure that was in danger of being taken, which she was. She was in the ultimate danger that neither Edward nor I could prevent.
Somehow, I was not as faded by this threat as one might assume. I think the moment she saw Edward, the connection I had with her heart beat dissipated into a bleakness. As if Bella was already dead, and all I had left of her was the empty shell of the past.
"But, nevertheless," Aro began, looking between Edward and Alice. "I am thankful for the way things. It has brought us new friends and updates of old ones. You must give Carlisle my approval of his talented family. It puzzles me how he has managed to sustain such a life and diet." He paused for a second to gaze at me. "You must tell Laurent I miss his company dearly. He is always welcome."
"I will tell him," I spoke in a monotone, using the same control as Edward.
Aro laughed at my mimic. "Please, relax. All of you. There are no punishments to be received this evening... Well, none that I can foresee at the current moment, but no one can be more sure as Alice of how our meeting will end."
Alice's body seemed to slightly tense at his words. "Nothing is certain," she said causally, smiling.
"From what Edward has shown me, it quite reliable. You carry a wondrous gift," he praise, giving her a meaningful look.
"It is as much of a problem as it is a help," she answered modestly, with a bashful facade.
"But, either way, impressive, and just as intriguing as your's, Edward. I envy much of the convenience your talent must give." He now gave Edward the same suggesting look as Alice.
Edward did not smooth his expression, but his eyes seemed to harden with a new caution. "It is no more useful as your's, Aro."
Aro frowned, and motioned his hands helplessly. "That is the way you see it, but you know my views."
"I do," Edward said lowly.
"See, such convenience!" Aro laughed.
The room went silent for a moment as Aro and Edward shared a long stare.
"Just out of curiosity," Aro said lightly, looking to the pale faced Bella who shrunk deeper into Edwards side.
"It is her decision," Edward replied looking down.
Looking fully at Bella for the first time, Aro explained, "Your immunity to Edward's ability confounds me, and I am curious if you would be so resilient to mine. There is no pain. I would just simply like to touch your hand for a moment." He said this to Bella in a patronizing tone, like an adult to a toddler.
Bella, to my grave surprise, looked to me. Her was face nervous and seeking approval - my approval! I held her gaze with amazement, utterly confused by this action, before finally nodding.
Aro saw this, as did Edward, but Aro, unlike Edward, was completely amused with this drama. Edward's face was the same, but his eyes showed he was hurt by this small action.
Biting her lip, heart pounding, Bella walked to the Volturi's stage. When Bella came within reach, Aro very graceful leaned forward, palm up, just as he had done with me.
I don't know why it seemed so odd then, but Bella looked so amazing at that moment, hand to hand with the pale being. It was the first time I noticed her bravery. I guess, I always saw her courage as annoying idiocy, but, then, in that room full of blood drinking beasts, she shined with heroism. I still think she's an idiot, but I admired that bone in her more than I did before.
Watching Aro's face phase to straining concentration, I knew he could not penetrate her.(A/N: That sounds dirty.)
Smiling, he pulled his hand away, making Bella jump with the quick motion. She stumbled back to Edward, making me fill with sorrow again. Bella was so very good at this - lifting me up only just to drop me. And I am so very pathetic for allowing this, especially since I held no serious ties with her. I loved her, but like I've said so many times before, I was not in love with her.
"I am as enthralled as I am disappointed," Aro stated with a mischievous grin that made Edward growl lowly. "Oh, Edward, you cannot tell me you are not curious either..."
Aro turned a steady gaze between Bella, Edward, and finally me. "I was hopping Bella's thoughts would have explained more of this... affair."
It took me a second to catch on to what he was hinting.
"Laurent made a well decided decision when he changed you, Victoria," Aro spoke as if complementing me, but then his tone darkened. "You were truly the definition of our kind, but then you met Bella. It is interesting how quickly she has differed you. Were you that desperate?" He turned his thoughtful eyes to Bella criticizingly. "Edward's infatuation, I can understand. She so singularly appealing to him, but to you, what is she?"
Edward's eyes were hard on me, asking the same question.
I lowered my gaze, shamefully to my hands. "A friend," I answered in a whisper Bella would not hear.
I heard Rosalie make a sarcastic noise as Edward took a sharp breath.
With humor Aro contradicted, "We all know that is not true. You have been closer to her that Edward has."
That pissed me off! I shot a threatening glance at Aro, hissing loudly, "That is none of your business!"
Suddenly, my head seemed to explode as every limb on my body was ranked with searing pains. I didn't even feel myself hit the ground, but after agonizing seconds, that's where I was, and Bella was right by my side, panic stricken, and holding my face,
"That was not kind, Jane," I heard Aro scold so lightly.
"Are you okay," Bella breathed.
"She's fine," Edward said through clenched teeth.
I looked at his posture. His muscles were tensed, fist clenched, expression hard, and eyes glaring. Bella observed this too, and stood up and moved away from me and back to Edward, taking his hand. And, just like that, she had tasered me again.
Aro was delighted, and for the first time, Marcus's had a different expression - interests.
"What do you see, Marcus" Aro asked his brother. "What is the stance of these relationships?"
"Does this really matter," Caius asked impatiently, his face hostile.
"It's interesting," Aro answered simply, seeming a little frustrated. "Marcus?"
"It's complex." Marcus voice was much softer than I could have imagined. "Strong, but changing in heights."
"Of, course it is..." Aro chuckled.
I got to my feet smoothly, glaring at Jane who smiled pleasantly.
"Edward," Aro asked. "You know what I am thinking..."
He nodded, wrapping his arm around Bella. "I will not permit it."
"It is not your decision."
"No," Edward growled, pushing Bella behind him as he took a defensive, hostel stance, his eyes wild and dangerous, sending the guard into the same fury.
At that, Bella gasped, her eyes widened as she gripped the arm that held her back.
"Edward," Aro sighed.
"No," he growled again.
Aro made a careless expression and shrugged. "Well... Jane."
When Aro said her name, I looked to where she stood – very close to dais – but then my vision was drawn immediately back to Edward when a sound of heavy impact had echoed the silent. Edward lay on the ground, his face crumbled, limbs were tensed painfully, and shaking as he withed under the same gaze I had endured a few moments ago. Impulsively, I stepped in front of Bella with the intention of holding her back from Edward, but the moment I moved, I was pulled down by the same internal pain that brought me down before.
It seemed like hours before I was released from the torment. As the ability to think on something other than the pain came back, I saw that I lay in the same exhaustion as Edward, our bodies only a foot apart. I didn't want to move in fear that I would be sent through the same agonizing spasms, and Edward looked as if he were thinking the same thing, his eyes shooting from me to Bella to Jane and back to me, but not making any attempt to get up. I did the same, looking between Jane and Bella. Jane's face was drawn in heavy concentration, but Bella still stood, looking between Edward and I with concern strewed across her features, struggling in Alice grip. I looked away.
"I think that is enough," Aro's voice shuttered the silence.
Jane looked away from Bella to Aro, frustration written so childlike on her face. I turned to Edward who eyes were already on me. Should we get up, I asked myself, but received my answer from Edward, who nodded sharply. At the same pace, we both go to our feet. The second Bella was set lose from Alice's strength, Bella was in Edward's arms again.
"Bravo," Aro chimed, clapping. "I mean, forgive me, I was itching with curiosity, and look, Bella is not harmed. But, that was brilliant!"
I simply scowled at the elder, disgusted with his approval. It was only him and a few morbid guards who found what had happened entertaining. Caius sat expressionless, unaffected by the scene in any sense, but something in his postures gave away that he was actually paying more attention than he was before. Marius on the other hand could have just not been there at all. His eyes where averted to the floor, sightless, light-less. My point is, neither of the Volturi were near as sinister as Aro betrayed himself that moment.
Aro watched Edward and Bella's still stance thoughtfully, and then looked to me with a smile. "You are such a masochist, Victoria. You truly love theses positions don't you?"
Fighting the urge to growl at the insult, I said, "I do not understand what you mean."
Laughing, Aro replied, "Don't be coy. First James, and now Bella. Same effect, just a different situation."
"I do not understand," I repeated lowly, my hands fisted at my sides. How dare he speak anything of James!
His eyes turned sympathetic as he spoke to me gently. "It is not a bad trait, Victoria. It is a potent factor in us all. There has always been romance in pain, but you embrace it so bluntly. I do not mean to vex you. I am simply admiring your strength..."
Was that it? Is that my problem? I am a masochist?
"Yes." Edward suddenly turned to me, his eyes strong with passion, not for me but for the situation between Bella and I. "That is your problem."
Bella, who's face I had not looked at since she attached herself to Edward again, suddenly looked up at Edward angrily. "No."
He looked at her gently. "Bella, you don't understand..."
"I do," she said, her voice hard. "And no." Looking at me, she promised, "No! There is nothing wrong with you. No."
I looked away from her, and back to Aro, who(of course) was watching the scene as if it were a show on T.V.
"What is the point of this, Aro," I asked, tried of having my life on such display.
Frowning, he looked at Bella. I could hear her heart accelerated an extra notch, making all of the Volturi's domesticated pets grin. This is what they were waiting for. If it came down to it, would I die for Bella, I asked myself.
"All of you," Caius spoke, scanning our little lot with disgust, "have violated the most important of laws. You have endangered us all. The knowledge of our existence must be contained, or you could ruin the way of the world! It is a secret kept not just for us, but for all of civilization! With this action, you have proven that cannot be trusted with such a secret."
"I can vouch for them, Caius," Aro spoke lightly, interrupting our death sentence. "Come now, it is merely a girl, not an apocalypse. There has been bigger fall out among our kind."
"Yes, the problem is easily dealt with." Marius surprised me by speaking. Though his voice was so low, it was barely significant to the argument.
With irritation heavy in his voice, he objected: "There are consequences, Aro."
Smacking his lips, he extended his arms outwardly, gesturing to us passionately. "That would just be such a waste," Aro complained.
Looking at Aro darkly, he spoke in a two sided tone, "For whom? I think the world can afford the loss of four vampires and a girl."
Sighing patiently, "Carlisle would be crushed, Caius. We would lose a great friend. Can you not find mercy for these young lives? Youth is prone to many mistakes, and we cannot be so volgure as to punish their first one."
"It is a crime." Caius rose over Aro's calm, bringing a sharp look to Aro's feature.
"Not among friends," Aro hissed lowly, glaring at Caius.
Caius held his gaze steadily for a long while before throwing his hands up in defeat and slumping in his thrown, a hand in his hair, the other on the bridge of his nose.
Aro turned to us, his face just as bright as ever. "Now, friends"– Edward stiffened – "forgive Caius' mood, he is just very put out with the situation, but, perhaps, you could console him."
"And how is that," Edward asked thickly, his head lowered, so that his eyes were inclined venomously towards Aro.
Aro chucked lightly. "You know what I am to say Edward. Your talent would be most appreciated. You could have anything you wanted" He looked quickly at Bella, and continued pointedly, "just as you want it."
Alice looked up at Edward nervously. Obviously Aro had poked at a crack in Edward's foundation. The only thing I could guess is that he could keep Bella if he agreed, and keep her "as is?" I question myself. Oh, human! Keep her human... When I understood Aro's coded words, I realized just how heavy of a decision he had to make: 'Yes' could keep Bella both human and alive, and 'no' could damn us all. How stubborn is he?
"Not today," Edward answer wisely, neutrally. Very stubborn...
Aro's face looked disappointed for only a moment before it lit up and he turned to Alice. "Dear Alice, you would be absolutely adored!"
Smiling charmingly, she declined. "My place is with Carlisle."
Aro frowned once again, but as before, looked to Rosalie and I, smiling hopefully. "Rosalie? Beauty and strength are very admirable! Emmett would be as equally welcome?"
Rosalie, took the diva attitude and rolled her eyes. "I don't do well out of America, and you would inevitably kill Emmett in seek of silence."
It was my turn, I bit my lip, already pondering my answer.
"Victoria," Aro said so soothingly. "I hope Laurent's decision will not influenced yours. He was just too much of a free soul to settle in one place, but that's not you, is it? A steady environment would be immensely beneficial in your... situation. You would glide into place very smoothly here, I guarantee. I mean, unless there is somewhere else you find more appealing or welcoming...?"
"I aI looked quickly about my surrounding and who filled it. Joining them sounded like a dream. What he promised was like offering air to a person drowning. I mean, how could I say no to such a proposal, but with one look into the past, I saw the face that determined it all.
"I'm beyond flattered, but I must say no... I've spent much time with Laurent, and think I have inherited a trait or two."
Aro didn't look nearly as dismayed as he had after Edward's and Alice's rejection. In fact, he didn't looked frayed at all, just turned to the last person anyone expected.
"Bella?," was all he inquired.
Her eyes grew just as wide as the rest of the rooms. I don't even think Alice saw that one coming.
"You can't be serious," Caius stirred.
"What?" Aro asked innocently. "She could be valuable?"
Edward growled a little at the objectification of Bella. I would have too, but I was too shocked at the serious expression on Aro.
"Really, Aro," Caius asked, quizzical.
Aro grinned. "You are so close-minded, my friend. Think of the talent she already posses amplified."
Caius just sighed, shaking his head, unconvinced.
Man, I thought giddy from of the pressure in the room, Aro's got Caius whipped.
"Well, Bella," Aro asked looking at her, hopeful.
She looked at me again, as if I had the answer. Then, using Edward's words, in nearly a whisper, she whispered, "Not today."
He sighed sadly, leaning deeply into his seat. "Well, I tried. Just remembered you all are always welcome."
"Is that it," Caius asked incredulously. "They go off without any punishment or consequence."
"You see, Caius," Aro said tiredly. "This I why they do not want to join. You make us out as merciless demons."
Rolling his eyes, he looked up and spoke. "Aro, there are rules, and if we do not enforce them in some way, what use are we?"
"Yes, yes," Caius, Aro agreed. "but I was not finished..." Looking back to us, he continued where Caius stopped us. "As my brother has said, there are repercussions to your mistake, but they are up for negotiation. Can you swear to them, Edward?"
That was getting annoying – Aro leaving out things that only Edward can fish out.
Edwards jaw flexed as he looked down at Bella. "If I can't?"
"Then she may not leave," Aro answered with that dangerous tone. "What is more important, Edward: her heart or her life?" Aro raised his hand like he had done to Rose and I and Jane, it was a vampire lie detector test.
After Aro's question, I finally understood the main question. Could he honestly provide an answer. Is he that stubborn?
Not going to sit around and wait for the answer, I slowly propelled forward, drawing the attention of everyone. Aro calmed his alert guard, and watch with a grin as I stood in front of him. I placed my hand to his and waited, letting not a single drop of doubt into my head.
After a long time, he pulled away, and I wondered back to my place, very self conscious of the eyes that pounded my skin. Did I do the wrong thing, I question nervously.
Aro looked at us gently, bringing relief to my system. "Demetri will lead you at where you can wait for the setting of the sun. It has been a most wonderful time. You must come back and visit, and hopefully under light circumstances. Give my regards to Carlisle and Laurent."
I wanted to dance! I was Alive! Bella was alive! And to top it all off, Edward was too! I had done all I possibly could have done. Now, all that is left is the denouement.
A/N: School owns me... I sleep, eat, and do work... That has become my life... I mean, I had time to write this, but I HATE VICTORIA!!!!!!!!!!!! Ugh... it's almost over... I think I'm gonna have alternate endings. One me and for you guys! Hope you liked the chapter... Sorry for it's um it being about 2 weeks late.
