Chapter 28 – Eclipse
Will they hate me for all the choices I've made?
Will they stop when they see me again?
I can't stop now I know who I am…
Bella followed reluctantly behind Marcus. Why had she not been allowed to drink? Marcus's last statement before they left the security of her cell had just emphasized the importance of a "proper vampire diet" for her to be strong – master her latent talent. How did he expect her to do that when she had not consumed?
Distracted by her gnawing thirst and agitation at her most basic need being overlooked, even Bella's incredible mind could not foresee what lie ahead.
Once in the main chamber, she was stunned to see what could only be the entire guard assembled. They all wore cloaks creating a still sea of various shades of gray, save for one. She alone wore a black cloak similar to the brothers and maintained a central position in the room. Bella also noticed Renata hovering closer to Aro than usual.
The heavy metal doors shut behind her and Marcus. While Marcus continued his journey to the front of the room taking his seat at Aro's right, Bella became the object of attention as all eyes shifted to her. She was hyperaware of how much she stood out in her brilliantly white garment. However, thanks to Marcus and his mirror, she also noted she resembled them in every other way.
"Glad you can join us, Isabella," Aro crooned. "St. Marcus has recently opened its doors to some of Italy's most needy citizens. The dregs of humanity. The homeless, the addicted, the useless. Too bad humans must remain unaware of our existence, because they certainly owe a debt of gratitude for … eliminating such a drain on their society."
Bella noticed the widening toothy grins of her companions just as the rhythmic clickity-clack of high-heeled shoes echoed from behind the doors.
Heidi's chipper voice drawing closer to the doors triggered the flow of venom in every mouth in the room. "And just beyond these doors is the turret chamber. It was rumored that this was the location vampires would lead their prey for consumption before St. Marcus drove them from Volterra."
"Our guests have arrived," Aro stood and announced proudly. Bella only had time to register what was about to take place before the doors swung open.
"Come now, don't dawdle. Everyone in here. Quickly," Heidi encouraged with zeal.
In the low lighting of the chamber, the small band of ragtag people, who had come to St. Marcus Church searching for a new beginning, were bewildered by the shrouded outline of figures in the flickering shadows created by torchlight. Instinctually they knew evil lurked in the gloom and bunched closer together in the center of the room.
Heidi spoke the last words the herded prey would ever hear, "Hmm. Seems like it wasn't just a rumor…" The rush of venom through her system consumed what was left of her violet-colored eyes.
A collective scream engulfed the room as the feeding frenzy began. The bloodthirsty sharks struck with lightening speed and precision from all sides in a choreographed assault. How many times had this scene played out over the centuries? Bella briefly wondered as the jolting aroma of blood permeated the air, violently snapping her to attention.
The intricately planned conditioning that had eased Bella into accepting the consumption of human blood from nondescript vessels had unwittingly lulled her conscience into a false sense of security, all the while creating her strong, undeniable dependence on it.
With part of her brain already accepting the inevitability of drinking human blood whilst living among the Volturi, the civilized part of her brain rationalized she would be able to exist on the fluid donated by those who sought immortality in return for their renewable resource of blood. After all, one must give to receive...
What she didn't anticipate was the insidious, creeping monster slinking undetected within her venom. The scent, sight and sounds of the carnage unleashed the uncontrollable inner beast – it would give anything for just a taste.
The cries of the victims were drowned out by the beat of their frantic hearts and the singing of their escaping blood. It was a melody that spoke volumes to Bella's sensitive newborn senses. It plugged directly into her brain, promising strength, continued life, and insurmountable pleasure – everything her new existence demanded and craved.
Instinct and emotion combined to overrule the morality and fleeting humanity remaining within her. As much as Marcus spoke of her compassion, it was no where to be found in this moment. No matter how she had struggled to retain her memories of who she was, the truth was only too obvious – she was not the same. She was a vampire. A predator. A survivor. And that meant feeding.
Resistance was not an option.
Giving in to the driving need, Bella entered the melee of survival of the fittest, wanting her share – which was owed to her for the sacrifice she made unwillingly, but in the course of the next few minutes, she understood what she would embrace through her impending actions.
Bella's thirst, having been given free reign, led her to simultaneous consumption and consummation into her new life. No going back. No denying what she had become or what she had just done.
All other sensory inputs blanked out while she drank, the front of her immaculate gown displaying her novice feeding technique. Splattered and soaked with blood, it represented the staining of her soul, the part of her she would now find easier to deny the existence of than acknowledge its indisputable corruption.
At some point, Bella became cognizant that the cries of horror had transformed to moans of pleasure. The scene before her had changed from gluttony to lust. As the bodies of the drained were discarded, the link between the ecstasy of drink and of the flesh melded into acts of sexual debauchery taking place all around her. The dominating nature of feeding continued its fueled and furious momentum in the aggressive tearing of clothing and wanton claiming of pleasure from the bodies of others.
The writhing of naked bodies at her feet combined with the energy gained from her feeding set her skin ablaze. Tingling sensations electrified all her nerves and they hungered for touch. Her mind instinctively told her there was more pleasure to be had, and the feeding was only foreplay to the rapture that awaited her.
However, the overt sexual nature of this newly formed body alarmed Bella. There was a subtle difference between the desire for sex and the urge to feed. Craving versus drive. Want versus need. Resistance was possible – if she tried.
A pair of hands encircled her neck from behind, easing her bodice over her shoulders. Warm lips touched her newly exposed skin of her shoulder. The stimulation on the surface of her skin alone sent waves of delight coursing through her, quickly threatening to melt through the resolve she had only begun to form.
"No." The word slipped quietly from her mouth without much conviction. Still, it had been spoken.
Her unknown vampire suitor pulled her forcibly against his firm body. "Let me satisfy you, Isabella." His whispered breath wisped past her ear sending chills down her spine that only stoked the forbidden flames of desire smoldering brightly under her fledgling determination.
Bella's eyes closed searching for the lost memory—the reason—she wanted to continue to refuse any advances. Where was he?
A voice answered on her behalf – but not in the familiar velvet tone Bella had been searching for. "The lady said 'no.' I suggest you respect that choice. Move on, Demetri."
Opening her eyes, Bella was not surprised to find her sire standing in front of her. "Do you wish to return to your chamber, little one?"
Marcus was offering her an escape. Yet, was seclusion what she desired? Once the dust settled from the frantic events that had transpired in a matter of minutes, she would be left to remember in vivid detail each bite, each swallow. Every damnably wonderful sensation.
"Yes. I wish to leave."
Marcus's arm encircled her shoulders and they moved toward the chamber doors. Once through them, Bella's tension began to ease. She hoped Marcus would stay with her when they arrived at her room. However, before they could reach the elevator, they were halted by Aro calling their names from behind.
"Leaving the party so soon? Do you think Isabella is interested in trading her previous overbearing master for a new one in Volterra, brother?" Aro questioned as he approached.
Bella didn't miss the meaning behind Aro's comment. A menacing growl rumbled in her chest. Edward never controlled her! Not really… Not anymore.
Marcus turned to face his brother. "Isabella has done well, earning her a reprieve. Remember, brother, Chelsea's ability to create an environment conducive to group feeding and pleasure of the flesh does not affect her. They are, in essence, strangers to her."
"So what is your excuse, brother?" Aro's words hung unanswered. After a brief stare between the monarchs, Aro blinked. "My sincerest apologizes if you were too uncomfortable to participate in ... dessert." he offered to Bella, who remained focused and longing for the confines of the elevator where she could begin to unravel the conflict brewing inside of her. "However, before you depart, there is an issue I would like to clarify."
Something in Aro's tone sent a chill up Bella's spine. She turned to see Aro extending his hand to Marcus. Expressionlessly, Marcus upturned his hand in offering.
Warnings blared in her mind. Marcus's mind would reveal everything they had discussed in her chamber – including the sensitive information about imprinting. In the hands of someone like Aro, every detail would be exploited. Unknowingly, she had put others at risk, and she alone would have to bear the fallout of that mistake, unless...
Aro clasped Marcus's hand, locking eyes with his brother as he waited for the flow of information to begin. However, none was forthcoming.
Puzzlement crossed his face, and then as if he needed the reassurance that he was indeed physically linked to Marcus, Aro looked at their conjoined hands. His eyebrows rose in surprise and his gleeful laughter rang out. "Amazing!"
He released Marcus and beamed in Bella's direction. "Congratulations, my dear! You have done it!" He pressed his fingers to his lips as his eyes continued to sparkle with the excitement usually reserved for parent at seeing a child take a first independent step. "My," he exclaimed turning to Marcus, "they just grow so quickly, don't they? I'm so proud."
Marcus gave Bella a slight affirming nod, which she preferred to Aro's gushing. It was clear; she had her first success at extending her shield. Although empowered by her knowledge that she indeed was gifted, it troubled her that her ability made its first appearance to secure information she had let foolishly slip, and not at a time when she desired to protect Dominic and Gianna from Jane's vicious attacks.
"Go now, for tomorrow much will be expected from you!" Aro instructed.
"Isabella?" Marcus questioned firmly in the silence.
"Yes?"
"'Yes' what?" Marcus stood, sternly expectant.
"Yes, Master."
Satisfied, Marcus resumed his course to the elevator and Bella followed. At first she anticipated the burn of humiliation in her cheeks over the degrading treatment from her sire, but before she could acknowledge that would never happened to her as her blood no longer flowed through her body, she had a revelation. Could the Volturi be exercising their authority over her because, now that she had found her gift, she actually posed a risk?
As the doors of the elevator whooshed closed, Bella managed a slight, insolent smile.
~FI~
Alice observed her brother at a distance as he sat in the family room staring out the wall of windows at the sky. The copy of the police report Jasper had taken from the Swan home was strewn around him. In the days since Bella's memorial, he hadn't spoken much, unless he was actively advocating a trip to Volterra despite the risks. However, Alice knew he couldn't help it – it was an undeniable part of vampire nature. Only two things drove a vampire to the very brink: the quest for blood… and the quest for vengeance, especially when a mate was involved.
Edward turned his head and locked eyes with his sister. "I don't wish to endanger anyone. I told you – I've told everyone – I am willing to make this trip alone."
Alice sighed. "I worry your fixation on the Volturi has stymied your grieving process."
"You sound like Tanya," Edward countered as Alice approached him.
"She is older –"
"I can hear you!" Tanya chastised from a floor above.
"And wiser! You didn't let me finish, dear cousin!" Alice retorted, lifting her eyes to the ceiling.
Edward's lips twitched in the corners.
"Wow," Alice remarked as she stood next to him. "That's the closest I've seen you get to a smile in quite a while."
Edward's face regained its unreadable mask. "Well, after I'm done with anyone involved with … hurting Bella, I'll have reason to smile."
Alice bent down to peer past the shadows in Edward's eyes and into his soul. She shook her head. "No. I don't believe that."
"Believe what you want." Edward turned away from her scrutinizing gaze. "But I'm meeting with Eleazar today. He's finally agreed to teach me what he knows about the Volturi Compound once he returns from hunting with Carlisle. Any word from Jasper?"
Alice stood straight. "No. Not yet. He's meeting with Jenks now."
"Emmett and Rosalie should be returning late today from their examination of the wreckage."
It bothered Alice that their conversations were always so quickly sanitized of emotion since Bella's death. Edward only spoke fact. She worried he was losing touch with his feelings and groaned inwardly at the consequences that could have on him. "I know you are upset with us for refusing to let you get involved with our search for evidence of Volturi involvement. But …"
"You didn't trust me to see things objectively," Edward finished.
"It's for your protection … for the protection of all of us." Do you understand?
Edward nodded once reluctantly. Certainly he didn't want any harm to come to his family, and that was why he wanted to go to Volterra alone. Yet, here he was wasting his time. Without Bella, no real future existed, and a trip to Volterra could serve many purposes ... of course, there were many objections to that plan, and Alice was instructed to watch his future like a hawk.
"Do you still look for her, Alice?"
Alice inhaled deeply and flopped onto the floor hugging her knees against her chest. "I can't anymore, Edward. I love her and miss her so much. It's too painful navigating the cold blackness of the void she left behind. It's endless and empty."
Alice's mind blanked and suddenly she was conjugating spanish verb infinitives. Edward allowed her to purposely disperse her thoughts to protect him. He lingered in the forced silence that followed. He hadn't really given much thought to his family's grieving of Bella's loss as it seamlessly blended in as yet another layer of his own sadness. Still, Edward felt remorse as he realized how hard they all must have been working to control their own thoughts and delay their own grieving process. "I know. I'm sorry." It didn't sound as sincere as he had hoped.
He returned his gaze to the sky. "Do you believe in heaven?"
"I'd like to."
"I wish I could have a sign. I just can't come to grips with Bella being … gone. She must exist somewhere."
You know she will always exist in your heart and your memory.
Edward could have predicted with ninety-nine percent accuracy that Alice's thoughts would relay as much. While it was true, a memory was nowhere near enough to sustain him. "You're right."
Alice's phone chimed in her back pocket and Edward's muscles tensed. It was the tone she had chosen for Emmett's messages. "Well, aren't you going to check that? It could be the news we are waiting for."
Uh, I think I'll wait until you can't steal the image from my mind, brother. And she went back to conjugating infinitives immediately.
"So now I'm being kept out of the loop for my protection?" Edward demanded. Before he even had fully decided, Edward launched himself from his chair, catching Alice off-guard and tackling her. Acting in the moment, he slipped her phone from her pocket. He bolted, stopping only when he had reached the top of the stairs to examine Emmett's text. It contained only one word: BINGO.
Almost beyond vampire speed, Edward was punching keys on his cell phone as he thrust Alice's phone at her.
"He found something," Alice muttered, annoyed Emmett and Rosalie knew before she did. Although far from perfect, Alice still had come to rely on the leg up her gift often gave her. She struggled with not always being "in the know" at critical times, even if it was self-induced like it was now.
Edward was rapidly questioning Emmett, and Alice easily listened to both sides of the conversation.
"What did you find, Emmett?"
"Well, bro, it took a handsome sum of money, but we got three graduate chemistry students from Dartmouth pour over the wreckage with every kind of swab known to man – and when I say wreckage, I'm being kind – your car is totally f -"
"Emmett!" Edward uncharacteristically barked.
"They found traces of an accelerant. I'm … I'm sorry, Edward."
Edward swayed and grabbed the stair railing to steady himself as the other hand crushed his phone into his palm. The pieces trickled out the bottom of his fist onto the carpet as his eyes darkened with the gathering storm of rage.
Alice had already redialed Emmett's number on her phone. "Emmett, did they find anything, anything else?" she asked cryptically into the mouthpiece hoping Emmett would understand her question. She just couldn't form the words to ask the horrible question out loud.
"No. They found no remains. But remember, the police investigators already went through the evidence, so who knows…"
"A conspiracy? I didn't see-" Alice stuttered. "Obviously someone else was involved."
Edward counted on her to protect Bella, and looking into Bella's future had been part of her daily routine. So when Bella's death came with no warning, Alice had to conclude it was an unforseeable accident. To now be led to think it was not an accident, but planned and executed under her watch, was numbing and infuriating. Alice felt her nostrils flare and a building fire in her belly—a quest for vengeance.
"Oh, and Alice, Charlie is here. We managed to avoid being seen, but I've gotta say, he looks like shit warmed over - twice."
"Poor man. Do you think he suspects something?"
"Can't tell. Listen, Rose and I are on our way to the airport now. See you tonight. And tell Edward we won't quit until someone pays."
"I agree. Thanks, Em." Alice went to pocket her phone, but Edward had snapped out of his anger and was staring at her with eyes she didn't recognize.
"Let me use your phone." His voice was lifeless.
"No. Edward. Just wait until Jasper, Carlisle, and Eleazar return. You are not going off on your own! There's no proof it was the Volturi."
"Come on, Alice! Who else had a motive and would go through such trouble to hurt this family? Remember what I told you about Bree's memories? How it was no coincidence the Guard showed up too late to stop the newborn army."
Edward reached out to take her phone but Alice curled her fingers around it tightly. "Don't," Edward challenged.
"Is there a problem?"
Edward turned to see Tanya. She, Carmen, and Esme had just emerged from the second floor study.
"Emmett found evidence of tampering. A chemical was used to accelerate and intensify the fire. It was no accident and it certainly wasn't suicide," Edward explained quickly.
"And Edward plans on leaving now," Alice added. The women stiffened. This was exactly why the four of them were left behind – to keep Edward from taking off.
Alice's looked at her phone just before it buzzed in her hand. "It's Jasper. And whatever he's learned, he's decided not to tell me." She bolted out of sight as Tanya gave her a slight nod indicating she'd handle Edward.
"How do you plan to get us there?" Tanya said as she removed her phone from her pocket and handed it to Edward. She'd allow him to make his plans; it would buy them some time. Eleazar and Carlisle were already on their way back to the house to provide necessary backup.
Alice reappeared at the bottom of the staircase. "Jenks didn't disappoint. Jazz said he has information but he's concerned about who may be listening, so he wouldn't share it until he can speak to us face-to-face." It's true, Edward. I don't know what he found out, Alice conveyed to Edward by means of her thoughts, knowing Edward was already nosing around her head to verify the truth of her statement.
The four women listened as Edward dialed and redialed checking on flights, private and commercial. Esme breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Carlisle and Eleazar enter the house.
Though it took much doing, the two men managed to convince Edward to stay until Jasper's information was shared. Luckily, that was followed by Emmett and Rose's arrival. Everyone quickly assembled at the large, formal dining room table. Carlisle was seated at the one end of the oval, polished wood table, Eleazar at the opposite end.
All eyes immediately moved to Jasper awaiting the information Jenks was able to unscrupulously dig up. Ever the man who respected rank, Jasper's eyes met Carlisle's, receiving the leader's go-ahead.
"I took another copy of the police report to Jenks. After hearing about what Emmett found, we did a background check on every person involved in the investigation. Witnesses, police, fire, investigators, coroner - everyone. We did checks on where they had traveled, any phone records we could get, criminal records, previous employment, et cetera. Only one person popped. The witness who told police he had seen a woman fitting Bella's description driving erratically and at high speeds in the park - his name is Alonzo Moretti."
"Italian!" Emmett exclaimed, slamming his fist on the sturdy table.
"Being Italian doesn't make you a suspect in murder," Rosalie reasoned.
"No," Jasper agreed, "but being from Pomarance, Italy, does."
"Explain," Esme quickly questioned as tension rapidly climbed to a breaking point around the table.
"Pomarance is only fourteen miles from Volterra," Eleazar clarified thoughtfully. Having lived a large portion of his life in Volterra as a valued member of the Guard, it was with great reluctance that Aro had accepted Eleazar's request to leave once he mated with Carmen. His ability to sense potential gifts in humans and existing talents in vampires was something Aro greatly treasured.
Golden eyes darted from Eleazar to Carlisle to Edward, who was now on his feet. "I'll kill every last one of them," he ground out between clenched teeth. "They had no right to kill my mate."
Eleazar stood and leaned over the table, attempting to be the voice of reason. "Edward, they gave you a clear warning. You didn't heed it. You know the law is black and white when it comes to the Volturi."
Tanya winced and Carmen placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. But then Eleazar sat back down, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Still, to carry this out without Alice's detection..."
Eleazar's voice trailed off as he pondered the Volturi's purpose behind such an intricate plot. How could this all fit into the Volturi's objective of "greater good"? Killing Bella, though cruel, would have enforced the law of secrecy Edward had violated. It was within their right to do so, but to conduct their justice without anyone's awareness? What could be the reason behind that? After all, the Volturi were the most powerful coven so punishing other covens was done almost effortlessly, and it was never done anonymously. They always left their calling card considering the whole point of teaching a hard lesson was to connect it back to the teachers. Although most of his kind regarded the Italian Triumvirate as benevolent governors, it was fear that kept the vampire race in line and the Volturi made it known why they were to be feared: brutal, finite, swift justice. But that, after all, was their purpose – identify lawbreakers and bring them to justice for the protection of all.
"Protection," Edward snorted in Eleazar's direction. "Is that what you call Jane's sadistic methods? For the good of all?"
"Edward," Carlisle reprimanded. "Eleazar is our guest and part of our family. You will treat him with respect."
Eleazar shook his head. "He has a valid point, Carlisle. I have, albeit passively, supported their violence for quite some time and Jane…was changed under very unfortunate circumstances." But there was something else about Jane, something exceptional, the way Aro had cared about her and her brother even when they had still been human…to save them…and their gifts. The parallel couldn't be discarded so easily. Bella was obviously gifted, too, but was that enough to warrant Aro's involvement…
Edward's brow furrowed. "What?" He was shocked almost beyond words to learn what had floated to the surface of Eleazar's thoughts: his wife's mind held a deeper secret. "She has a gift?"
Eyes widened around the table, digesting what Edward must have heard from Eleazar's mind.
"Is this true?" Carlisle questioned Eleazar.
"I'm sorry, Carlisle. Edward. I thought you knew she was a shield. When she was blocking me at the wedding I assumed that she must have been blocking Edward at times, too, and you would have drawn the same conclusion about her ability."
"Diagnosis by exclusion," Carlisle muttered to himself.
"A shield?" Edward murmured. "So that's why I've never been able to hear her thoughts."
"Never?" Eleazar blinked. "Interesting. That would indicate a rather powerful latent talent."
"Aro couldn't hear her," Alice interjected. "And Jane tried to hurt her, but she couldn't."
Eleazar's eyes widened. "I've never heard of Aro's or Jane's gifts being thwarted. Aro must have been intrigued by a talent that could defy him in its human incarnation." And tempted to bend the law in his favor? Suddenly he could see a disturbing pattern in the punishing expeditions of the Guard…normal vampires being destroyed without mercy while Aro claimed the gifted ones to be particularly repentant…
"I don't want to think of them in that way," Eleazar said through his teeth attempting to discount his own thoughts. "I can't even grasp what that would mean. It would change everything about the world we've created. It would change the meaning of my life. What I have been a part of."
Carmen moved to stand behind her mate, wrapping her arms around his neck to comfort him. "It's okay, mi amor. No one blames you."
When Eleazar only shook his head, Edward continued with the thoughts he picked up from Eleazar's mind, "Nothing can stop their arsenal of talented vampires, and nothing keeps Aro from amassing as much talent as possible - keeping his reign unchallenged. Eleazar wonders if that could be his priority and not 'greater good' be his priority."
The clamor around the table as everyone put forth their own thoughts and feelings on the suspected abhorrent behavior of their ruling body and the explanation of Bella's talent was almost deafening. There was only one thing Edward needed to know and he raised his voice over the din, "Is she alive, Eleazar?"
Immediately, all conversation ceased and a collective breath was held.
"Considering what we just deduced of Aro's penchant for collecting powerful vampires ... I'd say it's quite possible."
A/N: Thanks for reading! I'm soooo excited for the next chapter – hope you are too!
Thanks to RowanMoon and RosaBella75 for their help, and extra hugs to Ashling92 who guided me on the intricacies of Eleazar's character!
*Note: Some of Eleazar's dialogue is taken directly from ch 31 of BD.
