CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

"Emmett, Rosalie, can you stay with Dr. Wilson, please," Carlisle asked.

Emmett whined, "I was hoping to get my hands dirty."

"Hopefully that won't be necessary," Carlisle answered.

The three stood in front of the Denali clan, who stayed at the edge of the forest, while the rest of the Cullen family approached the middle of the field and waited anxiously for the Volturi.

The sun had just set and the sky was casting a sapphire blue overhead, giving the area a surreal feeling.

"How are you doing, Bella?" Edward asked his rigid wife who stood behind him.

"Nervous," she answered.

"Rightfully so. Don't worry. He'll be curious about you, but he's more interested in Dr. House. But I'm not going to let him get near you."

"Gee, thanks," House snickered. "We're family, bro."

"Not by choice."

"Ouch."

"Not all brothers can always protect their bratty younger sibling," Edward retorted.

"I am not bratty. Care for a soccer game-mono et mono?"

Edward gave House a sharp look. "I'll take that challenge, Dr. House."

"You're on. And you have—"

"Guys, they're here," Alice whispered.

Everyone stood inflexible in a half-circle in front of House. Off in the distance, two extremely tall figures walked through the low mist, which swirled ominously around their feet. Behind and beside them followed about ten others, not including two guards, who matched the foreboding march of their leaders.

"Damn it, it's Jane," Kate muttered. "She's mine."

"There will be no fighting. They seem to be evenly matched," Tanya noted. "I don't think we have anything to worry about, even if there is a fight."

"Tanya, you know I despise that bi—"

"Enough," Tanya ordered.

Kate mumbled under her breath and watched the scene in front of them unfold.

~~ * ~~

"Dr. House, come with me," Carlisle spoke.

He was the first to speak after the Volturi met the Cullens in the field. Carlisle and House stepped forward, leaving about twenty feet between them and the Cullens.

House was filled with terror, specifically from not knowing who would do exactly what. His gift was only useful to someone dying or dead. He couldn't protect himself in this particular situation.

"Aro," Carlisle greeted calmly.

"Carlisle," the leader replied, but he had been eyeing House ever since he saw him.

Caius was also intrigued with House, but for different reasons. He remained silent, yet continued to stare at House distrustfully.

"You look well," Aro said detached. "Is this Dr. House?"

"Yes."

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Aro said.

Aro extended his hand, but House was reluctant to shake it. He was a man that wanted no one to know who he was—deep down, where it counts. His soul, his fears and his loves were his, and only his.

To bare his soul would prove deadly; to show his fears would prove his weaknesses; keeping his loves and passion to himself would no longer bring him happiness.

House instantly shut down. "Sorry, can't. Swine flu going around. I wouldn't want to get you sick."

Aro's eyebrow rose and he grinned.

"Greg, it's alright," Carlisle told him.

House looked at Carlisle apprehensively before he shook Aro's hand. After a brief moment, House tried to pull back, but Aro did not lose his grip. He simply closed his eyes. He frowned, hesitated then grinned, hesitated then chuckled.

What struck House was the fact that Aro's facial expression finally changed to one of sympathy.

Taking his hand away, Aro looked deeply into House's eyes. "My, my. What a life you have lived, sir."

House didn't reply. What could he say, anyway?

"I have met many-a-men with powerful gifts, yet you are most intriguing."

"Carlisle, please explain yourself in bringing the Denali clan with you," Caius demanded.

Before replying, Carlisle gently pulled House back to the others standing ten feet away. "We did not invite the Denalis. They came to wish Edward and Bella well on their marriage," Carlisle answered truthfully.

"Do you expect us to believe that?" Caius spat.

"Where is this lovely Bella?" Aro asked, ignoring Caius.

Edward swallowed hard then brought her to Aro.

"Hello, Bella. You are extremely beautiful."

"Thank you," she mumbled; her voice shaky.

"How difficult it must be for your groom not to know your lovely thoughts," Caius said maliciously. "She would fit well with us."

Edward hissed. "She will never join you."

"Bella, what do you think?"

"My . . . my family is here," she told Caius.

After a moment, Aro looked at House. "Dr. House, I can assure you that you will be quite content with us in Volterra."

House didn't say anything but simply shook his head.

"That's a shame," Caius said then looked off in the distance at Kate and nodded.

"NO!" Alice bellowed as she looked at the Denalis.

Wilson screamed so loudly that crows scurried off, protesting their warnings to others to stay away. He collapsed, his body shook violently as the electrical current surged through his body. Curling into a fetal position, his cries slowly died to a low, constant moan.

House's head snapped to look at Wilson and his eyes flew open. The Cullens crouched low and growled in unison.

"Kate!" Tanya and Irina said in surprise.

"Wha' . . ." Kate mumbled then looked down at Wilson. "Oh, what have I done?"

"You are simply helping me make a point, dear Kate," Caius said. "We have a new weapon in our arsenal. Just a little manipulation trick."

A short yet intimating woman stepped next to Aro. "I'm sorry, Carlisle," Aro said, "I don't want to hurt anyone, but Kate's voltage really does have an advantage. I suspect you realize how important it is to have Dr. House join us."

"I will not go with you," House said weakly yet sternly.

"Are you sure about that?" Jane asked. "Last chance."

"Hmm, since you put it that way . . ."

Jane concentrated on House's face before he grabbed his right thigh and shrieked in pain. The pain shot up from his thigh to his head and he collapsed on his left knee, his upper body tight.

"Aro! Stop this!" Carlisle pleaded.