Hi all! We made it to 100 reviews! Thanks to all of you for your support! As you may remember this is my first attempt at writing anything since high school and it has meant a lot that people have enjoyed what I've produced enough to take the time to comment! I hope you continue to enjoy this story, it still has a fair way to go yet!
As Jane heard the rebellious tone of her voice and saw the answering smirk on the vampire's face she knew she'd made a mistake. The past months with Maura had tempered her fear of vampires and the damage they could potentially do and made her complacent, but one look at those blazing red eyes and superior expression reminded Jane of how much this woman could take from her.
Jane tried to backpedal. "I mean, uh, you're back."
The smirk turned even more predatory at Jane's show of submissiveness. "I had business in Boston and it seemed like a good time to check in on my experiment. I see she hasn't killed you yet."
Jane had also forgotten just how chilling the vampire's emotionless voice was. "No, no, we've been getting along just fine. Maura's back at work, nobody has found out about vampires on our watch, it's all going well."
The smirk subtly turned into a hard glare. "If that is the case why has Dr Isles been removed from a case which directly involves vampires?"
Jane's mouth fell agape before she shut it, trying to think quickly to cover their weakness. "She won't be off the case for long, it's under control. Nobody except a vampire would be able to figure out the animal blood on the first victim, and there wasn't anything unusual on the last two to find. There is nothing to worry about."
Before Jane could blink she was being held aloft by the neck. "I disagree."
Jane felt an incredible acceleration before finding herself face down in Maura's lounge room. Maura had been engrossed in the article she had been reading about telepathy, not listening to what Jane had been doing. She gasped in surprise and moved to assist Jane, not realising that their tormentor had returned. As Maura bent over Jane she suddenly contorted in pain, her back arching as she tried to stop her arms from flailing and possibly striking Jane.
Jane groggily regained awareness of her surroundings, the fast transit disorienting her completely. When she had travelled at vampire speed with Maura she had been given the opportunity to prepare and acclimate to the speed, but this sudden and unexpected movement was violently different, leaving her sprawled where she had been tossed for several nauseating seconds. When she was finally able to lift her head she saw Maura curled in pain, her arms wrapped around her knees to restrain her twitching limbs, her eyes slammed shut against the agony.
Jane jumped clumsily to her feet, standing between Maura and her assailant. Instantly Maura collapsed to the ground, apparently free from the vampire's excruciating stare. Jane spun around and crouched next to her friend, trying to determine her condition. Maura's amber eyes opened and focused on Jane, a brief nod telling a relieved Jane that she was okay.
As Jane reached for Maura's hand the vampire started talking in the same bored monotone she seemed to favour, her voice gradually ramping into a fanatical fervour as she spoke. "Allow me to inform you of your place in all of this. I am Jane of the Volturi. We are tasked with the task of protecting all vampires by maintaining the secrecy of our existence. In order to serve this task we do whatever is necessary to prevent humans from discovering us. The two of you will either serve our mission or be eliminated as a threat to the natural order of things."
As she finished speaking the Volturi glared at Jane's back, not appreciating being apparently ignored as Jane was still attending to Maura rather than turning back to listen. Jane seized violently and dropped to the ground next to Maura, who yelled in fear before lunging for their attacker. After two steps Maura was struck down yet again by the Volturi's stare, her face hitting the ground ungracefully.
The Volturi glared disdainfully at the pair crumpled on the ground before moving to Maura and picking her up by the throat. Maura winced and clenched her eyes shut in fear. Since becoming a vampire she hadn't experienced any physical force that had impacted her form except for the bullet earlier that morning, but she could feel hard fingers digging into her throat as she was lifted from the floor. Maura had no doubt that if Jane wanted to kill her she could.
The Volturi's tone was full of contempt as she spoke. "Do you understand Dr Isles? Are you willing to do as required or do I need to find someone else and eliminate you and everyone you've ever met?"
Maura swallowed her terror, thinking of Jane and all their loved ones that she needed to be strong for. She gathered her courage and opened her eyes, looking into Jane's eyes steadily. "I understand."
Maura was about to continue when she saw the Volturi's expression change. Suddenly her face morphed into an outraged and disgusted mask, her fingers tightening on Maura's neck until there were audible cracks and squeals. Maura frantically tried to understand what she had said to provoke that reaction when the Volturi started screaming in her face.
"You! You're one of them! You're a disgusting, weak vegetarian, just like the Cullens! Have they contacted you? Are you in league with them?"
Maura scrabbled at the hand around her throat, the words spoken triggering disconnected knowledge. She suddenly realised that the Volturi had seen her eyes and recognised her as a vampire who didn't drink human blood, which for this particular vampire seemed to be a sore point. The fingers gripping her tightened further, joined by the Volturi's second hand, and Maura knew as she looked into the naked revulsion in the vampire's eyes that she was about die. She heard Jane scrabble to her feet behind her, Jane's weak human body no match for the monster that held her life literally in its hands. Maura knew that even though any resistance would be futile, Jane would still try to save her as she always had.
Maura was suddenly filled with a deep hatred of the woman who had held their lives hostage for the past two months. It was a primal loathing that pushed up from her gut and made her eyes feel like they were blazing with rage. She thought about Jane's bravery in trying to protect her out of love and devotion without any thought for her own survival. She thought about their family and friends who were in danger because of this woman's callous and uncaring threats. She thought of all the people who had been endangered by Maura because this woman had chosen not to share her knowledge and experience. All of these thoughts combined into an overwhelming desire to destroy the vampire who had dared to threaten what was Maura's.
As Jane charged towards the two vampires the Volturi suddenly fell back screaming, her hands falling away from Maura's neck. Jane tried to grab Maura as she fell with a gasp to her knees holding her throat, Jane's eyes frantically checking for damage and finding several large cracks emanating out from the finger imprints left in the wake of the Volturi's attack. Jane cried out in panic at the sight, her eyes snapping back to Maura's face to try to determine how much pain her friend was in.
Instead she found Maura's face fixed in a determined expression, her gaze still focused on the Volturi, who was continuing to writhe in pain and shock. Jane's astonished eyes darted between Maura and the distressed vampire, not understanding what was happening. She had never seen such a hateful and furious look on Maura's face in her life; she looked unsettlingly like she was taking great satisfaction from the Volturi's pain. Jane hesitantly reached for Maura's hand, flinching as Maura's gaze turned her way angrily before it softened and Maura got to her feet, pulling Jane behind her protectively and facing the stunned Volturi with a steely resolve.
Jane couldn't follow the multitude of emotions that flitted across the vampire's youthful face in the second after she collapsed to the floor and turned to face Maura. There was definitely shock, hatred, disbelief and a healthy dose of fear. Jane saw the Volturi's eyes flit between Maura, still protectively shielding Jane behind her body, and Jane, who was gripping Maura's arm and hand, ineffectually trying to pull her friend urgently away from the threat of retribution after the unexpected turn of events. Jane was certain she saw envy briefly cross the vampire's face before it twisted back into a mask of pure hatred and contempt.
The Volturi jumped to her feet, her posture defensive. Her eyes flashed to the door before focussing back on Maura. She spat out a surprised exclamation. "How did you do that?"
When Maura calmly showed no sign of answering the vampire spun into a vicious rage. "You think you're better than me? You think you can defy the Volturi?" The vampire almost spat the words, her tone conveying far more power and superiority than her body language. Maura could see the fear and surprise underlying the response and pressed her advantage.
"If the Volturi still held the authority you claim then your subjects would not be leaving bodies for humans to find. You would have dealt with all of this yourselves rather than recruiting people like me and bullying them into doing what you demand. Someone has you scared. I think you have bigger problems than someone like me who just wants to be left alone."
Jane was flabbergasted by Maura's outburst. She had spoken so authoritatively about vampires, as if she suddenly understood what was going on. She had also directly antagonised the furious vampire, which was completely contrary to everything the pair had agreed on during the last two months of trying to deal with this impossible situation. Jane pulled on Maura's arm again, trying to convey her wish for Maura to back off, but Maura either didn't feel Jane's grip or ignored it, continuing her verbal assault.
"I know you are used to being in control, but you need to understand that is no longer the case here. You have lost the only advantage you had over me. You will leave my home and never bother us or our loved ones again, do you understand?"
The Volturi was almost vibrating with rage, clearly hovering on the edge of attacking. Instead she glared at Maura, the battle between a desire to strike out and a desire to run manifesting in her stance, facing equally the exit and her target.
The three remained in the standoff for several long seconds, nobody sure how the Volturi was going to react. Maura continued to hold Jane behind her carefully out of the vampire's line of sight, Jane stopped pulling on Maura and readied herself to either get out of the way or dive in as a distraction depending on what happened next. The Volturi bent further into her crouch, ready to spring away or into a fight as soon as she made the decision.
To everyone's surprise the front door swung open and shut loudly. All three combatants froze, not knowing what to do about the intrusion, still tensely eyeing each other. Jane and Maura's hearts sank when they realised Angela had just walked in to the middle of this dangerous confrontation with no idea what was going on.
"Maura, Janie, are you here? Vince was kind enough to sit with Frankie at the hospital so I came to grab some of the leftovers I brought the other night for you two, I know you didn't finish it all."
Before Maura or Jane could react the Volturi sped over to Angela, grabbing her by the shoulders and holding her in front of her body like a human shield. Both women screamed inarticulately and moved towards Angela, their hands held out in surrender.
The Volturi smiled cruelly as she saw her two experiments submitting to her will again. Angela struggled in her grip before starting to protest loudly.
"Who are you? Janie who is this? What's going on? Let go of me!"
Jane fought back tears at the sight of her mother in the grip of a monster, knowing there was very little she could do to influence the outcome of this deadly encounter. She squashed down her fear in order to reassure her terrified mother.
"Ma, it's okay. Please just stay calm, we'll handle this, you'll be okay."
As she spoke Jane saw Maura edging away from her, seemingly trying to get a better angle to see around Angela, but the vampire saw her move and countered by shaking Angela and gripping her arm painfully tight, inducing a small scream from Angela. Jane cried out and reached out towards Maura, who stopped moving and put her hands back up pleadingly.
"Don't hurt her, please. Tell us what you want from us."
The Volturi smiled again, her lip curling in contempt once more. "You vegetarians think you're so much better than us. You parade your sickly yellow eyes as if they're a source of pride. But we Volturi are true vampires, not weaklings that play at being human. You aren't human. They are your food, and yet you talk to them like they are your equal. You are an abomination. You are disgusting. And what I want is to show you that you're no better than me."
Jane frowned at the words, not understanding the furious rant. She met her mother's frightened and confused glance, trying to convey her love and reassurance with her own gaze. Angela smiled shakily back at her daughter, showing her trust and faith in Jane.
Suddenly the Volturi jerked Angela out of the way and struck Maura down with her stare. Maura yelled in pain, her knees collapsing as she bent over in agony yet again. Angela screamed, not understanding what was happening. Jane reached forward for Maura, trying to get in the path of the glare again so Maura could recover.
The Volturi grabbed Angela by the scruff of her neck, pulling her towards Maura. With one arm she hit Jane in the chest, propelling her across the room to land in a heap on the floor. Angela yelled in fear watching her daughter fall, her hands trying to prise the grip off her neck so she could help Jane. With nobody between her and Maura the sadistic vampire bent over her victim, dragging a crying Angela with her. She spoke angrily into Maura's ear.
"Show me how superior you are now."
Jane raised her head to see the Volturi reach up to her mother's neck, her sharp fingernails digging into the fragile flesh. Her mother screamed in pain and shock, her eyes wide in fear. Jane screamed in protest, scrambling back to her feet and drawing her gun in one smooth motion.
Jane watched in horror as the vampire shoved her mother into Maura's arms, smirking as she stepped back towards the door. Maura stopped convulsing in pain, her face changing from a tortured agony to an overpowering thirst as she became aware of the new scent.
Before Jane could even breathe Maura bit into her mother's throat. She screamed in panic, moving towards her worst nightmare unfolding before her eyes.
"MAURA! STOP! GOD NO, MAURA! MA! NO! STOP! MA!"
Her mother was looking at her in pain. Her hand was reaching out for help. Her mouth moved in a feeble attempt to speak. Her eyes were growing dim.
Jane reacted on instinct, bringing up the gun in her hand. She fired at Maura's back, scoring three direct hits on her shoulder. Maura jerked in response but didn't drop her mother. Jane moved closer, firing again. Maura ignored the bullets striking her body, completely focussed on her prey. Finally the gun in her hand clicked and fell silent. Jane dropped the gun and lunged forward, grabbing Maura's arm in a last attempt to drag her away from her mother. As Jane tugged desperately on her friend's cold arm she watched the life drain from her mother's face.
Finally Maura dropped the limp body in her arms. Jane cried out in despair as her mother hit the ground, her eyes open and unseeing. She cradled the still face before her, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Her trembling hands gripped her mother's shoulders, shaking her gently. She started sobbing, a keening moan coming from her mouth as she tried to understand what her eyes were telling her.
Her mother was dead. Her best friend had just murdered her mother.