Hurricane Swan Chapter 37: Talks and Traitors, a twilight fanfic

Holiday! So, sorry but no update for three weeks. Hope this long chapter makes up for it.

Hope you all enjoy your holidays and the pictures of Joham and Robert are up on my profile.

Thanks:

After receiving a PM asking whether there will be a sequel, I thought I would answer here in case anyone else was interested. Truly i'm not sure, I am going to try and leave it open so I could if I wanted to, but if I do it wouldn't be for a few months as I have other stories I should focus on. Thanks for reading my lengthy note and enjoy!

Edward POV

The leader emerged silently from within the mass of bodies. He was about six foot five with jet black hair that he had combed slickly back, and his eyes were a bright ruby colour.

"Hello again." He shouted, opening his arms wide and walking forwards with determined strides.

I could see Aro's hands twitch, but his eyes stayed fixed on Joham. Weirdly, Marcus stepped forward rather than Aro.

"Joham. I can't say that any of us have missed you." He said with a hint of coldness in his voice, now of all times I wished I had my ability back so I could understand what was going on!

Joham stopped, close to the centre and beckoned us forward. "Why not have a chat like friends not enemies? I'm terribly sorry we got off on the wrong foot, but I'd love to have many of you with me."

"I'm sure you would, but none of us would like to be with you" Caius sneered, also stepping forward.

He looked across our lines with pursed lips. Then stopped at Bella.

"You're looking better today Isabella." He smiled a 'charming' smile, but Bella just stayed completely still and didn't reply.

"You're all just a bundle of laughs aren't you," he sighed. "Okay then, down to business. I am here, with my children, to show the humans who is boss, per così dire, and I would love it if you joined me, I need males to widen the gene pool and women to look after the newborns. All of you who have ever wanted children, and I am willing to bet there are some, it is possible. I would hate to have to kill you all." He shook his head sadly. "I have a suggestion, don't think as a group, think for yourself and what you want to do. This is your life in the balance, not someone who leads you or someone who you have only known for a month of so."

There was silence for a few moments then Aro spoke.

"That's a grand thing, saying all that... but how much is true? You can't control hundreds. How long would it be before you start killing people off so the numbers don't get too high, and I doubt that you would kill your 'children'."

Joham laughed. "It's true, I only keep the best, and the best know when a fight is lost, the best know when to join the winning side. And for your information I have killed the occasional one, the saying is 'you're only as strong as your weakest link'. Besides, I'm giving them a couple of years more than most of you will have."

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that some of the, ones I knew to have a big ego, were beginning to look thoughtful, some were even nodding their heads. Thankfully no-one moved. He was beginning to look irritated now.

So he turned his attention somewhere else.

"Isabella, my offer still stands if you want to join me."

She snorted delicately. "That is very unlikely to happen, you would literally have to enslave me... and then I would still say no."

"Would you like me to reenact the little scene I showed you, for real? I'm sure you'd give in then." His eyes twinkled in glee as she stiffened.

I reached forward and gently brushed her back with my hand, letting her know I was there. She relaxed slightly and then I moved back to my original position.

"Sorry it had to come to this." Joham said, and then at the flick of his fingers, Bella fell to the ground screaming in agony. The kind of agony that I have heard only when Jane has unleashed her ability at full blast... maybe even worse than that.

I fell to my knees next to her and tried to find any way to help her, but it was impossible, I wasn't sure she even noticed I was there.

The three leaders hissed and Benjamin shouted over the screams, "How? That's impossible!"

"Not impossible. We can't attack her from the outside, but what about the inside?"

Sure enough, in-between screams she began to retch, as if her body was trying to get rid of something.

"How do you mean?" Caius asked.

"Maybe a hair in a glass of blood of someone who has the ability to set themselves on fire?"

Something in my mind clicked, and before I knew what I was doing, I launched myself at the mousey haired vampire. At the same point, my mind-reading suddenly came back, freezing me in shock and enabling Annabelle to get a firm grip around my neck. Joham signaled again, and Bella's screams died down.

"I'm sure that hurt a fair bit, and I think her shields should be down now," he smiled.

"You're the traitor...?" Caius looked at Annabelle who was increasing pressure on my neck and I couldn't understand why she was stronger than me.

"Not the only one, but yes. I will serve my father above all." She said, almost reverently. "And Edward, it's true I gave you the blood, but I never directly put the hairs in, the Swan's need to look closer to home for that."

"Father? You're not a half-breed." Isobel said.

"I'm not like the others, I was one of his first 'grandchildren'. My father was a vampire who mated with my mother who was a half-breed. But that father isn't around, and my grandfather is as good as a father, so why not call him that title?"

I looked over at my wife who was simply lying on the floor, not even having the energy to breathe. I looked over at Sam, and he slowly walked over to her to see what he could do.

Suddenly there was a commotion from within the centre of the half-breeds, and thanks to my mind reading being back, I could make out why. But I couldn't say anything as the tight grip on my neck prevented my vocal cords from working in the slightest. I was beginning to get worried that if she carried on, she'd do permanent damage.

I also noticed that I couldn't hear an inkling from Joham's mind.

So, to concentrate even more, I decided to close my eyes and concentrate only on Annabelle's mind. I blocked everything else out and decided to bide my time, maybe even get some information while I was at it.

BPOV

I could tell my body was on fire. It was on fire, it wasn't some pain which was created in my head, there was literally a fire inside me. Just burning away, not stopping.

It felt like centuries, but eventually it stopped.

Listening was the only thing I could do. I couldn't even try to think, it was too exhausting.

"Bella," A males low voice came suddenly from next to my ear. "Can you move at all?"

I couldn't process what he was even saying, it was like gibberish.

I heard the crunch of the grass as someone different lowered themselves next to me.

Then I was vaguely aware that something was entering my mouth, blood, but I didn't have enough energy to even swallow.

"Come on Bella." I heard someone urge from my opposite side.

My body tried to find some way of finding the energy to swallow, and after some uncountable amount of time, it must have found something, but that must have been the dregs of energy keeping me conscious, as I felt nothing after that.

Edward POV

Thankfully, I was so absorbed in Annabelle's thoughts, I could keep track of what was going on and look though her mind simultaneously.

I was aware Sam was with Bella, trying to do anything to get her to respond to the blood of her sire.

I was aware that Annabelle had dragged me further away from the mass of black cloaks, towards Joham, as she was feeling threatened having so many potential enemies surrounding her. She didn't seem to realise that I was in her head.

"So you lost your main defense... sorry about that, but now we can talk properly." He smiled, what seemed to be a genuine smile.

I, well Annabelle, could see some of those on the 'anti-Joham' side shift slightly, uncomfortable, but others seemed mesmerised by him. I remembered Bella told me a few weeks ago that the Volturi suspected that he had a gift of drawing people towards him, and without Bella's shield to stop it...

"So, as I am a generous man, I am going to give the offer once more, you are all still welcome." He opened his arms wide and a couple began to step forward, but others held them back.

To everyone's surprise, Aro stepped forward. Caius and Marcus went to stop him, but he waved them off.

"Why? After all these years, why are you still determined to be the leader? I admit the three of us," he gestured to himself and his brothers, "aren't much different, but after seeing how you act once again, it's wrong. I don't see the point." He looked like he was slightly in despair.

"Oh my little brother, you have always tried to be like me, but failed as you never really felt why I do what I do."

There were mutterings from amongst both sides, and looks were given between Aro and Joham. Now I understood why Aro has been withdrawn for so long, and why Bella was also chosen as a leader in the battle, she would be uninfluenced by Joham.

"Did you not tell those fighting for you that you're related to me?" He tutted. "Now now Alessandro, did madre not teach you anything?"

"Why would I want to admit you're my brother? Ever since that day 3000 years ago my loyalty to you has slowly diminished. Caius and Marcus helped to get rid of you at my request. I'm not entirely sure you even realise what you're doing at the present time."

"Shooting blindly in the dark. Of course I knew it was you, those two wouldn't have the guts to do it unless you said it was 'appropriate'! And you know me well en-"

"Knew. I knew you well enough."

Joham threw a irritated look at his brother and carried on. "You knew me well enough to know that I plan before I act, I plan for every possibility. That is obviously the reason for why you are all looking so apprehensive, I'm sure. For example, I know the vampire hunters are trying to trap us, but that is currently being handled, just as much as I know that although the shape shifters told you they would not fight with you, they changed their mind and were on their way to help, again that situation is being controlled. There are also eighty other possibilities that I have prepared for, does that sound a whole lot different to what I was like?"

Aro kept silent, looking at Joham with a strange look on his face, then stepped back to his original position looking resigned.

There was silence for a few minutes both sides staying completely still, unsure of what was going to happen. Joham just kept looking around looking at each person in every black cloak for a couple of seconds, then he turned to me... I mean Annabelle.

"Anna, I would loosen your grip slightly, he's not looking too good... did you bite him?"

"I don't think so..." I could actually feel her confusion, and nervousness at what her father might say if she has disappointed him.

When she moved I realised I couldn't actually feel my body anymore, I had blocked my senses off so completely, I wasn't entirely sure how to go back, as my panic started to increase, something seemed to merge and I was in her head.

BPOV

My eyes flew open and I came face to face with Sam, who was looking relieved.

"Urgh, what happened?" I groaned, feeling groggy, which was a sensation I hadn't felt for 70 years, so as you can imagine, I was confused.

"I think you passed out at least five minutes ago, drink a bit more and you should be back to normal."

"Drink what?" I asked, a wave of nausea flowing over me. I covered my mouth with my hand and focused on breathing through my nose. When it passed, Sam answered.

"Victoria, she made you a vampire, so her blood will heal you twenty times better than human blood, so you'll only need a few mouthfuls. See all that reading did pay off." He grinned, looking pleased with himself, then patted me on the back. "Hurry about it too." Then he straightened and moved to his original position.

"Here you are." She stuck her wrist out and I looked at it warily, feeling uncomfortable. "You heard Samuel didn't you? We are in the middle of a battle here you know."

Remembering, I tried to look around, but she grabbed my head and kept my face towards her wrist.

"See you can't even fight back. Chop, chop."

I sighed and bit down onto her wrist, forcing myself to take a few mouthfuls. It didn't taste pleasant, but even after the first gulp, I could feel myself returning to normal, and after three I was as sated and strengthened as I could possibly be. During this, Victoria quietly updated me in what had happened.

I jumped up looking around, and then froze. I stupidly went to run across the field to where Annabelle had my dead looking husband but Victoria grabbed me quickly.

"First put your shield over all of us, but not him, not yet, Isobel says she has a feeling it needs to be played out a little longer."

I grudgingly did as she asked but kept my shield a millimetre from Edwards body, ready to move as soon as something happened.

"Isabella! Lovely to see you back!" Joham smiled from where he was stood next to Annabelle.

"At least I didn't expect anything less from the likes of you."

She shrugged and kept quiet, looking away.

"Quick question, I may have missed something, but why are we all waiting around like nothing is going to happen? It blatantly is." Lorrie suddenly said, standing next to me.

I didn't bother trying to hush him as I was wondering the same thing myself.

"I'm waiting to show you how much you've failed." He smiled wryly, like he knew something we didn't.

I looked around and noticed that our numbers were down by at least thirty.

"How did he do that?" Lorrie muttered, almost under his breath.

"We think he has a slight ability to draw people to him." I quietly told him.

Suddenly there was a commotion which was getting louder and louder, there were growls amidst yowling, screaming and shouting. Then our reinforcements emerged from the trees surrounded by half-breeds.

There were three fewer wolves than I had last known of, in their human form, there were also considerably less Venantium than I had been told about, but the number of vampires were still the same.

I stopped a sigh in relief seeing that Joanne, Jack, Adam and Martiee were still among them.

"That little plan backfired, didn't it?" Aro's brother said with the air of someone who has just won something big.

"It certainly did." Martiee smiled and stepped out of the wall of half-breeds and towards Joham, and stood comfortably next to him.

Lorrie stepped forward, looking hurt and shocked.

"Honey, I still love you, but I am not on your side in this fight." She said.

I suddenly had an urge to tell Lawrence the truth myself, but I knew it was better that the secret stayed between the few of us.

"How could you? We took you in as part of the family and you go and do this?" I said, trying to put some disbelief and disappointment in my voice... playing along. I think it was believable.

All of a sudden Isobel appeared on my right and placed a restraining hand on my shoulder, Annabelle dropped my lifeless husband and walked into the crowd behind. A couple of seconds later she emerged with Rob, Joanne gasped and tried to run to him but Joham's children hissed and pushed her back.

"Anna, what are you doing?" Her 'father' asked.

"Well why do we need him?" She replied, dragging him while he tried to struggle free.

"Leverage my dear, you can't just go giving him back." He walked forward to stop her.

"Who said anything about giving him back?"

Before I knew what I was doing, I was sprinting over to the exact centre, where Annabelle had knelt Rob, and was pulling his head back, Joham was mirroring my actions. Joanne screamed.

Thankfully, I got there first. I knocked her back, grabbed Rob and sprinted back to the mass of black. Just as Joham tried to grab me, I threw my shield out and he was shocked across the field.

As soon as he touched the ground, Annabelle was on top of him, pinning him down. Martiee dived forward as with the half-breeds and grabbed her before she ripped his throat out.

"Do it now!" Isobel shouted.

I immediately weaved my shield around the crowd of half breeds to where Edward was lying, forgotten.

Sam took a shaken Rob, and I ran, shield tightly wrapped around me, into the crowd, only a few noticed me and they were so focused on helping their 'father', they didn't notice when I helped my dazed husband up, and leaped out, over their heads and practically dragged him to safety.

When we were behind the front lines, I turned to him and checked for any bite marks or wounds.

"Are you alright?" I asked, still unsure as to why he was so confused.

"I think I should be asking you that." He laughed lightly. "The strangest thing just happened to me. I was inside her head!" He laughed again.

"What?" I frowned, becoming more and more worried.

"All that; getting Rob and attacking Joham was all me. It was amazing!"

All three of the Volturi leaders, among others were looking at him, gobsmacked.

"I thought you were a mind-reader?" One of the Irish vampires, Siobhan, said.

"Me too!" He grinned.

Eleazar, and old Volturi member, stepped forward, looking confused. He had the ability to sense what ability people possessed, if they had one.

"He's changed." He told me.

"What do you mean?"

"It's like he's gained a new ability... but not. I've never seen anything like it."

A roar of anger echoed across the field as Joham leaped out of the crowd in anger.

"How dare you!" He roared at Edward.

I pushed him behind me and walked to the front, next to Aro, Marcus and Caius.

"How dare you take him!" I roared back. Aro laid a hand on my arm.

"Something you didn't plan on happening then?" Caius sneered quite happily.

Joham growled, his hair was ruffled and his eyes were wide, in anger or insanity, I wasn't entirely sure.

"Last chance Joham, or we will kill you all." Marcus said.

The vampire in question just laughed hysterically, which was backed up by many of the half-breeds laughing along with him.

"Those in favour of fighting." Isobel said, looking at the four of us. I raised my hand immediately , in sync with Marcus and Caius. Aro hesitated looking like he was thinking hard, then slowly raised his hand.

"It's unanimous." Caius smiled.

Joham, looking on in disbelief, then ran his fingers through his hair and stepped back to the front line of his army.

"You'll regret this brother." He said, crouching. We all copied this action.

Then the dawn came.