I do not own anything in the Twilight Universe. I only wish I did.

Faith and Hope

Micah picked himself off of the floor. He paced as he waited for the guard. He prayed, knowing that it went on deaf ears, that the pack would make their escape undetected. Wrapping his arm in a table cloth, and taking a deep breath, he composed himself and struck a pose of nonchalance, that he felt anything but. Marcus led the small party of the Volturi, through the back kitchen. Micah smiled his greeting as they made a semi circle around him. Felix and Kiev scanned the rooms, looking for anyone else, but found the diner empty, save for the waitress and cook, snoozing in the storage room. They came back affirming that they had the place to themselves.

"Where's the girl?" Demetri asked, matching the dance that Micah made as he assessed the present group. Micah deliberately made his mind go blank and eased his muscles into assumed relaxation. He could feel Marcus, trying to tear down his self imposed walls, digging for information on Claire. And for a moment he felt them crumble. Panic seized his lungs and his eyes darted to the exit. Immediately he felt Felix's arms surround him, blocking his retreat.

"Come now, why the hesitation? It is a simple question, which does not require so much thought." Demetri took a step closer, still keeping a respectable distance. No telling what abilities were still in his arsenal.

"I assure you, I do not know what you are talking about. And this is not necessary." He said angling his head to Felix's bulging muscles, that surrounded his frame. "We are but old friends. Surely, this is not the way you want to treat comrades."

"Aro has some concerns, that your loyalty is in question. The Volturi cannot afford a wild card in their ranks." Marcus stared the other vampire down, as he forced his talent on the other's mind. Micah looked at the other vampire, and said with true conviction. "My loyalties are true." Marcus smiled, yes his loyalties, were true, he just couldn't verify who they belonged to. Then the Volturi leader took in Micah's injuries, and the lingering scent of the wolf pack. Micah tensed again as he saw the wheels turning in his head. He felt his shield weakening, as he realized that there had not been enough time to let the pack get away.

"It seems someone let the dogs in. Were we late, for the altercation? It must not have been much of a battle, if you were the only casualty. But the spoils go to the winner. Did they win the lovely young lady?" Marcus teased as he picked at the mortar that held Micah's walls together. And when they came down, Marcus was overwhelmed with Micah's protective affection for Claire. The bonds were more than he thought the other vampire was capable of showing. Aro was correct in his assumption, that the way to control Micah would be possession of the human girl. The fact that they missed the pack was only a slight complication. If they did not catch up with them before they caught up with the Cullens, they would finish it all at once. But the time for caution was over.

"I think its time to be on our way. We have a date with some old friends." Micah lifted his head at this proclamation. Maybe they would make it after all. If he could stay with them, possibly cause a few diversions, distract the Volturi, they would turn to other interests. All he had to do was buy time. And he had plenty of that.

Marcus motioned behind Micah and before he could turn his head he was struck deaf and blind. "Hold him until Fisher can transport him to Volterra. We will deal with him, when we have the girl." Kiev bowed his head at the command while Felix flexed his arms around his prisoner. Micah fought the darkness, unable to hear his own screams of frustration, to no avail. Felix was better than a cell of steel bars. Once again he turned to his unforgiving God for help.

Quil raced to the clearing, Claire perched on his back, her hands twisted in clumps of his chocolate fur. He relished the pain, knowing that she was safe in his care. Her head was pressed to his neck and try as he might, he could not ignore her cries of protest that they had left Micah at the diner. She had not stopped crying, since they had taken off. It would ebb to soft whimpers, until her body stiffened and then she would escalate to crescendos of hysteria, punctuated by her pulling those clumps of his fur out by the root, in the attempt to get him to stop. But there was no way in hell, that he would go back to that bloodsucker. Even though it tore at his heart, he quickened the pace and ignored her pleas. Her breath was coming out in gasps in her panic, and he was afraid that she would work her way into throwing up, like she did as a very small girl, going through the terrible twos.

The thought caused the rest of the pack to clear a path along side the wolf. Their own emotions were mixed as they took in the girls physical appearance as well as her hysterical tantrum. Fears that the leech had done something to her echoed through the pack mind, feeding Quil's vivid nightmares. He regretted that he could not hold her properly, that he could not talk to her, to find out what had happened, and why she was acting like she lost her best friend. He didn't need to admit that he was jealous of her reaction to Micah. The pack mind felt every ounce of the green demon that ate at his gut.

Claire watched as the Volturi blinded Micah and saw Fisher blink him to Volterra, where he was placed in a ironed bar cell. She saw him tortured, while the guard watched in stony silence. And it was all because of her. It was all her fault. Why wouldn't Quil listen to him? He was not the bad guy. He was the one who would make it all right. Why didn't Quil know that they needed him? She wished that she could explain it right, but she was just a kid. And nobody listened to kids.

"We will take formation, once we reach the Cullens. Everyone needs to focus on protecting Claire. I do not completely trust the Cullens, and I won't put it past them to try to take her to trade for Renesmee. We will get Renesmee on our own terms. From Alice's visions, she sees the Volturi using the newborns as the first phase of the battle. Keep your eyes and ears open." Sam stated as they pounded their way over the uneven terrain.

"We got it covered." Paul said, as if it were done already. The others agreed to the plan as they made their way into a less condensed area of the forest. The wolves skidded to a halt at the site of the cluster of frenzied newborns, held together by the guard.

Faith grabbed Fisher by the arm before he blinked away with another of the newborns that she had subdued. He turned to her, with concern in his eyes. She signed her concerns, that he may have been right about the Cullens. That there may be a different way of life for them than she had originally thought. That they may be making a great mistake, if they let the newborns attack the Cullens before they get a chance to talk with them. Fisher's hopeful expression broke her heart. All he wanted to do was please. Once again the coals of hell raked against her soul, for dragging him into this world of terror. And it was all in vain, for she had healed nothing. He was still deaf.

She signed that she wanted him to take her to Renesmee's room, so they wouldn't be detected. He clasped her arms and darkness closed in. Renesmee was huddled in the corner, humming to herself. She stopped, suspicion in her eyes, still she remained silent. Fisher stepped toward her, his smile welcoming, his hands held out to calm her. Faith glided to her in a graceful sway. Her face full of questions, just not certain where to begin. Renesmee stood up and started the conversation.

"Please, you have to help me. I need to be with my family. I have done nothing wrong. Whatever they have accused me of is preposterous. I am no threat. You have to believe me. I and my family are a peaceful group. We have done nothing to bring the wrath of the Volturi on us." Faith looked at the girl, trying to put herself in her place. She was obviously frightened, but very articulate for a girl her age. And she showed no signs of being dangerous, except for the one incident at the Cullen's place where she demonstrated her ability. And not once had she tried it here. She was no threat to the Volturi.

"I'm afraid they may fear your family, more than they fear you. As we speak, they are plotting a battle that involves newborns." Faith stopped at Renesmee's gasp of horror.

"But they can't! It is against their own laws. It would be a slaughter. Please, you got to help me. I have to warn my family. Newborns cannot be controlled. They have to be warned to stop them. I have to get to Jacob. I have to be with him." Nessie grabbed the vampire's arms, pleading with her.

"I don't know what I can do. I can't fight the Volturi." Faith pried the other girls hands off of her arms. "But your coven? Is it as powerful as the Volturi truly believe?" Faith searched her face for the truth, not certain that she could afford the assurance of a child. Not when the balance of her and her brothers existence depended on her answer. She needed to speak with the Cullen leader. But she did not see how she would be able to do that without alerting the Volturi about her intentions.

Renesmee looked at the vampire, confident, as a smile threatened the corners of her lips, "We were the winners on the battlefield three years ago. And we have something that the Volturi will never have." Faith looked at her questioningly. "We have my Jacob and the pack. They will not stop until they have hunted every last one of them down." All three of them turned to the door as it opened.

Gianna stepped in briskly, "Ah, I have finally found you, Alec wanted to know what was causing the delay. I hope there isn't a problem with our guest? Fisher whined and stood in front of Renesmee. Faith assured the other woman that everything was fine. "Well then, we best be on our way, the leaders are waiting for us to proceed." Gianna pointed to the open doorway, not stepping out until the two went through first. Then she turned to Nessie and said in a pleasant tone to induce calm, "It should not be long now. Soon you will be back with your family. I would advise not to make trouble. It will only complicate matters." Somehow, Nessie did not feel assured by the young woman's statement, but felt more confident, that Faith and her brother would help. They had to. The alternative was not thinkable to her. The sound of the lock turning induced a shiver down the young girl's spine.

Faith's hope lifted, as she thought that she might get close to the Cullen's with her brother's help, but that was dashed, when Gianna stopped her. "Faith, before you return to the site with your brother, Aro has another job for you. If you will come with me. Aro is waiting for you." Faith tried not to let her true feelings show as she shook her head to her brother and signed that everything will be alright. Then she asked him to keep his eyes open. He whined and signed watch your back. And then he left to go back to the first level. Gianna led her down a corridor that she hadn't been in before. The walls were draped in ancient tapestries, depicting men in battle. The colors still brilliant despite their age. As she passed the last one on the wall she recognized Aro's familiar profile in battle with the other vampire that was causing such a stir with the Volturi. It would seem that their complicated friendship went back further than she originally thought.

Gianna stepped through the doorway into a very large chamber surrounded in red and black marble. At the far wall a man was chained to a wall, his arms extended above his head, which was hung low. Massive slashes covered his bare torso and arms. Aro stood before him asking questions. When he did not appreciate the lack of response, he raised his hand and two minions stepped up to the man and continued to mutilate his body with gashes caused by their own talon like fingers. One pretty destructive strike ripped a huge strip of pale marble skin, that hung from his chest. Faith had no idea how he kept his agonized screams inside himself. All she could see was a slight shimmer that raked his body, and his slow intake of breath.

Faith turned her horrified expression to the ever calm Gianna, whom did not even bat an eyelash at the atrocity before their eyes. "Sir I've brought her, like you requested." Aro turned to Faith, a bright smile on his face, totally immune to the torture in front of his eyes.

"Good, good. Just in time. I need your talent." Obviously, she thought as she stepped up to the vampire. His wounds were trying to heal, several of the stripes, were re-ripped in the process of mending. His head still bowed, she wasn't sure if they had done any damage there. Faith's hands glowed as they traveled over the vampire's body. Her vision disappeared as the power took over. The vampire skin mended under her fingers. She could not understand it, but her talent seemed to work best on vampires. And wounds were the easiest. But something that nature created did not seem to be recognized by her ability. After several minutes his body seemed as good as new. Flawless as it was smooth and hard.

"Excellent, now then shall we start from the beginning? Where is the girl? Surely, they would not have left you alive, if you still had the girl in your possession. Simply answer the question, and this will be over. Micah laughed, "But we are having so much fun. Are you bored already? Come on you can do better than this." Aro shook his head at his old friend and then signaled the minions. Faith stuffed her hand into her mouth to stifle her scream at the sight of his torso once again shredded where she had healed the wounds. A low moan escaped his pressed lips, but that was all he showed in his reaction to the torture. Aro was still as a statue as he watched in silence.

Micah let his mind wander, under the pain. He was not worried that Aro would read anything there, as long as he kept his hands to himself. He remembered what Claire kept telling him about trusting faith, but his prayers echoed in the silence. He was almost positive, that they must have gotten away, but he could not judge the time. He could have been here minutes, or hours. She was probably half way home by now. The rest did not matter. Eventually, Aro would grow bored, if he did not elicit the response he wanted. He no longer had the power to lie to him, or even to block him from plucking any memory from his beaten mind. When he thought that Aro would start his interrogation again, he was surprised again. This time the minions did not stop. From the position of his head, that he kept low, he could now see his ribs protruding from the exposed muscle. If he was not suspended by his arms, he would have collapsed by now. He let all of his weight rest on his arms, as he felt his shoulders dislocate. A scream pushed threw his closed mouth.

Aro stepped forward and grasped Micah's face. He sifted through the vampire's mind until he found the information on the pack. So they did have her after all. He made a deal with them. Aro would never thought that Micah would have done that, with the way he felt about her. He looked deep into his eyes, as he thought about what he should do about him. It would be the wisest course to just finish him. It would set his mind at ease to know he would not have to worry about revolt. But something , deep inside would not let him do that, as he continued to search the other man's mind.

Micah knew this was it. The moment when he would finally meet his maker. A deep shudder went through his body as he prepared. His only regret was that he did not know for sure that Claire would be safe. The thought that she was surrounded by the violent wolves, made him wish there was some other way he could have left her. He let himself go.

"Faith." Micah looked up at Aro's command. The girl stepped up as Aro stepped back, her face frozen at the horror. She reached out with shaky hands as she concentrated on the healing. Micah's eyes raked over the vampire as Claire's pleas echoed in his head. Claire did not say faith, she said Faith. This healer was to help her. He did not know how yet, but it gave him hope he did not have before. As her ability soared over his broken body, mending the outside, his mind whirled, trying to form a plan on how to get her to assist him in escape.

Before she was finished, they were greeted by Gianna again, "Aro , Alec has sent news, that the pack has intercepted the newborns, before they were completely staged. He requests your presence for guidance. The guard, is almost in place to enter battle with the Cullens. He wants to know if the plan has changed."

Aro shook his head as if it was not of great importance. "A leaders job is never done. Please excuse me. Faith continue to heal his wounds and then join your brother in level one." And with that, he swept out of the room, with his usual grace. Faith came to with Micah's intense gaze on her face.

"I need your help. I need to get to that clearing. And an angel told me to trust you."

The battle begins. I want to thank the loyal reviewers, who have given me the spur to keep going. I hope you like it. If you don't please let me know. I can't really change it at this point, but I'd still like to know. Thanks.