Authors Note as of 5/11/2010:
I've made a few changes to the story. I discovered when I started the writing I didn't feel the need to use punctuation. So I've gone through and completely reedited the entire story and made a few changes you should be aware of. Firstly chapters 1,2,3,4, 5, and 27 have been completely rewritten and I suggest you take a quick look at those, they're entirely different. I wanted Jasper and Allie to be together a little longer before meeting Demetri and as I've been writing the sequel I've found I needed to age Allie. Twenty-five just seemed too young and it doesn't work with the story line of the sequel. This is where it gets a little confusing. There are 110 years between Allie's kidnapping and her meeting Jasper. Allie does not know this. I won't tell you anything else, you'll have to read the sequel to find out what exactly is going on. I've also taken out chapter 18, the chapter nobody understood – the one that wasn't about Allie, Jasper or Demetri but the bad guys. It was really bothering me so I took it out completely. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please let me know. I hope it sounds better than it did. Thank you for reading and all your lovely reviews I really enjoy reading them!
As Always: This story is a work of fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people, or real locations are used purely fictitiously. Any names, places, or actual events are incidents of the author's imagination. I do not own twilight or the characters. I do own Allie and any character that was not in twilight.
"War is overdue. The time has come for you to shoot your leaders down, join forces underground. Lose control, increasing pace, warped and bewitched time to erase."
~Muse
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Assassin
Allie
Dawn came too soon.
Throughout the early morning, the others gathered, their eyes bearing mute evidence of their preparations – some light gold, some rich crimson. I felt strange, as I always did, knowing the people I call my family, my friends, had murdered innocent humans last night. Jealous because, I didn't enjoy seeing their satisfied looks and knowing I could no longer taste the rich crimson liquid myself, and strange because, I was intrigued by it – hunting had always fascinated me and I suppose it always would. Like a child who's lactose intolerant and can't have ice cream at his best friend's birthday party while all the other kids get to enjoy the experience, I would never be able to hunt for myself and therefore it would always fascinate me.
Soon after we were all together, we could hear the wolves moving in the woods. The large wild cats joined them only moments later.
Eleazar and Carlisle were arraying the others into a loose formation, our witness to the side like galleries.
I stayed in the tent Jasper and Demetri made last night waiting for Joshua to wake. When he did, I nursed him one last time and then dressed him quickly in the clothes I'd carefully picked out two days before. He'd need to stay warm so I dressed him in a yellow striped footed One-Piece that had a cute little money off to the side. Knowing it wouldn't be enough I added a cute little matching cardigan and a thick velboa all in one suite that would keep his feet and his hands warm. I added a brown hat and put the hood up on his warm suit.
Since I didn't have to worry about staying warm I dressed in a long white empire waist gown. It was off the shoulders and the sleeves were long, almost to my wrists but there was a slit up the sides so I could move easily. The fabric was sheer but there were so many layers it wasn't see thought, although the sleeves were. It dragged on the floor as I walked and trailed behind me slightly. My hair was loose and fell in soft curls to swirl gently down my back and framed my face. I added my black choker with the Cullen crest and wrapped Joshua in his Cullen crest blanket and lightly kissed his head.
"Okay peanut, remember I love you so so much and I will never let anything happen to you. You are my little miracle and I will protect you with my life, always. I love you more than anything," I whispered and held him tightly to my chest for just a moment longer.
When I left the tent I handed Arabella the small bag I'd prepared for Joshua, I'd added papers, a new birth certificate, ID's, anything I could think of. I wrote Joshua a letter and one for Arabella and Damon. I added a few pictures we'd taken and his favorite teddy bear hoping it would always give him some comfort when I wasn't with him.
With a hard nod Damon took the bag and disappeared for a moment. "When I tell you," I whispered to Arabella. She nodded once and shiftily shifted into Angel the wolf.
"You look beautiful," Jasper whispered as we approached.
"Like an angel," Demetri smiled and gently wiped away the few tears I'd shed just moments go. "Everything will be alright," he murmured.
"Are you okay," I asked, lightly touching his cheek. I wanted to believe he'd be able to handle this, that he wouldn't snap and suddenly have the urge to kill me but I was still unsure.
"I'm feeling fine so far. I'm still confused and keeping my distance from Edward but I have no desire to kill you. But please, just in case, stay close to Bubba and Jasper. I don't trust myself around you without Jasper there anymore."
"Okay." I nodded. "You still don't remember anything?" I was unsure how I really felt about him being with Edward but a part of me knew I couldn't be angry with him. He had no memory. Possibly, he didn't have sex with Edward.
His eyes cut to Edward and he moved a little closer to me. "I wish I did," he said looking into my eyes. "I wish I could tell you what honestly happened. I feel violated and confused." I could feel his truth behind his words, his fear and his pain. I hated feel him in so much pain.
"I know," I whispered, pulling him closer to me, pressing him against my body and holding him gently in my arms. "I won't let anything else happen to you." he pressed his forehead against mine and lightly kissed my lips. "I love you.'
"I love you too," he smiled.
Jasper placed a comforting hand on Demetri's shoulder and I noticed the way Demetri's body relaxed and uncoiled. I enjoyed Jasper's relationship with Demetri. They'd grown closer in the past few months and I knew it hurt Jasper to see Demetri hurting me. He was just as devastated as I was. But lately I'd seen something different, a change and I wasn't sure what it was.
"Maybe it's the Romanians," Jasper murmured, wrapping his arms around me. "Perhaps one of them has the ability to control, manipulate, and erase minds."
"But you know what I don't understand, why Edward?" I asked. "Wouldn't it make more sense to put you both against me? I mean whoever it is seems intent on Demetri killing me, that's the bottom line here, right? So wouldn't it make more sense to have you both turn against me?"
"Yes," Demetri frowned.
Jasper shook his head. "No. This isn't about you, darlin'. If Demetri kills you he would suffer the worst pain imaginable. Even just the attempt is killing him with the guilt and sorrow and the feeling of helplessness."
I frowned in confusion. I'd never make a good criminal mastermind. "So, having Demetri kill me isn't the objective here, it's inevitably killing Demetri through me. I'm just the toy he gets with his happy meal?"
"Exactly," Jasper nodded once. "Killing you would destroy Demetri. Whoever it is wants Demetri to suffer and they have the power and skill to do that."
Something still didn't add up though. "But why Edward?" I asked. "If Demetri is the intended target and I'm the toy he gets to play with, what's Edward's role in this?" I noticed the family had gathered around Jasper, Demetri and I, closer than they were, to listen to our conversation. Anna and Alice stood at my side, both of them frowning in confusion. Demetri stood behind me, his arms wrapped tightly around my waist.
"Maybe it's because you're mated with him." Rosalie glared at me.
I shook my head. "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned," I mumbled.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you've been hurt," I growled turning to face Rosalie. "You're not really hiding it very well either by the way. But I have news for you Rosalie, Emmett didn't hurt you, you hurt him."
"You have no idea about my relationship with Emmett," she growled and leapt forward, glaring down at me with her teeth bared. Joshua wailed and I snarled angrily at her, pushing Joshua back away from the angry vampire in front of us. Jasper and Emmett were instantly surrounding me. Demetri's arms tightened around my waist and pulled me back away from Rosalie.
"Actually I do," I said calmly. "If you've forgotten I can see your past, I know exactly what you did and if you push me much more I will tell him."
"You wouldn't dare," she snarled.
"Try me," I hissed. Jasper placed his hand on my shoulder and my body relaxed instantly. I sighed. "Why are you doing this, Rosalie? You have a great man in Jack and if you don't see that, if you don't see how much he loves you, you're blind. You left Emmett, why are you against him being happy? Do you still love him?" I asked seriously.
"Yes," she whispered.
My entire body went numb.
There were no words for what I felt at that moment. Everything seemed to slow down into small fragments and my mind was left reeling from the sadness. I'd never felt so sad. In my mind I knew Emmett was never truly mine and he was free to make his own decisions and be with whoever he wished but for the first time since I've known him I was left with a sense of longing I didn't fully understand.
I nodded. My body began to shake. "Okay," I whispered, feeling icy cold suddenly. I felt so stupid. Why would an amazing man like Emmett want me anyway, especially when he could have Rosalie? She's beautiful and smart and educated and so damn perfect for him, anyone with half a brain could see how perfect they are together. "I get it," I said softly. "You have my word, nothing will happen with Emmett and I." saying the words brought a sudden ache down on my chest and I wanted to gasp for air. I felt like I was drowning again. "Please excuse me." I turned away slowly, like my body might shatter if I moved too fast. I wanted to get away before she could see the tears I knew were threatening to spill down my cheeks. I could feel my throat closing as I choked back a sob and my eyeballs began to burn with the fresh tears.
"You still love me, Rosy?" Emmett whispered just as I passed him. I couldn't turn around to see the look in his eye, I could hear the longing in his voice but I kept walking towards a fuming Anna.
I wanted to disappear, I felt so foolish. Why would he ever want to be with me? My life is chaos, I'm imprinted with two men, one of whom wants to kill me half the time, I have a child, the Romanians want me dead and above everything else I still feel like the freak I was before I met Jasper. I'd always felt that way, never knowing who I really am or what I am. I have the answers to my questions now but deep down inside I'm still a freak, I'm still more powerful than most of the people I know and that's never going to change.
"Yes," Rosalie said. I didn't have to look back to know they were in each other's arms, kissing as passionately as long time lovers reunited after decades apart.
Everything was still in slow motion as I continued walking across the clearing and a desperate part of me just wanted to teleport to another land, to just disappear.
"Allie!" Jasper shouted. He was in front of me before I could turn around to answer him. His arms wound around my body, pulling me closer to him. I pressed my head into his chest and let just a few of the tears spill over. I couldn't go on a real crying jag right now. The Romanians would be here soon and I would have to focus on something other than the ache in my heart.
"You want me to kill her?" Anna asked, wrapping her arm around my waist as I sniffled against Jasper's chest.
"With any luck the Romanians will do it," Demetri hissed.
"That wouldn't be luck it would be a tragedy," I told him. "She's Emmett's mate, he would be devastated if she were killed."
"I'm not really seeing the tragedy right now darlin'," Jaspers voice was hard and cold.
"Where is Jack?" Alice asked, changing the subject. I smiled as she slipped her hand into mine and squeezed it tightly.
"He's helping Nana prepare, he doesn't know about this yet." Anna said softly, stroking my hair.
With one last tear I pulled myself out of Jasper's arms and he gently wiped my eyes and lightly kissed my lips. I took a few deep breaths and focused my mind on the task at hand. I could feel the sting of rejection when this was over.
"It's almost time," I said.
Jasper and Demetri put their arms tightly around Joshua and I for one long moment and then, with a deep sigh, let us go. I couldn't see a goodbye anywhere in their eyes. Maybe they had more hope for something after this life than they'd ever let on.
We took our place. Joshua lay happily in his car seat at my feet so my hands could be free. I stood a few feet behind the front line made up by Carlisle, Jasper, Demetri, Emmett, Rosalie, Tanya, Kate, Jane, Alec, Chelsea, Afton, Marcus, and Eleazar. Directly behind me were Bubba and Santiago. Alice, Anna, Liliana, Bella and Renesmee stood by my side. The dogs and Oliver were in front of Joshua's car seat, circling him in a protective manner. A little farther back was Benjamin and Zafrina. They were our best offensive weapons besides me, Anna and Liliana. If the Romanians were the ones that could not see, even for a few moments, that would change everything.
Zafrina was rigid and fierce, with Senna and Kachiri almost a mirror image at her sides. Benjamin was sat on the ground, his palms pressed to the dirt, and muttered quietly about fault lines. Last night, he'd strewn piles of boulders in natural looking now snow-covered heaps all alone the back of the meadow. They weren't enough to injure a vampire, but hopefully enough to distract one.
The rest of our group spread out behind me. Esme and Carmen stayed close to my mother and her mates and my new brothers surrounded me and Joshua. The witnesses cluttered to our left and right, some nearer than others – those who had declared themselves were the closest. I noticed Siobhan rubbing her temples, her eyes closed in concentration. She was trying to visualize a diplomatic resolution either way.
In the woods behind us, the invisible wolves and cats were still and ready; we could only hear their heavy panting, their beating hearts.
The clouds rolled in, diffusing the light so that it could have been morning or afternoon. My eyes tightened as I scrutinized the view, it was the exact scene from my vision one month ago. We only had minutes left now.
All our family and allies braced themselves.
From the forest, the huge russet Alpha wolf came forward to stand at my side; it must have been too hard for him to keep his distance from Renesmee when she was in such immediate danger with me beside her.
Renesmee reached out to twine her fingers in the fur over his massive shoulder, and her body relaxed a little bit. She was calmer with Jacob close. I felt a tiny bit better too. As long as Jacob was with Renesmee, she would be all right.
Without risking a glance behind them, Jasper and Demetri reached back to me. I stretched my arms forward so that I could grip their hands. They squeezed my fingers.
Another minute ticked by, and I found myself straining to hear some sound of approach when the vision clouded my mind.
"It's time," Alice and I said together.
And then, right on time, Jasper and Demetri stiffened and hissed low between their clenched teeth. Their eyes focused on the forest due north of where we stood.
They came with pageantry, with a kind of beauty. They came in a rigid, formal formation. They moved together, but it wasn't a march; they flowed in perfect synchronicity from the trees – a dark, unbroken shape that seemed to hover a few inches above the white snow, so smooth was the advance.
The outer perimeter was gray; the color darkened with each line of bodies until the heart of the formation was deepest black. The faint brushing sound of their feet was so irregular it was like music, a complicated beat that never faltered.
The configuration folded outward. The motion was too stiff, too square to resemble the opening of a flower, though the color suggested that it was the opening of a fan, graceful but very angular. The gray colored cloaked spread to the flanks of the formation, while the darker forms surged precisely forward in the center, each movement closely controlled, although there were times I could see one or two slip from formation and turns the wrong way.
This was almost like my nightmare. The only thing missing was the gloating desire I'd seen on the blank faces in my dream – smiles of vindictive joy. So far the Romanians were too disciplined to show any emotion at all, though, I felt it clearly enough though my bond with Jasper. They also showed no surprise or dismay at the collection of vampires that waited form them here – a collection that looked suddenly disorganized and unprepared in comparison. I had the little satisfaction of knowing this wasn't all of our numbers, others were on their way, and the Romanians hadn't seen the wolves and cats and fairies yet.
I couldn't help but count. There were twenty-four of them. Even if you did not count the two drifting, waifish black-cloaked figures in the very back, who I took to be the wives – their protected positions suggested that they would not be involved in the attack. I was thankful that we outnumbered them dramatically. There were more than eighty-three of us and more to come. With the added help of the wolves and the cats we were already ahead.
"The redcoats are coming, the redcoats are coming," Garrett muttered to himself. Jasper chuckled once with him. Garrett slid one step closer to Kate.
"They did come," Vladimir whispered to Stefan.
"The wives," Stefan hissed back. "The entire guard. All of them together."
"And we outnumber them,"
And then, as if he'd cursed it somehow, more vampires began entering the clearing behind them. Their numbers soared until the last line of vampires entered the clearing. The faces in this seemingly endless influx of vampires were the antithesis of the Romanians' expressionless disciple – they wore a kaleidoscope of emotions. At first there was the shock and even some anxiety as they saw the unexpected force awaiting them. But that concern passed quickly. They were secure in their overwhelming numbers, secure in their positions behind the unstoppable Romanian force.
It was easy to read their mindset on their faces. This was an angry mob, whipped to a frenzy and slavering for justice. I didn't realize the strength of the vampire worlds hate towards the Volturi and to me before I saw these faces and read their thoughts.
"It's okay," Alice was suddenly gripping my hand, her body pressing against mine. "Ignore them," she said firmly.
It was clear that this motley, disorganized horde – more than seventy vampire's altogether – was the Romanians' own form of witness. When we were dead, they'd spread the word that the criminals had been eradicated, that the Romanians' had acted with nothing but impartiality. Most looked like they hoped for more than just an opportunity to witness – they wanted to help tear and burn.
I could feel the same comprehension sinking in around me. We didn't have a prayer. Despair weighted the air, pushing me down with more pressure than before.
"Stop," I whispered. "If we begin to feel like we're doomed now we will be. Ya'll need to relax. Now is not the time to have worries. We are strong and we are powerful, remember your goals here today. We did not come to fight, just to talk."
"Yeah, but I think they came to fight," Garrett murmured. My eyes cut up to him and I smirked but didn't speak.
"Sprite, I'm all for relaxing but are you sure your seeing what we are?" Emmett sounded ready for a fight but oddly nervous.
"No, I'm seeing more than all of you," I said firmly. "They have many layers of strategy already in place. If the woman's accusation had somehow proven to be false, they were committed to find another reason to take offense. That's why my vision was so clear a month ago because they were just waiting for this to happen, for a reason to attack. But they can see Joshua in his cars seat, so they are perfectly sanguine about their course. They have no intention of stopping to listen to us, even if Joshua looks human and not immortal," I said quietly.
Jasper snarled, a very low but fervent sound. "Then we stop them."
"Agreed," I mumbled, as the procession began moving towards us.
But then they stopped. The low music of perfectly synchronized movements turned to silence. The flawless discipline remained unbroken; the Romanians' froze into absolute stillness as one. They stood about a hundred yards away from us.
And I couldn't help the quiet giggle that left my lips.
Behind me, to the sides, I heard the beating of large hearts, closer than before.
The werewolves and the Werecats had joined us.
On either side of our uneven line, the wolves and cats branched out in long, bordering arms. I only spared a fraction of a second to note there were more than the fourteen wolves I've come to know and recognize. There were thirty six of them spaced evenly around us – thirty seven total, counting Jacob.
"Thank you Jonathan," I whispered with a small smile. I could see the others around me looking confused and wary suddenly.
The cats were the next to join us. The huge lion, Jonathan, lead his pride of twenty-four cats, into the clearing. They moved slowly, their paws hitting the earth with power and certainty. The lion moved to sit between Jasper and Demetri while the rest positioned themselves around the wolves and vampires.
I sure hope your right about this kid, Jonathan grumbled softly.
"You should never bet against a psychic Jonathan, especially Alice and I." We smiled as a large lioness came to stand in front of us. Nala, as I'd nicknamed her, bowed her head respectfully and then turned her back on us to watch the vampires.
Sweetheart, would you like to tell us what's going on? Jasper thought.
"No," I said simply. I wasn't going to give them too much hope until I was sure of their path. "I promise, when I know something, ya'll will know too."
As their pause lengthened I kept my eyes focused on Demetri and Jasper's tense ridged bodies. What I can only assume was the leaders in the coven began to talk about something, one held out his hand for the other three and they looked from the giant wolves to the giant cats seeming unsure and anxious.
Of the four Romanian guards two were twins, both blond, both about 6 feet tall and both very handsome. One had long shoulder length hair and the other cut short. Their eyes were burgundy and their features smooth and perfect. They looked no older than Renesmee's sixteen but as always it was hard to tell in immortal years.
The other two were complete opposites. One had short jet black hair and one had auburn hair. One was short and one was tall. One lean and one muscular and beefy. But I could see they were brothers also, although not identical twins as the other two. The dark haired on looked to be in his middle twenties and the auburn haired one looked younger, in his teens, eighteen perhaps.
There was nothing distinctive about them, nothing that would set them apart from anyone else in the world. They dressed in the latest fashions, though, it was all black. Their faces showed no emotion and unlike the Romanians' with us and Marcus their skin was not paper think and dusty chalky pale. They were young.
"Edward?" Carlisle asked, low and anxious.
"They're not sure how to proceed. They're weighing options, tying to choose key targets, me, of course, Eleazar, Tanya, Garrett. The Romanians' and the Volturi presence infuriate them. They're worried about the faces they don't recognize – which happens to be most of us. They're unsure what to make of the wolves and cats. They've never crossed paths with a werewolf or a Werecat and don't know how they're destroyed. They never intended on being outnumbered. That's what's stopped them."
"They don't count their witnesses." Marcus said in a low board tone. "The two blonde's twins are Alexander and Ivan. The red head is Zaharia and the dark haired one is Vasile. Vasile is the leader, his gift is like Aro's. He'll want to read one of you, Allie I'd assume. He wants to be Aro. Zaharia, his younger brother is the kinder one of the two. Alexander and Ivan are weapons. They have powerful gifts, although, they're very smart about keeping their gifts private. I've only met the two once and it was only briefly while they asked me to join them, I refused, I'm enjoying my new found freedom. Their bond is strong, their relationships woven tightly together like a handmade rug. They won't easily be broken." He glanced at Chelsea then and she nodded minutely.
"Should I speak?" Carlisle asked.
"No," I murmured.
"I will go," Marcus said firmly. "They know who I am." He squared his shoulders and paced several steps ahead of our defensive line. He spread his arms, holding his palms up as if in greeting. "Vasile, my old friend. How have you been?"
The white clearing was dead silent for a long moment. I could feel the tension rolling off Demetri as he listened to Vasile's assessment of Marcus's words. The strain mounted as the seconds ticked by.
I found myself growing more and more impatient the longer the Romanians' made us wait. All part of the plan I'm sure. They had time on their hands. It was ours that was limited. Limited by how much was their decision.
Then, after an agonizing few minutes, Vasile stepped forward out of the center of the Romanian formation. A boy, about the size of Jane, followed his movements. And for the first time the Romanian ranks reacted and followed Vasile. A muttered grumble rolled through the line, eyebrows lowered into scowls, lips curled back from teeth. A few of the guard leaned forward into a crouch.
Through the bond with Jasper I felt their anger and hate towards us and my emotions spiked slightly.
Without looking back Vasile raised one hand and said something quickly in Romanian. The guard straightened up and quieted down. He walked a few steps closer to Marcus and then sneered at the old Volturi guard. His head cocked to the side, his hands behind his back. I could see now his eyes were beginning to take on that milky film Marcus's had.
"Fair, words, Marcus," he breathed in his thin, wispy voice. He sounded ancient or as if he had a terrible cold. "They seem out of place, considering the army you've assembled to kill me, and my beloved family."
"That was not our intent," Marcus said firmly, "you have but to touch my hand to know the truth."
Vasile's shred eyes narrowed half an inch. "Your intent does not matter, dear Marcus, we have not come for you but the child and the ones who protect it."
Abruptly, I was furious. Beyond furious, I was murderously enraged. My hopeless despair vanished entirely. A faint reddish glow highlighted the dark figures in front of me, and all I wanted in that moment was the chance to skin my teeth into them, to rip their limbs from their bodies and pile them for burning. I was so maddened I could have danced around the pyre where they roasted alive; I would have laughed while their ashes smoldered. My lips curved back automatically, and a low, fierce snarl tore up my throat from the pit of my stomach. I realized the corners of my mouth were turned up in a smile. My body lowered instinctively, into a crouch I've never made, and hovered over Joshua's car seat.
Beside me, Alice and Anna echoed my hushed growl. Jasper and Demetri squeezed my hands they still held, cautioning me.
The bodies of the Romanian witnesses leaned towards us, their eyes fixed furiously on me and Joshua, but they stayed near the fringe of the forest, leaving a wide berth between themselves and the Romanian soldiers. My muscles flexed, and venom welled in my mouth.
My fury peaked higher. I could taste madness on my tongue – I felt it flow through me like a tidal wave of pure power. My muscles tightened, and I acted automatically. I threw my shield with all my force in my mind, flung it across the impossible expanse of the field – ten times my best distance – like a javelin. My breath rushed out in a huff with the exertion.
The shield blew out from me in a bubble of sheer clear energy, a mushroom cloud of liquid steel. It pulsed like a living thing – I could feel it, from the apex to the edges. My shield expanded a good ninety yards out from me effortlessly, taking only a fraction of my concentration. I could feel it flex like just another muscle, obedient to my will. I pushed it, shaped it to a long, clear, pointed oval. Everything underneath the flexible iron shield was suddenly a part of me – I could feel the life force of everything it covered like points of bright heat, dazzling sparks of light surrounding me. I thrust the shield forward the length of the clearing, and enclosed Marcus in my protection. I held it there, contracting this new muscle so that it closely surrounded everything, a thin but unbreakable sheet between our bodies and the enemies.
"The crime you are here to punish has not been committed," Marcus said, his tone strained.
"I disagree," Vasile replied easily, "I have a witness who has seen the immortal child in the arms of a vampire. Step aside and let us punish those responsible. Truly, Marcus, nothing would please me more than to preserve your life today. Join us my friend, take back what was once yours."
"No one has broken the law, Vasile. Let me explain." Marcus offered his hand.
"And your dear Princess, where is she?" There was a slight joyful glint in his eyes now, a spark of delight.
"She is safe," Marcus hissed. For the first time since I've known him he looked awake and revived.
Before Vasile could speak Zaharia floated to his side. "If you do not wish to join us, Marcus, we wish to speak with the leader of your coven." Zaharia's words were innocent enough, friendly even, but the way he said them, with such malice and cruelty made me shudder.
Marcus smirked. "Fine," he stepped back into formation. "Carlisle I believe they wish to speak with you."
Carlisle nodded and stepped forward. "Gentleman, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He offered his hand but neither Romanian took it. "If you would just stop and listen for a moment, this can all be cleared up."
"We see the child, Carlisle," Zaharia snarled, "Do not treat us as fools."
"If you know his mother, the Princess – whose father was a vampire, whose mother is a fairy – is not human then obviously the child is not either. You are making a big deal from nothing, allow me to explain," Carlisle said firmly.
"It is impossible for two vampires to procreate!" Zaharia growled. "The child is immortal! We see the evidence right here!"
"Any one of these friend can tell you the truth about the child. Or you could just look at him . . . really take a good look, Zaharia. See the flush of fairy blood in his cheeks? Hear his steady heart beating in his chest? Smell the fairy blood in his scent?"
"Artifice!" Zaharia snapped. "We have a witness!"
"And we have eighty-three," Jane sneered quietly from Jasper's side.
"Where is the informer? Let her come forward!" He craned his neck around until he spotted the woman staring at him with no emotion in her eyes. Her expression was blank. Her thoughts were silent, as if her mind was empty. Had she known this was a suicide mission when it first started? Had she known she would either die at the hand of the Romanians or the father of my son, the God of war?
The girl stepped forward, her empty eyes on Zaharia. Zaharia grabbed her by the hair and yanked her forward. He pointed one clawed finger at Joshua.
"This is the child you saw?" He demanded. "The one that was obviously more than human?"
"Yes," she didn't even look at us. Her voice was robotic but strained. "He was a little smaller . . ." and then she did look at us. I could see what she was seeing in her mind, an angry mother hovering over her child, teeth bared, eyes narrowed and a brilliant bright crimson."This child is bigger than the one I saw, but . . ."
Zaharia growled and the girl broke off mid sentence. Vasile fitted to his side and smiled in delight.
"Be composed brother," he said lightly and turned to the girl. "Now my dear child, show me what you're trying to say," he held out his hand and the girl took it uncertainly. He held her hand for a few moments and then released her.
He was silent then, his eyes focused on Joshua. "Curious," He murmured. "Very curious, very very curious indeed. It seems the child has grown since Vanessa last saw him."He paused for a moment, the pause we had been hoping for, and stared at me and Joshua.
Carlisle, again, held out his hand. "If I might explain," he said firmly.
"I would rather have the explanation from someone more central to the story, my friend. Am I wrong to assume that this breach was not of your making?"
"There was no breach."
"Be that as it may, I will have every facet of the truth." Vasile's voice hardened. "And the best way to get that is to have the evidence directly from your talented daughter." He inclined his head in my direction. "As she is the mother of this fascinating child I will get the firsthand account."
Demetri and Jasper snarled together and crouched low to the floor.
"It's alright," I murmured and straightened my body. Anna snarled and grabbed hold of my hand. "It's alright," I tried to assured her.
Jasper
"Absolutely not," Demetri growled and caught Allie's arm as she stepped forward, leaving Joshua with Bubba, Anna, and Alice.
"Relax," she murmured. "Vasile wouldn't dare hurt me," she kissed his lips quickly and then turned to me and gently placed her lips on mine.
"You jump, I jump" I whispered.
"Keep Joshua safe," she said not meeting our eyes. Then she danced across the snowy field, touching Carlisle's shoulder as she passed him. I heard a low whimper from behind me – Esme, Carmen and Liliana's terror breaking through.
It went against the grain to allow her to be so close to our enemies. It took all my strength not to dart across the field and pull her back into the safety of our embrace. And as I did instinctively try to take a step forward I found I could not move an inch. My body was frozen solid.
Demetri can you move?
No, he hissed. Do you think it's Allie's shield? Or the Romanians?
Allie, we thought together. She giggled softly and turned her head to wink back at us then.
The red haze I saw around the Romanians' army flamed brighter. I could not bear to watch Allie cross the empty white space alone – but I could not endure to have Joshua one step closer to our adversaries. The opposing needs tore at me; I was frozen so tightly it felt like my bones might shatter from the pressure of it and this had nothing to do with Allie's shield.
Allie stopped a few steps away from Vasile. He bowed respectfully to her and in return she lowered her head to him. This was the pause we'd been waiting for; getting them to hear our side of the story. It was almost physically painful to watch her small body stand in front of his much larger frame. He could crush her in an instant.
They stared at each other for a moment, Vasile was sizing Allie up. She stood perfectly still, her long white dress flowing behind her. She looked small and innocent, pure and happy. I'm sure this was the look Alice was going for. And Allie pulled it off perfectly. She was nothing more than a child playing games to him.
Allie raised her head slightly and held out her hand to Vasile as if conferring a great honor. Vasile was delighted with her attitude and her obedience.
The guards surrounding Vasile were tense and a small boy fluttered nervously at his side. My eyes darted quickly around the field but my concentration was on Allie.
With a smile Vasile took Allie's hand. His eyes snapped closed at once, and then his shoulders hunched under the onslaught of information.
Every secret thought, every strategy, every insight – everything Allie had heard in the minds around her during the last month – was now Vasile's. And further back – every vision she has had, every vision Alice has had, everything Edward and Demetri have heard, the recent attacks, every quite moment with our family, every picture in Renesmee's head, every gift that was among us, her mother, her sister, her past, her future, every past she's looked into, the Volturi, what she saw happening today, every kiss, every touch between us . . . all of that was Vasile's now, too.
I growled in anger.
"Easy," Demetri whispered to me. "He's not hurting her." Yet. Demetri finished in his mind.
My eyes narrowed and I could feel the anger pulsing out of me as Vasile continued to concentrate on Allie's mind and her memories.
Allie bowed her head, too, the muscles in her neck locking tight as she read back again everything that Vasile took from her, and Vasile's response to it all.
This two way conversation went on so long even the guards grew uneasy. Low murmurs ran through the line until Zaharia barked an order in Romanian and they all silenced. The boy hovering beside Vasile was ridged with distress.
More minutes passed and I began to feel the anxiety around me.
"What is she showing him?" Carlisle asked.
"Everything," Edward murmured.
Not everything, Demetri thought, she's changing things, adding things that never happened, showing him visions that she's never had, feeding him memories that aren't real . . .
There was a sudden gasp and Vasile growled and screamed in agony. The boy beside him, his bodyguard, tensed and lunged for Allie just as her shield wrapped around them. The boy flew across the clearing and landed in the army of Romanian soldiers. Allie's head fell back, her hair whipping around her face with the sudden wind. Vasile's body curled and trembled as he cried and screamed, the noise echoed through the clearing. I noticed Allie's hand gripped his tighter and her own body shook.
"What's happening?" I demanded.
"She's showing him everything," Edward smiled smugly. "Not just the thoughts, the visions, memories, pasts, and futures, but the emotions. Every emotion she's ever felt from someone, the pain of her change, the pain of giving birth to Joshua. He wanted to see it all."
"Bastard deserves it," Anna snarled.
"Easy baby," Tristan soothed her, lightly stroking her long hair. "Allie knows what she's doing."
With one final scream Vasile's body tensed and shuddered. He was silent then, watching the newest memories and visions in her mind.
Finally Vasile's head rose and he straightened up, his eyes opened and he stared at Allie in wonder and amazement. He did not release Allie's hand. Allie's shield dropped around them and her shoulders tensed.
"That was absolutely wonderful!" Vasile exclaimed, his voice joyful. "Excruciatingly painful but wonderful."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Allie said darkly.
"The things you have seen! Fascinating!" He cried in awe. "But the future you have seen for our world . . . is it for certain?"
"Things change. People are constantly changing their minds but this particular vision you speak of is absolute. It will happen, it's only a matter of time."
"And who?"
"You saw everything I have seen. I can't tell who but their decision is firm and strong, like I said it's only a matter of time." What was she talking about? A matter of time for what? Is this what she's been keeping from us?
"And twins!" he cried in fascination. "I had no idea you had a sister."
"Neither did I," Allie shook her head sadly.
"Tell me, is your beautiful sister as gifted as you are my dear?"
"No," Allie said firmly. "Anna doesn't have a gift, she's . . . useless. I'm the powerful one in the family. Anna is no more than a small immortal girl playing with the big boys." Anna's mates snarled angrily, right on cue.
"Well, you are gifted my dear, very gifted indeed. And your son! Will he be as powerful as you are?" he asked hopefully.
"You saw that vision too," she smiled brightly. "He will not be as powerful as I am. He will have part of his father's gift and his shield but that is all." She hadn't mentioned Joshua's gifts before. She was still wondering why she couldn't see his future.
"Pity," Vasile's shoulders fell in disappointment. "You have given me much to ponder, my new young friend. Much more than I expected. Much more indeed. But I see you are telling the truth. There is no injustice here." Still he did not let go of Allie's hand. "May I meet him?" Vasile asked – almost pleaded – with sudden eager interest. "I never dreamed of the existence of such a thing in all my centuries. What an addition to our histories!"
"What is this about Vasile!?" Zaharia demanded. I stepped away from the front lines and backed towards Joshua. I crouched down in front of him and he looked up at me, seeming eager to be taken out of his confining car seat. I picked him up, pressing him against my chest but did not return to the front lines. He wiggled slightly and pressed his head into my chest.
"Something you've never dreamed of, my practical friend." Vasile answered Zaharia. "A half vampire half fairy. She is fascinating and her son equally so. Her skin is so warm! Touch her my friend." Demetri and I growled but Zaharia lightly touched Allie's hand. "So warm," Vasile whispered. "And her scent is magnificent!" I could suddenly feel Allie's heat pressing against me, her scent filled the clearing and the vampires among us began to growl and murmured amongst each other. "The justice we intended to deliver no longer applies, the child is not an immortal vampire but a half fairy, half vampire!" His eyes cut to the witnesses behind him as he spoke and then back to Allie. "May I meet your son?" he asked again.
My eyes were riveted on Allie and I saw the muscles in her back tighten. She nodded reluctantly. Joshua and Allie had both won over so many creatures in such a short time, was it too much to hope that they could win over the Romanian coven as well? Vasile seemed to be the leader of this coven, if he believed the others would have to follow.
Vasile still gripped Allie's hand, and he now answered an unspoken question. "Yes, I think a compromise is certainly acceptable. We will meet in the middle." He released Allie's hand.
She turned back towards us, and Vasile joined her, throwing his arm casually around her waist like they were the oldest of friends. All the while keeping contact with Allie's skin.
The entire guard fell into step behind them. Vasile raised a hand negligently without looking at them. "Hold my dear ones, they truly mean us no harm if we are peaceable." He chuckled lightly. "I have much to discuss with the Princess before our departure." The guard's snarled and hissed in protest but held their positions.
"Perhaps you should bring a few members of your guard with us," Allie suggested suddenly. "If it'll make them more comfortable."
Vasile nodded in agreement. "Victor, Costel."The two vampires were at his side in an instant. Both were tall, and dark-haired.
They stopped walking when they reached the middle of the snowy field.
"Jasper," Allie called, "could you bring Joshua here, please . . . and a few friends."
I took a deep calming breath. My body was tight, my muscles coiled. The idea of Allie being next to these vile men was one thing but having my son next to them was unacceptable . . . but I trusted Allie. She would know if Vasile was planning any treachery at this point.
It took me only a moment to decide who to bring with me. But at Rosalie's glare I quickly changed my mind. "Demetri? Peter?"
Both nodded. Emmett turned to Rosalie and hissed angrily. Her arms tightened around his waist and he shook his head, his body ridged.
From behind me I heard Alice whimper softly and I felt Anna shift closer to her. "It's okay," she whispered, "Jasper will take care of her."
Demetri slipped into the mindset of a Volturi guard and Peter looked like a bodyguard in hostile territory. They both flanked me as I made my way across the field. I took my time as the Romanians had done earlier. I heard another rumble from the guard as they saw my choices. Clearly they did not trust the Volturi guard.
"Ah, my dear Demetri! How wonderful to see you again. I trust that all is well?" Vasile asked in a friendly tone.
"Perfect," Demetri replied as he shifted closer to Allie. I stood beside her, with Demetri and Peter flanking us. Demetri's chest pressed against Allie's back and she leaned into him. I handed the lil munchkin to Allie and he snuggled tightly into her body, his head burying in her hair. I felt his calm as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, he relaxed into her warm body.
Vasile was instantly fascinated with Joshua. "I can hear his strange heartbeat!" he murmured. "And his scent . . . so wonderful and lovely. It makes my mouth water with anticipation." Allie snarled and I felt her shield wrapping around us more tightly now.
"Master," the young boy shifted his positions restlessly, "perhaps we should go back."
"Nonsense, dear Allie is just a protective mother. She would not harm us with so many of our friends around," he repeated her words from earlier and raised an eyebrow as if waiting for her to contradict him. "May I greet your son, lovely Allie?" He asked in a sickly sweet voice.
I reminded myself that this is what we'd hoped for and fought the urge to pull Allie into my arms and run away with her.
Allie stepped forward. Demetri, Peter and I moved with her.
"He is so small. How old is he my dear?"
"One month and nine days." Allie smiled at Joshua as Vasile peered down at him.
"He is exquisite. And he grows like a human?"
"Yes," Allie nodded.
"He is so much like you and Jasper. He has your eyes and Jasper's face. Perhaps I could read him, for just a minute?" he asked eagerly.
Allie's arms tightened around Joshua and she gritted her teeth. "Of course," she whispered. I removed one of his mittens and Vasile took Joshua's tiny hand in his, holding it gently. But the moment Vasile's hand touched Joshua's skin he burst into tears, wailing loudly into the clearing. This didn't bother Vasile who continued to watch Joshua's mind.
His smile widened and he sighed in satisfaction. "Brilliant," he whispered.
"What's he seeing?" I growled.
"Oh nothing much, just Joshua's plans for world domination," Allie said with a perfectly smooth face.
"What?" Demetri and I turned to look at her but her eyes were focused on Vasile.
Allie giggled once. "He's seeing Joshua's dreams, the faces he's seen in the last month, nothing of vital importance because he's just a baby and has very little memory."
"But it is fascinating," Vasile murmured when his eyes opened and he looked up at Allie. He dropped Joshua's hand and the small body curled into his mother's. His little fists clung to her dress and he sobbed quietly and Allie gently rocked him in her arms, pressing him against her more. "Truly fascinating," he breathed.
"What is it!?" Zaharia hissed from behind Vasile.
"As I assumed, the child is no danger to us. He is merely a half fairy, half vampire. So truly fascinating." He mused as he watched Allie, their eyes locked and she raised her eyebrows.
"I am not his master. If you want to know you ask him," she hissed. Vasile smiled and turned to Demetri.
"Demetri, my boy, have you thought anymore about our offer? Join us won't you? Take back what was once yours! You were the best Demetri and you can be the best once again with my help. Won't you join us?"
"Thank you for the offer but I'm staying with my mate," Demetri answered quickly, without thinking it over.
"And what about you little Jane? Alec? Chelsea? Afton? Santiago? Won't you join our family?"
"No thank you," Jane replied politely. "I prefer to live with werewolves than Romanian scum." She smiled brightly and lightly patted Jacobs head.
"The same goes for the rest of us," Chelsea answered. "Our loyalty lies with Marcus and the Volturi."
"The Volturi do not exist!" Zaharia snarled.
"There are eight of us here," Jane pointed out, "so obviously we do." I noticed the back lines of Romanian witnesses thinning out suddenly. A few were quietly drifting back into the forest and making a run for it, a few were slowly circling the forest to stand with us – true Volturi followers – and a few looked ready to attack and hungry for the kill.
Chelsea's breaking their bonds to the Romanians, Demetri thought to me. The one's that are left are the loyal followers, true believers in the Romanians. The relationship with the masters is not as strong as Marcus had previously thought. See, Ivan and Alexander have already begun retreating from Vasile and Zaharia. Vasile is power hungry but ultimately the weaker of the three men. All he wants is to be as powerful as Aro once was."
"So are we done here?" Allie asked impatiently. "Joshua isn't a threat to you, I'm definitely not a threat to you, I don't want your power, I don't want to join you, what else is there to discuss?"
"Oh there is much to discuss my dear one. So much to discuss," Vasile said, his tone suddenly that of an inundated businessman. "So much to decide. If you and your protectors would excuse me, my lovely Allie, I must confer with my brothers."
He did not step back into the anxious guard waiting for him on the north side of the clearing; instead, he waved them forward.
Allie took my arm and pulled me and Demetri back. We hurried backwards, keeping our eyes on the advancing threat. We reach our family at the same time the dark cloaked guards reached Vasile again.
Now they were only fifty yards between them and us – a distance any of us could leap in just a fraction of a second.
The four masters were silent. They looked at each other for a long moment and then looked at Allie and then turned back to face one another.
"What's happening?" I hissed.
"Look," Renesmee pointed to the east side of the forest and I followed her out stretched hand. Coming towards us slowly was a horde of animals, from lions, tigers and jaguars, to grizzlies, snakes, and birds.
"Look at the size of that grizzly," Emmett murmured, his eyes wide with hunger.
"Emmett you cannot eat him," Allie said firmly.
"Why?" he huffed.
"Because that isn't a grizzly," Tristan whispered. "They're shape shifters. I've never seen so many in one place before. Usually they're solitary creatures. Some have packs and families but not many."
"There's more," Renesmee said turning to the west side of the clearing.
"Those are animals," Allie murmured, "but you still can't eat them." The animals and the shape shifters surrounded us, mixing together with the werewolves and Werecats. We were surrounded by a sea of animals.
"Ohmygod," Jane whispered looking behind us, "I think something's happening over there." Allie turned but Demetri and I kept our eyes focused on the vampires discussing our futures. They were less confident now our numbers had almost tripled.
"What is that?" Renesmee murmured.
"I think the Queen has arrived," Allie whispered with a bright smile.