Chapter Fifty Three

Charlie

When we finally landed we found there was transport waiting just as Carlisle had promised and we were soon on our way to Volterra. The countryside looked so calm and peaceful, the humans had no idea that a war was about to break out in their very midst, a war that would change the face of the vampire world.

"Do you think we'll be in time?"

Charlotte shrugged,

"I guess we'll find out when we get closer unless of course, they manage to keep it within the citadel."

Charlotte's phone rang breaking into our conversation and I waited as she answered it then recognized Carlisle's voice,

"I've just heard from a contact in Volterra, all is quiet at the moment so I would say Jasper hasn't arrived in the citadel yet or something went wrong."

I exchanged a glance with my companion, we were both praying it was the former or those we loved were quite possibly dead.

The helicopter landed about two miles from the mountain top town and we waited for the pilot to take off and fly out of sight before using our vampire speed to run to the bottom of the steep incline that led up to Volterra.

"Now what?"

Charlotte deliberated for a moment,

"We'll make our way to the town wall and if there is no sign of anything happening at the Citadel I guess we'd better break in and find out just what is going on. You up for that Charlie?"

I nodded,

"Good, just follow me and stay as quiet as you can."

A quarter of the way up she stopped suddenly and I looked around expecting to see a reception party of black cloaked figures but there was nothing.

"What is it?"

I had whispered in her ear unwilling to give us away by speaking out loud and then I heard it, faint noises from up ahead. I tensed ready to fight but Charlotte put a restraining hand on my arm,

"It's OK Charlie, they're friendly."

I relaxed as two figures suddenly emerged from the bushes at the side of the road and I recognized Peter and Carlisle's friend Garrett.

"What the fuck are you doing here Charlotte?"

Peter was looking at her stunned then he saw me and stared unbelievingly,

"You brought a newborn with you? Way to go, Char, you're gonna get us all killed."

"He's in control Peter, don't ask me how because I don't know but he insisted on coming to find Bella."

Peter turned his attention back to me,

"Do not fuck up Charlie or I'll kill you myself."

"Fair enough, but where are the others?"

He explained about the tunnel and the recent rock fall but my attention was drawn to Garrett who was looking around nervously.

"We should get going Peter or the others will be on their own with no backup."

We set off once more climbing to the top where the town sat proudly like a king on his throne surveying his kingdom. We left the road and circled the walls until we were at the place closest to the Citadel then we began to climb again. It was easy enough with plenty of hand holds in the rough stone wall although I thought it would have been quicker to jump and told Peter so.

"Yeah, and maybe jump straight into the welcoming arms of the Volturi? I don't think so, they won't expect us to climb and that gives us the edge if they're waiting for us."

It turned out that no one was waiting but there was activity inside the citadel, we could hear raised voices and the sound of running feet echoing along stone corridors.

"Looks like the party already started, get ready folks."

He moved to the shadow of the citadel walls that towered high above us and I saw he had led us to a small iron door set in the stone.

"Just where Demetri said it would be, let's just hope it's been oiled recently."

Not waiting for him to act I grabbed the door and heaved, pulling it free of its mountings with hardly a sound,

"Nope, no oil, it's rusted clean through though, you ready?"

I wanted to go on ahead but I had no idea of the layout of the citadel so I followed Garrett who took the lead.

We made our way towards the sounds of alarm but had only got a couple of hundred yards down the corridor when six tall figures turned a corner up ahead and came to a halt moving into a crouch ready to fight. It seemed we were not going to get any further without going through these guards. The odds weren't bad, four of us to six of them although I knew I was a novice when it came to fighting vampire style.

It was then I noticed three more figures standing well back behind the six and heard Garrett hiss,

"Peter, watch out, that's Afton, Aro, and Renata."

Peter smiled wolfishly,

"Well, well, trying to sneak out Aro, tut, tut."

I knew from Charlotte that the woman at Aro's shoulder was his shield, Renata, and while she was in contact with him no one stood a chance of getting close. I knew he had warned Carlisle and he wasn't the one who had set Jasper on his path of destruction but there was no way I wanted him getting out of Volterra.

I could feel a tingling in my head like my brain was full of electricity just bursting to get out, then Peter, Garrett, and Charlotte attacked and all I could see and hear was the loud crashing as bodies collided and growls and snarls as the fight to the death raged. Something told me to keep moving, to get around the twisted melee of fighters and by hugging the wall I managed it, only to find myself confronted by Aro and his protection squad then suddenly one disappeared from view as if he'd never been there and I looked around wildly before sensing someone coming at me from behind. Without looking I flung my arm towards this invisible enemy and heard him scream before blinking back into view.

"Good, now we can fight fair."

I allowed my instincts to take over just as Charlotte had instructed and before he had a chance to vanish again I was on him tearing at his limbs, my teeth snapping together on his throat and my newborn strength proved too much for him. He screamed a couple of times then lay twitching as I spat out a piece of his throat to join the hand and arm I had also torn off. I knew he wasn't dead but until he could connect his missing body parts he was no danger to me and I turned to find Aro and his shield had fled back the way they came.

I turned back to see the others were holding their own and making a snap decision I followed the fugitives along the twisting corridors with no idea where they were headed only determined that they would not reach safety. I caught them up using my newborn speed and trapped them against a large wooden door that obviously led to some kind of sanctuary because Aro was frantically turning the handle as I pulled up in front of them.

"Going somewhere? Isn't that rude? After all, we haven't even been introduced formally."

The door began to open then slammed shut again almost trapping his hand. He looked at me frowning,

"You can't touch me, I suggest you rejoin your friends, I'm not the one they are looking for."

"True but you're as guilty as they are, you used the poor guy in the past to do your dirty work so I think you and I should have a little talk. Let's go inside shall we?"

I motioned for him to open the door which he did gingerly and the three of us went inside. The room was empty but it was obvious this was Aro's study from the confident way he took the chair behind the desk, Renata still at his shoulder her arm resting lightly on it.

"What is it that you want?"

"Well, to start with how about freedom for The Major?"

He frowned trying to work out my position in all this.

"Why are you so interested in him? Who are you?"

"Oh sorry, I should introduce myself. I'm Bella's father Charlie, the girl who fell in love with your Major so you can see why I'd want him free of this curse or compulsion or whatever the hell it is."

Understanding flooded his face,

"I see, so your daughter is the reason my dear brothers are having so much trouble controlling The Major. I've found their frustrations quite entertaining but you've come to the wrong person, I didn't activate him, Marcus did."

"I know, I was told all about it, but I'm betting you were the one who activated him before and you are the one who knows all about this compulsion."

"I was the one who controlled The Major in the past yes, I have activated him over the centuries when it has become necessary but never on a whim, I hasten to add."

"I'm not much interested in the past, only the present and the future. I need you to deactivate him."

Aro smiled condescendingly,

"I'm sorry but I fear you don't understand how this works, there is no deactivating The Major once the words are said. He will continue to kill until his task is completed and then..."

He held his hands up then let them drop to the table with a bang that startled Renata who jumped but kept her hand on his arm.

I pulled up a chair and sat down smiling back at him,

"Oh I think you are the kind of man who has to be in control at all times, the thought of a rogue weapon at large would concern you as much as me. We're alike in many ways Aro, both leaders, not followers and I wouldn't have any weapon that I hadn't a way of stopping should it become necessary. Now, Charlotte tells me that they are hoping if they kill this Marcus then the compulsion dies with him and maybe they are right but...I think you know a way to make it permanent. So tell me, am I right?"

Aro sat back in his chair studying me thoughtfully,

"You are a very perceptive man, one I would like to call a friend but I'm afraid I really can't help you on this occasion. After all, if The Major kills Caius and Marcus then I will be ruling alone and that takes a strong man, why would I want to free my best and deadliest weapon? That is assuming I could and as it is, I can't. Now, I have somewhere I need to be so if you will excuse me, I do hope your daughter succeeds with her plan to free The Major, for now at least."

He got up and with Renata shadowing him made for the door only to find it wouldn't open. He turned to me, one eyebrow raised in questioningly.

"I thought the problem with the door on the way in was a coincidence but now? What exactly is your gift, Charlie?"

I shrugged nonchalantly,

"No idea, I'm what you might call a newborn so I'm still learning the ropes but what I do know is when I'm being lied to, being a cop will do that for you. So, why don't you sit back down and tell me what I want to know, then we can both go our separate ways."

Aro shook his head,

"I'm afraid I can't help you, now please open the door, after all this is something of a stalemate, I can't get out but neither can you and your friends will probably be glad of your help considering they are fighting most of the Volturi guard. Who knows what is happening to your precious daughter even as we speak."

"If I have to, I'll beat it out of you, but being a sensible man I think you'd rather not go down that road."

His smile widened and he gestured to Renata,

"Unfortunately for you, I am untouchable so long as I have Renata here and she is nothing if not fiercely loyal to me."

I nodded glancing at Renata and feeling that itch again. Something told me I could move her away if I wanted to and right now I did, very much, so I fixed my eyes on hers and waited and after a second she gave a little gasp and slid away from Aro very slowly and even when he attempted to grab her by the hand she just slipped through his grasp until she was tight up against the far wall of the room and when Aro tried to join her I turned my attention to him and he stopped dead, unable to move.

"Well, I guess I've worked out my gift now and it seems to have put you in something of a predicament. Would you care to reconsider?"

Aro scowled and tried once more to move but it was impossible, he was stuck to the spot as if welded there and I stepped forward until we were only a few inches apart lowering my voice to a whisper,

"I guess Renata's gift won't protect you now, shall we see?"

I brought my arm back and punched him in the face enjoying the sensation as my fist met his chin with a satisfying thump. He rocked back on his heels but that was as far as he moved then he touched his jaw wonderingly.

"Not so good when someone else has the upper hand is it? Now, are you going to tell me what you know or am I going to be forced to beat it out of you?"

He was a stubborn bastard but it only took a few minutes to change his mind and once he started to talk I soon knew everything that he did.