Chapter 42
Esme unwillingly traveled at Aro's side, letting her feet caress the sand beneath her feet as they leapt from the last of the dock clusters onto the beach that lead into a more private area.
Above them was the same rounded cliff where the nightmare had begun, though Esme didn't know she was in the exact spot that Caleb, Delilah, William and Maddy had gotten themselves into a big mess that, to their credit, they hadn't asked for.
The sound of a boat engine roaring to life made Esme spring to life, and far away down the beach attached to a secluded dock was a boat.
"Ah, just in time," Aro said aloud with a grin, "We have to get ourselves away from these humans before I fail to control myself."
Esme recognized the true hunger in his eyes and the slight shake in his voice. She knew he was serious, though had perfected his own sense of control when dealing with humans. Aro more or less chose when his feeding times would be and managed to keep his animal instincts under control until he told himself he was ready.
There were no scents in the area, though Esme knew someone had to have started the boat. Aro quickly let the mystery fade as he took the rest of the way at full speed. The boat began its take-off into the open ocean no later than when his second foot skipped off the edge of the dock.
"Son?" Aro called out.
A young, handsome man with a head of dark hair and features identical to that of the man their family had caught in the woods stepped through a doorway that lead into the small cabin of the boat. He let his hand touch the top of the wooden doorframe, then gave a childish lopsided smirk that almost made Esme feel bad for him. In that moment, he looked innocent.
"Vincent, I'd like you to formally meet Esme Cullen," Aro went on, as if he were introducing a pair of his mutual friends for the first time.
The young man stepped forward and nodded. "It's a pleasure."
Esme felt oddly relaxed by the lax, modern tone of his voice; though she knew not to feed into the feeling, as it was a false sense of security. She glanced down at his clothes; a pair of loosely fitting jeans and a casual white button down that revealed a white tank-top as his undershirt just below the open collar. Aside from the occasional look on his face, that whole-heartedly screamed that the Volturi leader was his father, the boy's appearance otherwise would have provided no indication.
Her mind snapped back to reality, "Where's Carlisle?"
Aro and Vincent glanced at each other, and both of their mouths twisted into mirroring smirks.
Esme's heart sank, but Vincent waved a hand in his direction, "Come with me."
Aro released Esme's arm for the first time, and she glanced over her shoulder, noting that the dock was slowly becoming farther and farther away in the distance.
"Go ahead my dear," he instructed, allowing her ahead of him on the boat.
She sighed, wanting to hear some sign of life from her husband. When she heard Caleb's voice first, she didn't know whether to be thrilled or mortified. She was certain Carlisle was with them, but had hope that Caleb was not. Her heart sunk, wanting to think of a bribe that would somehow convince Aro to let him go. Before she could even mouth the words of a proposition, her eyes lit up as they crossed through the doorway.
Caleb stood captive the young man's grasp that she recognized from his identification card. His hair was shorter, but his features couldn't be mistaken; only now they were cold and stone-like, highlighted by crimson, red eyes. They burned with rage and all Esme could do at that moment was stare at her helpless son.
...
Edward grew increasingly frustrated that he could not read the man's thoughts that they held captive. He had done a great job of keeping his identity a secret, though they knew he was involved with the Volturi.
The wolves had surrounds the Cullens, who kept Salvatore locked tightly within their own grasp. Emmett and Jasper hadn't let up and they tried about everything to get him talking. Even the snarls and the snapping jaws of the likes of Jacob, Sam and Paul didn't seem to get under the skin of their young attacker. He didn't smile, though fear didn't linger in his eyes.
Seth rushed to the scene to join them with Lucy at his side. His coat stood on end and he looked perhaps even more vicious than three counterparts.
"Lucy," Alice said, "Have you been able to contact him?"
She shook her head, "No."
"Call out for him," Edward suggested, noting that the two of them were speaking of Aro.
"I've tried," Lucy explained, shaking her head.
"Try again."
Marshall and Charlie both wailed loudly, and Alexandra stood with her brother in her arms and Delilah at her side, neither able to hold back a small amount of tears at the disappearance of their three family members. Bella stood comfortingly next to both of them and rubbed Delilah's back gently with her free hand.
"We'll find them," she said quietly.
"Dad!" Lucy shouted into the endless collection of trees, "Dad! Are you here?"
"He's not here," Salvatore finally spoke.
Lucy glanced him with furiousness in her eyes. "You don't know a whole lot, so I'd just remain quiet."
"I do know that your father isn't here."
She glared at him, and he flashed a subtly smile that quickly faded.
"My father needs to be stopped," Lucy explained.
"I'll say," he agreed.
Everyone looked at him with confusion.
"So you agree?" Alice asked, "Then why are you working with him?"
Salvatore looked confused, "Working with him?"
"Aro."
He squinted his eyes and appeared outwardly confused.
"Aro is behind all of this," Alice said again. She didn't take her eyes off of Salvatore, aside from the momentary eye contact she made with Jasper.
"Dad!" Lucy screamed again, "If you're there it's Lucy. Don't do this!"
"Who exactly are you calling out for?" Salvatore asked, showing his first sign of vulnerability.
"My father," she explained impatiently.
"Carlisle," he stated like a fact.
Everyone looked at Salvatore, realizing he must have gotten his facts twisted.
"What?" Lucy asked, "No." The two of them locked eyes in a stalemate. "Carlisle isn't my father. Aro is."
Salvatore's eyes narrowed again and he looked as if he couldn't tell if she was being truthful.
"Are you working for him?" she asked, marching up so she was only about a foot in front of him. "I haven't spoken to him in a long time because he keeps trying to hurt people, or kill people."
"Maybe they deserve it." He looked her in the eye with no intention of looking away, though he still looked as if his mind was filled with questions.
"Who the hell are you?" Lucy asked him, "Don't you know how many puppets he's gone through? You're just another."
Salvatore smiled, "I don't think so."
Edward stepped in with the admission. "So you agree you're working with Aro."
He rolled his eyes, "Working for isn't quite the term I would use Edward."
They all knew the man had done his research on the family, but knowing them so intimately bothered everyone. Edward scowled at the man and glared into his eyes.
"What does my father have you up to?" Lucy demanded, "He'll dispose of you later if you mess up. If you think he's coming back for you..." she shook her head and laughed, "You're wrong."
Salvatore couldn't keep his eyes off Lucy. "Why do you keep referring to him as that?"
"What?" she asked, looking as if she was ready to attack.
"Why do you keep referring to him as your father?"
"He is my father."
Salvatore's expression hardened, "Look, I don't know what type of game you're trying to pull-"
"Game?" Lucy shrieked, "Game? We aren't the ones lurking in the bushes, leaving notes, breaking into peoples' houses, attacking people unprovoked..." She shook her head, "You're so naive."
"Naive?" he scoffed. Disbelief and questions continued to plague his mind. "You're Aro's daughter?"
Lucy looked at him dead in the eye. "Yes," she responded firmly, "Why do you think I chose to stay here rather than live with them in Italy?"
He remained silent and looked down. Alice seemed to be the first to connect the dots and looked up toward Lucy. She studied their features, noting their similarities. Even the tone of their voice; there was something that clicked in Alice's mind.
"What is it?" Lucy asked.
"I think..." Alice said, "I think... he's your brother."
