Chapter 46 – Allies (Edward)

I turned around. "Lily!" I exclaimed surprised. "Edward, it's good to see you again, although I wish the circumstances were different," she replied and walked over to me. I was relieved to see her. At least she was here now, just like she had promised. "I'm glad you came," I said and hugged her quickly. "I told you I would be around when you needed me," she replied. "I came back to get to know your fiancée, but when I arrived at her house they were already there," she added. "What? Why didn't you stop them?" Megan exclaimed. I put my arm around Megan's shoulder. "I wish I could've, my dear, but I my special powers are of a different kind. I really am sorry." Megan let a sigh and hung her head. "I have to apologize for shouting at you. It's just… I'm so worried about them!" She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders again. "I wish I could've met you earlier," Megan said. Lily turned her head towards my fiancée and held her gaze with her blind eyes. "Me too, but I'm here now." Lily stretched her hand out. "I can feel your aura, my dear. It is very powerful. May I touch your hand?" she asked. "Of course," Megan said and took Lily's hand. The next moment she flinched visibly, but didn't break the contact. "Oh my," she gasped and closed her eyes. Lily held on to her and they seemed to have a strange connection. Energy flowed between them, I could feel electricity in the air and stepped back a few. It appeared that a sort of exchange was going on. "What are you doing?" I asked bewildered. 'She could tell me all she knows but that would take too long. I'm reading her memories, it's faster,' Lily replied mentally.

I was taken aback, this sounded like the gift Aro had! I hadn't known that Lily possessed any supernatural powers. However, Megan relaxed again and smiled during the exchange. Finally, she opened her eyes and looked bewildered at Lily. "We've crossed paths before?" Lily nodded. "Yes. There is a reason why the spirits led me back," she replied. "Can you help me?" Megan asked. Lily smiled. "I will teach you all you need to know to help yourself, my dear. And I will accompany you to Italy," she added. "But they said she can only take one person with her," I interjected. Lily looked into my direction. "And so she will. I have my own business with Aro, and this time they won't stop me." I heard the door slam closed. "The plane is waiting at the airport. We have a 15 hours flight to Pisa and about an hour and a half drive to Volterra. You've got 24 hours, Lily." Carlisle and the others entered the room. My father had a determination on his face like I had never seen before. "What are your plans?" I asked. "We all go. Aro challenged our whole family, and I've had enough." He gritted his teeth. Megan raised her hands and shook her head. "No! You are not coming with me!" she shouted. "I'm afraid we already chose differently, dear cousin," Tanya said. "And maybe you should finally open the envelope on that table," Jasper added.

Megan looked helplessly from one to the other and realized that they were not going to give in. She shook her head and chuckled mirthlessly. "I can only hope you won't regret it," she said and walked to the table. She opened the envelope and started to read. Her eyes grew wide and she shook her head. "It's an invitation," she said incredulously and handed me the letter. I skimmed it over and gritted my teeth. "Edward, would you mind reading out loud, for heaven's sake!" Carlisle said impatiently. "It's an invitation for Megan and me to a masked ball in two days at the Volturi estate outside of Volterra." I handed him the paper. "They will ensure that the pledge is made in front of an audience," Alice suddenly muttered. Jasper put his arm around her. "What exactly do you see?" he asked her. Alice was in trance. Lily rushed to her side. "Let me enforce your powers, dear," she whispered and softly took one of Alice's hands. Alice gasped, but remained spaced out. "Oh, what a rush," she whispered with a smile. "I can see all of them clearly now … preparations for the ball going on. The decoration is a bit too flamboyant for my taste." I groaned. "Alice…," I growled. "Okay, okay … Martha and Patrick are there ... they are terrified, but they seem unscathed … they are locked up in a room on the first floor … Aro wants …." She squirmed a bit. "Relax, Alice, let it flow to you," Lily said resolutely. "He wants Megan at his side … for her powers," she whispered wide-eyed, "… and replace Marcus." Lily abruptly let her go and stepped back. "He thinks he's become useless and wants to kill him," Lily muttered. "That's ridiculous!" Eleazar exclaimed. "No, it makes sense," I said and Carlisle nodded. "I've known Marcus for three hundred years, but he's never actively participated in any of their decisions. I think Aro wants new powerful blood in the top ranks," Carlisle added. "And he needs me to keep you in line," I interjected. "He's got my parents," Megan huffed but then she grasped it. "He'll keep them until their natural passing," she whispered in realization.

I just nodded. "Aw man, how sick is that?" Emmett muttered and slammed his fist into the wall. Rosalie rubbed his back. "So, what do we do now?" Tanya asked. I walked back and forth on the spot and rubbed my chin. "Let's give him what he wants," I mused. "What?" Megan shouted. I let a malicious smile. "You pretend to give in," Jasper growled. "That's a pretty dangerous game you want to play," he told me. "I see no other way," I returned and looked at Megan. Her facial expression changed into understanding. "It's the only way to get close enough to him," she said and nodded her consent. "You're the fastest. I'll have to rely on you to carry my parents away from the estate," she added. "Agreed," I nodded. "He'll expect a fight. He knows what you're capable of and what Edward can do now. He wants the showdown," Jasper added. "And we'll help from outside," Rosalie said. "Edward can bring them to us and hurry back to you," she continued. "And we'll join the fighting when it starts," Tanya said. "You all know what that means, yes? If you ally with us, you can't get out anymore. It will be all or nothing. Either we destroy them, or they kill us," Megan said and looked at Carlisle. He subtly inclined his head. "We'll find a way," Esme said and patted Megan's hand. "There's always a way." Lily had remained silent the whole time. Now she turned to Megan. "I would like to take a walk with you, dear," she said. Megan scrutinized her. "Sure. Why not?" she returned and followed Lily out into the garden.

I frowned. I knew Lily had her reason to have a private conversation, but I was still worried about Megan's emotional stability. "Go after them, Edward. I'll prepare everything for the flight," Carlisle said and patted my shoulder. I sneaked out the door and followed them into the forest. I found them near the small creek where Megan and I had been sitting after we had returned from Alaska. They were still several yards away. "I need some answers, Lily," I heard Megan begin. "And you have every right to get them," she replied. "When I fought them, I lost consciousness. How can I prevent that?" Megan asked her. "You drew from your own body's energy instead of channeling the powers of the elements," Lily replied. "You mean, I have emptied my own battery charge?" Megan replied surprised. "Yes. You need to draw your strength from an external source, for example the earth," Lily replied. "How do I do that?" Megan asked. "First, you have to feel the energy that's around you. Finding the earth's power is easy. Its energy surrounds just everything. Put your hand on the ground, Megan," Lily instructed her. "Now, relax you mind and try to feel the vibrancies of the earth," she said.

Megan took a few deep breaths and after a while I heard her gasp. "I can feel something…," she whispered. "Oh my, that's … incredible!" At the same time I felt a strange tingling on my nerves. "Be careful," Lily warned, "don't indulge in it. Remember, you are just the channel for that energy, don't comprise it. Direct it somewhere," Lily added. My skin was itching now and my muscles twitched as if a current flowed through them. I groaned inwardly, not willing to disturb them. Suddenly a large rock next to the creek exploded into fine dust. Just a pile of dirt remained. "Wow!" I heard Megan's remark. "Do you feel strained or tired?" Lily asked her. "No, nothing like that," she replied. "Good. Try again, but connect to the energy without touching anything. Reach out with your mind." Again I felt the strain on my nerves and muscles as Megan connected with the energy field, but this time the pain grew and grew and I couldn't help a moan while I crumpled to the ground. The pain reached an almost excruciating level. "Stop it," I heard Lily say and all of a sudden it was gone. The next moment, they both stood in front of me. "Oh my god," Megan exclaimed and crouched in front of me. She touched my face. "Edward? What happened?" she asked me, her voice full of worry. "I'm not sure," I whispered.

Lily took my hand. Then she touched Megan's and closed her eyes. She frowned and let go of us. "You should have told me that your souls are linked like this," she chided Megan. "I didn't know it was important," she replied. "Due to that link, Edward's mind functions like a spillway for yours. But he can't handle that much power, it will knock him out or hurt him," Lily said. "You'll have to keep your shield closed around her, young one," she added and wagged her finger at me. I got back on my feet. "Okay. Try it again," I said. "No, I don't want to hurt you," Megan refused and shook her head. I cupped her face with my hands and looked at her intently. "We need to figure this out now. You don't want to kill me by coincidence, do you?" I asked her. She sighed and nodded. "I trust you with my life, but I would be more confident if you knew what you're doing," I said with a smile. She punched my shoulder playfully. "Hey, no need to mock me. Let's try again," she replied. "All set?" I just nodded at her and closed my shield tightly. She took a deep breath and concentrated. I could almost feel the air around us sizzle while she channeled the earth's energy. She raised a hand towards the small creek and stopped the water flow. The waters piled up as if they were retained by a dam, but there was no wall. It was an incredible sight! When they reached the same height as the surrounding trees, she let it fall down slowly into the riverbed where it continued flowing as if nothing had happened. "Excellent!" Lily exclaimed. "If you keep practicing how to channel, everything will be fine," she said. Megan wrapped her arms around me and kissed me. "Did you see that?" she asked breathlessly. "Uh huh, I guess I'll never argue with you again. Wouldn't want you to pulverize me," I bantered. She looked excited like a little kid.

I decided to leave her alone with Lily and pulled her closer. "I'll let you practice and return to the others," I whispered and kissed her forehead. "See you in a few hours," she replied with a smile while I let her go and started running. "Oh, and Edward?" I stopped and turned around. "Keep your shield closed," she reminded me. I just smiled and left them alone. When I got home, I found my family gathered around a large scroll on the living room table. "Edward, come over here," Carlisle called me. The scroll looked like a blueprint of a building. "This is the floor plan of their antique summer residence near Volterra." I looked it over. "That's huge. Is it an old castle?" I asked. Carlisle nodded. "It has been built in the 16th century for the Volturi. It has all medieval amenities, like a tower and dungeons. I don't doubt for a second that Aro makes good use of the old interior," he said. "How did you get this blueprint?" I asked. Carlisle smiled. "Aro asked me to oversee renovations when I lived with them. I just kept the plans." I returned his grin.

"Where is Megan?" Esme asked me. "She's with Lily," I replied. "I only hope she can help her," Esme muttered. "Oh yes, she can. Right now she teaches her how to use her powers without exploiting her own life energy," I explained. "Where do you think this will lead?" Alice asked. "What do you mean?" I returned puzzled. "I felt what Lily did when she enforced my vision. She tapped some natural energy and channeled it to support my power. It was pretty forceful and I can only imagine what happens if she makes just one tiny mistake…," she broke off and shrugged. I took a deep breath and sat down next to her. "I know what you mean. I just found out that while Megan channels nature's energy, I have to close my shield or I will be the outlet for any overflow. I cannot handle that much power physically. She might kill me if that happens." I rubbed my hands over my face. "But she's practicing with Lily right now, isn't she?" Alice asked. I nodded. "Yeah, that's why I Ieft them alone. She needs to concentrate on what she's learning." Alice placed her hand on my arm. "Edward, don't worry. If anything, Megan is focused on keeping us safe. She will not make any mistakes," she said. "I hope so," I whispered, "I hope so."