The Bear

Chapter 15: Stayin' Alive

"It's time. We must go back," James said.

"No! Truly, James there's nothing there for us except death! I know it!"

"Victoria, I've told you we have nothing to fear. Let's go."

The two vampires were standing in a glade a few miles from the Cullen house, just before sunrise. Victoria felt an overpowering dread. Self-preservation was her natural talent, if you could call it that. She couldn't logically explain it, but at times she would get a terrible intuition that demanded that she must flee. It had never failed her before and she had never felt as strong a foreboding as she did now. And her mate, that stubborn man, wouldn't heed her.

"I can't go," she said.

"Then, I am going without you."

"James, no! If you go, I know—I am certain—that you will die!" She clutched his arm, willing him to heed her.

He shook her off and sneered. "You have no trust in me. I told you there is no danger to us."

"I trust you. I don't trust the Volturi. Please, come with me. You know they will see to the end of the Cullens. You don't need to be there for that to happen."

"But I want to watch it—see it—savor it. It's justice."

Victoria shook her head in confusion. "Justice? For who?"

"For me. They made me a promise and they broke it." The pure hatred he felt for Carlisle and his family was plain on his face.

Victoria once again grasped his arm and said in a clear, low voice, "They promised you nothing, James. You wanted the life that SdL would give and it was a bloody shame that it didn't work for you. You're disappointed, but that is not the Cullen's fault."

"It is! It IS!" He shoved her so hard she flew backwards into the trees beyond the glen. He turned and ran in the opposite direction towards the Cullen property…and to what Victoria feared would be his fate.

Picking herself up, she wailed, "Oh, James!"

She was so tormented. Her talent was telling her to run as fast as she could away from this place, but her heart…

"I feel like we should have some musical accompaniment, don't you, Bella?" Leah was saying as we neared the turn off to Edward's home.

I had no objections, so I nodded my head.

Leaning into the rear window, Leah asked Harry, "You got that music from Apocalypse Now somewhere in this thing?"

Harry just looked in bewilderment over his shoulder, then dug around inside the console. "No, but it looks like Billy has some Bee Gees. Is that good?"

Leah laughed. "I never knew Billy was a Saturday Night Fever man. Let's do it!"

Now, this old Chevy truck was a rattle trap, but evidently Billy liked his tunes. His speakers just about shook the rust off the bumpers when they were fired up. I had to laugh. Who would have guessed we'd be sashaying into the midst of the world's nastiest vampire coven to a disco beat? Maybe we'd shock them to death. This was going to be entertaining, to say the least.

The sky was brightening eastward of the Cullen property, a precursor to dawn. A few minutes before, James had appeared in the clearing and sauntered up to the marquee where the Volturi had been biding their time.

Chelsea murmured to Aro, "Milord, I don't trust this one. We should do away with him."

"Oh, I don't think so. He has proven to be very useful and may prove to be more useful, still. Besides, it wouldn't do to treat those who cooperate with us badly. Word would get around. Make him feel at home, and I believe he'll continue to be a valuable tool."

Holding back a sigh, Chelsea turned her thoughts on James, strengthening the tenuous bond he had to the Volturi. She still didn't like the man. She hoped he didn't turn on them, even under the influence of her psychic persuasion. She did spare a thought on the man's mate. What had happened to her? Victoria was nowhere to be seen.

As James reached them, Aro said, "Well met James. You see what your deeds have wrought."

"Thank you, Milord." James spoke to Aro, but he bowed to all three of the Volturi brethren.

"Without you, we'd have never trapped the Cullens like so many flies in honey. Tell me, which of the Cullens do the Quileute think has killed Isabella Swan?" Caius asked. He was always interested in guilt and punishment. He was pleased to think the Cullens, and thus Sanctuary, would soon be reaping the bitter harvest of their disobedience. He would see to it.

"The Quileute believe that it was Edward Cullen that murdered the girl." James made sure to stay well away from Aro's reach, for he didn't want the mind-reader to discover his thoughts. It was true that the Quileute believed the girl was dead, but he was well aware that their definition of dead and the Volturi's wasn't the same.

Caius remarked, "It's too bad they didn't blame Carlisle. That would have been more appropriate."

"But most unlikely, Brother," Aro said. "The shape-shifters know him too well. It would have been implausible to blame Carlisle for Isabella's death."

Noticing the first rays of the sun peeking over the eastern treetops, Aro rose from his seat and with a malicious smile, said to his followers, "It is time. Get the human."

The Volturi and their minions filed down the hill to gather in the broad yard directly in front of the Cullen house. Their captive once again had her hands bound behind her back, but her legs remained free, and she wasn't gagged.

"Shit's getting real," she thought. "I should wake up any time, now—at least I hope I will. Don't you really die if you actually dream it? Nah. That was probably something I read in my goth days."

The woman was placed in the center of a Volturi semi-circle. Aro had stationed Jane and Alec at either end of the arc. Their orders were to await his signal before attacking their foes. Renata was nearby as she always was, her shield protecting Aro most of all. He was taking no chances, but he had no doubt that he was in control of the entire situation. All things were ready and in their place. Aro stood next to the hapless prisoner and looked up at the balcony of the house. He called out, "Carlisle, we have a little treat for you. Come out and see what we've prepared."

A few seconds later, the balcony door opened, and Carlisle appeared. He walked to the railing and looked down on those gathered below. He was very grim, though he didn't speak.

Aro bowed and swept his arm towards the woman. "Please allow me to introduce you to Bree Tanner. She's a little delicacy we saved from a recent banquet due to her exquisite nature—she has type AB negative blood, a rare treat."

There was a small gustatory moan from several of the Volturi. Evidently, this was information that Aro had kept to himself. Carlisle looked even more bleak, but he still said nothing.

Bree looked at Aro in astonishment and said, "How do you know that?"

Just as Aro opened his mouth to answer her, a blaring speaker from somewhere near the highway started a familiar guitar riff that was followed by Barry Gibbs' distinctive falsetto, "Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk I'm a woman's man, no time to talk..."

In stunned amazement, the Volturi stood, eyes wide and mouths agape as the music drew closer. They were even more surprised when a pack of the largest wolves they had ever seen appeared from the edge of the forest that surrounded the tableau. The truck rounded the last turn as the Brothers Gibbs' refrain, "Ah, ah, ah, ah Stayin' Alive, Stayin' Alive," echoed throughout the meadow. Meanwhile, the sun's first rays peeped over the eastern edge of the woods to shine down like a beacon upon the scene. As the sunbeams illuminated them, the Vampires began to glitter like so many dazzling disco-balls, fitting in with the 70s music that was reverberating throughout the clearing.

No one said a word, except for Bree who dissolved into laughter. "Honestly, this has got to be the weirdest dream I've ever had!"

Leah had gone over her plan with me on the way over to the Cullens'. She had also instructed the wolves on what they were to do, but I didn't know how she did it. I had been with her the whole day and she never conferred with them while I was around. I later learned that wolves can communicate through brain waves or something creepy like that. I don't know why I was surprised. It was just another layer of tooty-fruity icing on this crazy reality that was now mine.

Before we turned off the 101, Leah said, "Bella, you should know that the vampire who killed Charlie is with the Volturi at the Cullens' house."

"Oh, he is, is he?" My teeth gritted and I balled my fists at this news. I wanted to kill that MFer.

Leah put a gentle hand on my arm. "I know you seek vengeance on that one, but I think he will have a more fitting end without you having to trouble yourself to do it. He is going to be 'hoist by his own petard' as they say in literature and politics."

"You mean he is going to be the means of his own destruction?"

Nodding, Leah said, "Unfortunately, more people die that way than any other, from my observations. Why should he be an exception?"

As we rode down the Cullen driveway, Leah had quickly described each of the Volturi so that I could identify them easily. I knew the success of our venture was up to me and my talent and I was getting nervous. As we neared the last turn, I stood and looked over the truck's cab so that I could see my foes. I shut my eyes—and also to shut out the Bee Gees as best I could—and focused on the yearning need that was growing more and more insistent the closer I got to Edward. The love, desire, and ardor I had for him filled my mind, my heart, and my soul. I'm sure I was glowing with it.

The moment we rounded the last curve, I opened my eyes and saw the Volturi standing in their rank across the drive, just as Leah had said. Without exception, they were watching us with their mouths hanging open in stunned surprise. I quickly channeled three separate reverse shields.

First, I popped a bubble around the one I recognized as "mousey" Renata so that I could more easily work on the others. With her shield negated, I had free range among them. As my reverse shield settled around her, I noticed she had a puzzled expression but had no other immediate reaction. This was good, as it gave me more time to do what was needed.

I quickly caused a second shield to encircle the deadly and dangerous Jane, who was "the short, blonde bitch." The last shield instantaneously surrounded Alec, who looked like a "consumptive teenager." I was quite proud that I had accomplished all of this before we pulled to a complete stop at the edge of the driveway.

"'At a girl, Bella!" Leah whispered.

I looked down at her and was surprised to see nothing but a pile of Quileute dirt and the ratty old lawn chair. Where did she go? I thought she and I were going to do this together, but before I could panic, I heard her say, "I've shifted into a beetle. Be careful where you step."

Sighing in relief, I realized that I couldn't spare much attention on her because things were now moving on the Volturi side. A half-dozen wolves had formed a phalanx in front of the truck, their hackles raised, as they looked menacingly at the vampires who had turned to face them. With a little wave of my hand, I stretched my shield that was protecting those of us on the truck so that it also covered the pack. Leah hadn't asked me to do that, but I thought it would be prudent.

I watched as the "prissy Aunt Fanny" Aro suddenly reached over and grabbed the "sneaky slimeball" James' hand.

"Who is this? What are those?" Aro demanded of him in a sharp voice.

I guessed he was referring to me with the first question and the wolves with the other. James never responded, but I remembered what Leah had said about Aro's mind-reading talent and the fact he had to touch someone to do it. After three seconds, Aro threw James' hand down in disgust, turned to the one I recognized from Leah's description as "Felix the Hulk," and said, "Dispose of him."

"No! Wait!" the Slimeball cried, but it was too late.

Like he was twisting the cap off a bottle, Felix unscrewed James' head from his body, demonstrating the true meaning of decapitation. The huge vampire then casually strolled over to a pile of wood that had been constructed several yards away and nonchalantly tossed James' pieces onto it. I suddenly realized that this pyre was intended to be the final resting place of my Cullen family and, though I was shocked at James' sudden death, a cold anger gripped my heart. I was determined to destroy these monsters and I wondered if I was strong enough to copy Felix' technique.

Ignoring what was had happened to James, Aro stared at me for a moment and said, "Do I have the honor of meeting Isabella Swan, daughter of Charles Swan?"

"I suppose you do." I was trying to remain calm.

"You are a little different than had been described to me. You have changed."

"We all do, or we die. Isn't that the truth?"

"For some more than others, it seems. Who caused your change?"

"My mate, Edward Cullen."

Aro was shocked by this piece of information. "Edward was the one who was supposed to kill you."

"No. James was the one who was supposed to kill me, and he would have by now had you had your way, or so I am told."

Aro flicked his fingers at me as though that wasn't an important point, and said, "Who told you?"

I didn't answer him, not wanting to give him more information. But he didn't need me to tell him. He knew.

"Alice was at it again? Telling the future? But I'm surprised. Why are these mongrels protecting you? They hate you, don't they?"

"Not as much as they hate you."

There were affirming growls from the pack after I said that. They sounded very fierce. I was glad we were on the same side.

Aro laughed as though he found both me and the wolves amusing. "Hatred is such a strong word, but sometimes it is the only word that will do."

He turned away from me, but I heard him murmur, "Jane, Alec, it's time."

The two vampires lowered their heads, evidently in preparation to destroy me, the pack, and Harry. Apparently, they didn't know about Leah. However, seconds after Aro's order there was a loud roar and a crash. When the dust—or rather, the rust that held the truck together— cleared, there was Edward crouched on the now very dented roof of the cab, glaring at the Volturi and growling like a pissed off Maine Coon cat.

"Didn't we warn him not to do anything stupid?" Leah asked.

AN: In Apocalypse Now, the US Army attacked the North Vietnamese using helicopters that blasted Wagner's Ride of the Valkyrie. Fortunately, Leah found Stayin' Alive a good substitute.

Thanks to my husband who is now getting into the story as he proofreads. I think he is disappointed in how something worked out in this chapter, but I can't help what these characters decide to do. Who would have ever thought Leah would have chosen to become a beetle? I certainly didn't. Oh, and by the way, you can thank him for the dad joke in this chapter.