Chapter Fifty Five

Carlisle

I was relieved when we had no hold-ups en route and arrived at the hotel Alice had told me she was hiding out in. Esme had called Garrett and told him not to worry, that Alice had called us and asked him not to look for her.

"He sounded almost relieved, Carlisle. I don't think he can handle her, not right now. Not in her present state."

"I just hope that we can. This sounds serious, Esme. I remember her telling us that she'd had problems before she met Jasper. How she heard voices and how scared she was. I wasn't sure if she was just looking for sympathy at the time but having watched her and read all I could about her mental illness and the treatments of the time I'm not so sure. I think she had a breakdown after finding out what really happened to her mother. That, in turn, led to the murder of her stepmother and her incarceration in that asylum. She felt betrayed by her father and would never admit that she had a problem."

"So do you think that losing Jasper, or Bella's problems have caused another breakdown?"

"I think another breakdown was always on the cards. Maybe Jasper's gift helped to keep her calm for some years. I don't think Garrett has what it takes to keep her grounded. I feel sorry for him."

"What can you do, Carlisle? If Jasper feels she's become a danger to his family who knows what he might feel it necessary to do?"

"Let's talk to her first, then we can decide what's best. Surely Jasper wouldn't hurt Alice, he was married to her, he was fond of her."

I didn't want to disabuse Esme of her feelings but I felt that on the contrary, if Jasper felt Alice was a threat to those he loved he wouldn't hesitate before killing her.

One look at Alice as we walked in told me she was in deep trouble. Her hair was a mess, her clothes dishevelled, and her eyes, huge and frightened, darted around the room from one place to another. She sat hunched in a chair in the corner, a blanket from the bed wrapped around her shoulders and looked like a hunted and cornered animal.

The door had been unlocked and she merely hugged herself closer when we walked in.

"Are you alone? Garrett isn't with you, is he?"

"No. We didn't tell anyone where we were going. Alice, you are perfectly safe now. Come and sit with me."

I gestured to the bed and sat down on the edge but she merely shook her head.

"No. It's safer here. I can see anyone coming in."

"No one else is coming, Alice."

She shook her head violently, "You're wrong. I know, they told me."

"Who told you?"

"They did..the voices. They know. They told me that Bella is going to have me killed. She thinks I was responsible for what Edward did. She thinks I told him to abandon the baby. It's not hers you know."

"What? You mean the little girl?"

She nodded leaning forward so I could see the manic gleam in her eyes.

"Yes. Jasper found it so he could steal Bella away from Edward. He always wanted her you know. He lied to Bella. She's really something dangerous, the voices told me the child isn't a child at all. That's why they didn't want me to meet her."

"Then what is she? Did they tell you that?"

"No. Only that she's dangerous. We have to tell the Volturi. They need to take her away, lock her up. Bella too. We have to tell them.., no, I mean.. If.."

She stopped suddenly as if listening intently then looked up at me in torment.

"I don't understand what's happening, Carlisle. We have to tell Aro, he'll know what to do."

"Alice we have no proof that anything you say is true. I've met Megan and she's just a little girl."

She pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders then leaned forward and whispered hoarsely, "Carlisle. We're all going to die. We have to tell Aro or kill her. Yes, that's best. We have to kill the child before she kills us. See how clever she is, she even managed to fool you."

Alice had so many half-formed theories running through her head that she couldn't manage a coherent storyline but it was obvious that she was terrified. Unfortunately, her terror made her a danger to Megan and Bella in her present condition.

"Why don't you come back with us. You'll be safe and we can talk some more. Maybe we can work out what's going on, Alice. I think perhaps you need to talk, to get things clear in your mind."

I saw her eyes narrow, she was losing trust in me and I needed to show her that I only had her best interests at heart. Esme tried to comfort her but to no avail. She kept insisting that we had to tell Aro and let the Volturi deal with Bella and her daughter.

Seeing that she wasn't going to be leaving with us and couldn't be allowed to remain here or go off alone I decided to act.

"Very well, Alice. I'll call Aro and fill him in but you have to calm down. He won't listen to you if he thinks you are anything but calm and clear-headed. So, you stay here with Esme. Let me make the first contact and then you can speak to him, is that OK?"

She shook her head, "Talk to him in here. I need to hear what you say. I need to know you aren't trying to deceive me."

"Don't you trust me. Alice? Remember you called me for help and here we are."

Her face twisted into a pained expression, "I know but… But they don't trust you and I have to listen to them."

"Why?"

"Because they tell me things. They keep me safe from all the bad people who want to hurt me."

"I'll keep you safe, Alice. I promise."

"I..I.."

She stopped and seeing that I would lose her trust altogether if I left I called Volterra from the room and asked to speak to Aro.

"I'm sorry, Doctor Cullen but that's not possible right now."

"Well, could I speak to Marcus or Sulpicia then?"

"I'll see if that is possible. One moment."

She put me on hold and I wondered why it was not possible to speak to Aro, he was always available for me or at least he had been until now.

Alice got up suddenly and began to pace the room from one side to the other following her tracks exactly, reminding me of a bear I had once seen in a zoo enclosure. His paws had worn a track in the ground as he paced agitatedly from bars to bars. It just underlined how agitated she was and how close to the edge.

I would have to proceed with extreme caution or risk losing her altogether. If the madness that had afflicted her as a human returned then I was not at all sure she would ever recover her senses again.

Finally, I found myself speaking to Marcus.

"Carlisle, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. What was it that you needed?"

"I really wanted to speak to Aro. We have a slight problem. I'm afraid it's rather delicate, rather like the business earlier."

I hoped he would understand that I was referring to Caius and Darius and understand this was a warning that not everything was as it appeared.

"Unfortunately Aro will not be available. Perhaps I can be of some service?"

" Thank you, Marcus. I'm sorry to bother you but Alice is extremely upset. She needs to speak to the Volturi officially."

"Well, I'm happy to listen to anything she might have to say."

I offered Alice the phone nodding encouragement for her to take it.

"Here. Marcus is willing to listen to you. Should we wait outside so you can have some privacy?"

I was praying she would say yes but she clung to my arm, "Don't leave me, Carlisle."

Esme smiled encouragingly at her." Carlisle will stay with you. I need to make a call. I have a client who was expecting to meet up with me tomorrow and I must make my apologies."

Alice stared at Esme for a few seconds and then reluctantly nodded her head. I think she was more concerned about what I might do as I was the one with links to the Volturi. It never occurred to her that Esme might take matters into her own hands.

Esme

As soon as I was far enough from the hotel room to be sure I couldn't be overheard I called Sulpicia hoping that, unlike Aro, she would be available.

It took some time but eventually, I was put through although Sulpicia did not sound her usual serene self.

"Esme. This really isn't a good time but I understand it is somewhat urgent."

"I'm sorry, but it is. I wouldn't have bothered you otherwise. Carlisle and Alice are speaking with Marcus at this very moment and I wanted to be sure that Marcus had understood Carlisle's cryptic warning."

"Warning? I am aware of their conversation and that he was disturbed by Carlisle's first words. I take it that we should be wary of anything Alice is telling us?"

I explained the situation as rapidly and fully as I could and was relieved that Sulpicia grasped the situation so quickly.

"So you see I think Carlisle wanted to make sure that Aro did not take Alice seriously. I don't know what we are going to do with her. This breakdown appears to be worse than any other she has had."

There was a short pause and then Sulpicia sighed.

"I suppose I should make you aware of the situation here in Volterra. Aro is no longer in control so any decisions will be made by the remaining council members."

The tone of her voice made it clear that she would not welcome any questions so I refrained from asking them.

"Do you think Carlisle will be able to help Alice?"

"He's not sure but we must do something if Bella and Megan are to remain safe. Alice can be rather volatile and unpredictable when she is upset and with her mind disturbed we are afraid for her. We didn't want you to believe the accusations she is making, she really believes what she's saying."

"I will have to speak with my fellow council members but it may be that we can offer the safety and security that Alice needs right now."

"I just need to know that she will be safe. I couldn't bear to think that we were responsible for something happening to her. She is still my daughter and I love her. I don't want to lose another child, Sulpicia."

"We are not barbarians Esme. The only problem might be Alice's husband. If I can persuade my fellow councils to agree to my idea she would have to come to Volterra and I doubt Garrett would want to spend the rest of his life here. What do you think he would say?"

"I think Garrett is way over his head and would be grateful to know that Alice is in good hands."

"Very well. Give me a few minutes and I'll call you back."

I stood waiting nervously, from the tone of her voice and the little she had said I got the feeling that things in Volterra had changed radically since we last saw Aro and his wife. Was this a result of Darius actions in killing Caius? Or was it something else entirely?

True to her word Sulpicia called me back five minutes later.

"I have spoken with some of the council who are in agreement that something must be done about Alice. Fortunately, we have a contingent of the guard in your area on business. I will order them to join you at the hotel within the next two hours to pick Alice up. I take it that will be acceptable?"

"Oh, yes. I didn't expect you to act so rapidly. Are you sure they will be able to manage Alice? She might guess what is going on and try to flee. Also, can you give me an idea of what you intend to do with her? I'd hate to think she would be shut up in a cell somewhere."

"I give you my word that Alice will be well treated. I think with a little help from Chelsea and Corin Alice's problems will become much more manageable. Of course, it will mean her staying here for the foreseeable future. In her present mental state, she would be a risk the Volturi would not be willing to take out in the world."

I was reassured by her words, the Volturi would find Alice's gift useful if they could control her mental aberrations and using their own gifts they could ensure that she was happy and content in Volterra. It would not be the same as having her freedom but it was infinitely better than the alternative, destruction of her vampire life.

"I understand that Alice is still talking to Marcus. You should return to them, ensure that Alice remains with you until the guards arrive. I have instructed them to be with you as quickly as possible."

"Thank you Sulpicia. I owe you."

She laughed a low brittle sound.

"Let's just say we are all indebted to someone these days. I'll leave it to you to explain the situation to her husband. There is much I need to do here so I must say goodbye now."

She was gone before I could say anything more and I hurried to rejoin Carlisle and Alice.

Sulpicia

Esme and Carlisle's contact had been a little awkward but they were not to know this and I was only too happy to be of assistance after all that Megan had done to bring the Volturi back to where it belonged, out of the sewer Aro and Caius had allowed it to sink into.

Aro had been found guilty and presently languished in the catacombs awaiting his execution. Marcus and I had decided that this must be a public execution, open and before the public. Justice needed to be seen to be done, after all, he had committed a terrible crime and must be seen to pay the price.

In the meantime, the new council was still settling in after the elections. Athena had been offered her husband's seat on the council but had decided not to do so. Instead, she would be leaving Volterra and returning to her home in Greece taking Corin along with her for companionship and a select company of the guard although we doubted that anyone would be foolish enough to take action against her, especially as Caius was now deceased. Losing Corin was a blow but she had agreed to return at any time should we require her services.

In Caius' place would sit Chelsea making a council of three once more along with Marcus and myself. The decision regarding Alice Cullen was one of the first we had made and it had been unanimous. I hoped that perhaps in time Alice would recover and perhaps become a valued member of the Volturi. In any case, it would give her a second chance.

Our first public duty would be to attend Aro's execution and then we intended to review the laws. Some would be discarded and others updated but the important ones would remain and be rigorously upheld.

More guards would be recruited and be more visible out in the world, if only to our own kind. They would also be available to help other vampires with problems, not of their own making.

As for the law regarding humans discovering our existence, well, if the human concerned was involved with a vampire then they would be given an opportunity to join us and as long as they made no attempt to reveal our secret to others they wouldn't be pressured as Aro always did. Marcus had also insisted that we make the murder of a vampire by any other vampire a crime punishable by death. There would never be any excuse for a vampire to take another's life unless they were instructed to do so by the whole council or if it was the only way to protect their own lives and that must be proved if Volturi would become once more the lawgivers of our world and held in high regard, incorruptible and just.