Chapter Seventy Four
Jasper
Peter and I approached the citadel very carefully making sure to stay well out of sight and made use of the tunnel system that crisscrossed the mountain. It had been used in past centuries as a refuge, an escape route, and for storage in times of war and siege and was both vast and extensive.
We made our camp in one of the side tunnels at the base of the mountain that had last been used by courting couples and groups of teenagers to judge by the rather unsanitary rubbish left behind.
Clearing it aside we set up the sat phone which could be scrambled and would be hard to pinpoint should anyone be looking although there was no reason to suspect anyone was expecting trouble except Alec and I rather doubted he had the backing of the Volturi council. If he was looking out for trouble he would be doing so alone or with only one or maybe two accomplices such as his dear sister.
Bella called to say that she'd been in touch with Carlisle once more and although he hadn't seen Megan yet he had asked Sulpicia about her.
"What did he learn? Did you ask him about Alec?"
"He said that Sulpicia was going to speak to Marcus again and persuade him that it was cruel to keep Megan from seeing her family. She was hopeful that things might ease considerably for Megan within the next few days.
I was careful not to emphasize Alec too much. I didn't want Carlisle to get any ideas. He said Alec has seen Megan but only for a few minutes. He said it's common knowledge within the citadel that the two of them are very close again. I tell you, I could have thrown up when I heard that. I'm not sure how long we have to find Darius. If Carlisle is right and Megan is allowed out of her suite then she has no way of keeping Alec at arm's length. He might push for something more and quickly."
I heard the plastic of the phone creak and had to ease my grip before I shattered it.
"If he lays a hand on her I swear I'll rip him to little pieces and feed him into a furnace a little at a time. I don't think Megan would let it get that far, though."
"Don't you? We both know there is a deep connection between those two. She would do anything to keep him safe."
"Anything?"
"Possibly, I know I'd have to think twice before turning him down if I were in her position as it was your life at risk. Hurry Jasper, please. You have to find him soon."
Peter was waiting when I finished the call with a map spread out on the rock floor.
"Well, it's not exactly to scale and not all the tunnels have ever been mapped but it was the best copy I could get a hold of under the circumstances. Where do you want to start?"
I squatted down beside him looking at the map intently. The fact Peter had managed to get his hands on such a thing at such short notice was little less than a miracle. He told me that his 'friend' Jacqueline had sent it to his phone with the caveat that it was very old and out of date not to mention incomplete, but that it might be of some help.
I pulled out a pen and crossed off the tunnels closest to the citadel entrances as too obvious and likely to be used the most.
"He's not going to risk someone stumbling upon his prisoner and losing his bargaining chip. I'm guessing we should look in the tunnels that seem to lead nowhere, into the very heart of the mountain. They are least likely to be in use."
He nodded and stood up brushing the rock dust that had slowly descended from the roof of the cave off his jacket and stretched.
"You want to split up? We can cover more ground that way."
"No, I think we should stick together just in case we run into trouble. We do not want to be discovered or it might go hard for Megan and Darius."
"Of course, there is something else we could try."
I glanced over at him suspiciously, I knew that tone in his voice. He knew I wasn't going to like what he had to say.
"Go on."
"I just thought maybe your ex might be able to help. For old times sake, I mean."
"No. Besides, Alice's gift is even more erratic around Bella so it'll be ditto for Megan. Besides, I don't think she would want to help us. She could have called anytime if she felt that way and I haven't heard a word. Best leave her out of this."
He shrugged, "It was just a suggestion, consider the matter closed. So, east or west. Major?"
I gestured eastwards and we set off, being careful of the stones and boulders that scattered the floor of the tunnels in places. While I thought we were alone I did not want to make any noise that might warn anyone else down here that they had visitors.
Megan
Felix was back just as he had promised, an hour later, and we left the tower via a corridor I knew nothing about. It led from what had been Sulpicia and Aro's suite in the tower to the main complex without using the main stairs and therefore avoiding the guards. It might come in useful at another time so I filed its location away.
"Please keep very quiet now. We have to pass close to the guards quarters although they should be empty now."
I followed him through the gloom keeping as close to him as possible and steadying myself with a hand brushing against the stone wall of the corridor.
The corridor stopped abruptly and Felix pulled aside a huge hanging tapestry to reveal an old iron-bound door.
Taking out a key he slid it into the lock and turned it slowly. There was the faintest click and the door swung open, freezing air wading into the corridor from its stygian interior.
He slipped through, beckoning me to follow, then shut the door as the tapestry swung back into place leaving us in utter darkness.
I heard him take a step and caught hold of his jacket sleeve whispering as low as I could.
"I can't see. Don't you have a torch?"
I felt his huge hand engulfing mine and felt his breath as he spoke in my ear.
"It's too dangerous to show a light yet. Hold my hand and I'll make sure you don't fall."
It was strange, stumbling along in the dark in silence holding the hand of a man who could have killed me with a swat of that same hand and feeling totally helpless.
After five minutes of slow progress, Felix finally stopped and turned on a torch which gave just enough light for me to see the space between the two of us.
"Are you OK?"
I nodded, "Better now I can see. Where are we?"
"Could you find your way here alone?"
I frowned, was he testing me? Trying to discover if I could safely be left down here to die?
"I think so. I counted the paces and turns, so... Yes, I could."
He smiled nodding, "Good because I can't help you the next time."
"The next time?"
He studied me for a moment and I wondered what he was thinking but rather than saying anything he just handed me the torch and beckoned for me to take the lead.
"Just a little further then you 'll find a lantern."
I walked on aware of his huge bulk behind me and a minute later I saw a large opening ahead.
Stepping inside I could tell the chamber was large because the torch I held illuminated only further darkness beyond its limits.
There was a scraping sound and then, to my relief the chamber was lit up as Felix held an oil lamp aloft to show me the cave we were standing in. It was huge and heading off it were seven passages and in the centre stood a thick pillar hewn out of the raw stone and hanging from it were huge chains which ended in iron shackles.
"What is this place?"
"Nowadays nothing. In previous centuries it was used to house dangerous prisoners for interrogation before execution. It's long forgotten by most here in the citadel. Do you know what the word catacombs means?"
I shook my head, I'd never thought about it.
"Well, in ancient times when the Volturi first established its headquarters here in Volterra it needed a way of disposing of all the bodies of the humans brought in to feed the population. When the labyrinth of passages was discovered under the mountain it was used to hold the bodies to decompose before the bones were stacked out of the way. Although other ways were found, including the use of our own crematorium which operates outside Pisa, some of these passages still contain the bones of those early victims."
I swallowed suddenly feeling nervous now I knew I was surrounded by the bones of hundreds of thousands of victims of the vampires who lived here. Then I shook the ghoulish thought off.
"Well, thank you for showing it to me and the history lesson although I have to say I was hoping for something a little more stimulating on my trip out of confinement. I guess I should be glad I wasn't a prisoner or a victim in those days."
He nodded gravely, "Yes, you should, It wasn't a pleasant place to be held, trust me."
I looked around shivering. I should have brought a thicker jacket and sturdy boots as I felt the grit that had found its way into my sneakers rubbing on my heels and toes.
"If you were looking for a safe hiding place for something valuable close to the citadel you could do a lot worse than bring it down here."
I stared up at him in shock, what was he telling me? Did he know about Darius? I opened my mouth but he shook his head, lifting a finger to his lips.
"Best not to say certain things out loud, not even down here. Oh yes, there is a supply of oil and matches in the entrance we used. Be careful, the passages that lead off this room are like a labyrinth. You would do well to supply yourself with a way of marking your passage that others, anyone else coming down here, could not see easily."
I nodded my understanding.
"I'm sorry I can't help you more but my time is limited and even such as I am under scrutiny from time to time. There are certain people in the citadel who appear to have secrets, dangerous secrets, that they would do anything to keep. Vigilance and care should be your watchwords. If there comes a time when you find yourself needing help please be careful who you turn to. Everyone in Volterra has their own agenda and would do anything to forward their own."
He gave me a few minutes to explore the chamber and peer into the passages leading off.
If I were reading him right then somewhere off one of these dark passages lay Darius trapped in a living death.
"We should get back. It's not wise to be absent for too long, but now you know how to get here I guess you'll find a way to visit again. Tomorrow will be quiet. I understand that the twins are going to be busy in the north looking for some troublesome nomads along with Afton and Chelsea. I believe I am to be given the task of making security checks in the citadel.
Did he mean I would be free tomorrow from any interference? I had to be sure.
"I guess I'll probably get a visit from Sulpicia then if it's quiet or maybe even Marcus. I haven't seen him yet."
Felix eyed me closely then shook his head.
"Marcus has a short outing planned. I understand there is a work of art he is donating to one of the museums to add to their collection. It helps our image as a charitable foundation when we show such largesse."
"Oh, I see. What about Sulpicia?"
"I think she has plans to spend the day outside, she rather enjoys sewing and is the expert who mends our valuable tapestries. She says daylight is essential for such work."
I nodded understanding my way would be clear and Felix would do all he could to ensure it stayed that way.
We didn't talk during the walk back to the same iron-bound door and we stopped while Felix listened carefully before unlocking the door and motioned me through once he had checked the way was clear.
By the time we returned to my suite I was exhausted and relieved to find no one waiting for me.
Felix nodded a farewell and left and I went through to the bathroom to check I wouldn't give away our excursion with stone dust or cobwebs but apart from grimy palms I was clean enough.
I sat thinking about tomorrow and my first venture into those dark and cold passages. The very idea made me shiver but then I thought of poor Darius, his prison was far more horrific, trapped in stasis possibly for all eternity and not for the first time. How would he survive such isolation again?
My train of thought was interrupted by the arrival of my dinner and I was immediately aware that Alec had spoken to someone about my meals as the tray contained only a thermos jug of blood and a silver goblet. From the smell of it, I could tell it was human blood and my stomach roiled in disgust.
I shook my head at the girl who put it on the table,
"Take it away. I don't drink human blood."
She stared at me in shock, "But my orders were to bring.."
I cut across her, "I don't care what you were told. Take it away."
She hesitated then picked up the tray and took it away looking confused.
Alec could possibly force me to drink blood but I drew the line at this, I'd rather starve but I doubted I would get off that easily. In fact, I was sure he would be along shortly to give me another lecture on my behaviour.
