Chapter Eighty
Darius
What I really wanted to do at this moment was to rip Alec's head off and kick it around like a football for a few hours before burning him a small piece at a time right in front of his horrified eyes but right now I was so weak all I could do was to follow Peter out and pray to God that Heidi didn't take too long to return with someone for me to dine on. My throat was burning like a furnace and driving me crazy. I could hardly think. The only thing that kept me on my feet and from rampaging through the town was Megan's quiet and reassuring presence.
I knew what had happened. Alec had ambushed me and then used my capture to force Megan to accept him as her boyfriend again and by the sound of it, he had intended to force her into marrying him. It was touching to think that she would sacrifice herself to keep me safe. I knew how I felt about her and it was a relief to realize that she felt at least something in return.
She had matured rapidly since I last saw her. The little girl I had once seen was now a young woman, a brave and resourceful one at that.
Once this was over, and I hoped it would end well for Megan, then we had a lot to talk about. If on the other hand, it went badly then at least I had the Major and Peter at my side although whether even we three would be enough to get Megan out of danger I wasn't sure, but we would sure as hell die in the attempt if that's what it took.
Peter turned to me after watching the guards who had accompanied us take up their station at the door.
"You OK?"
"I'll live. Besides, I have a slimy little fucker who needs teaching a lesson to get back to. How long was I under?"
"Long enough for that slimy little fucker to get his claws into Megan. I knew there was something wrong. I was on my way to Russia looking for you when we got the news Alec was responsible for your disappearance. What the fuck were you doing in Russia in the first place?"
I shook my head, "Don't ask. It seemed to make sense at the time. Did...Did Megan think I was gone for good?"
He grinned, "Oh yeah. You, my friend, are gonna have some explaining to do when this shit is taken care of. Mind, I'm not convinced this is going to be easy. Alec is the golden boy as far as the Volturi is concerned. His gift is too valuable for them to just chuck it away without a fight."
"You think we're going to have to fight for justice? Well, it won't be the first time and I'm ready or at least I will be when Heidi gets back. Where the fuck is she? A few more minutes and I'm going into town for a take out."
The guards moved uneasily when they heard this, but then Heidi appeared leading a couple of tourists who looked totally bemused to find themselves here.
"I'll be outside when you're finished."
I nodded as Peter followed Heidi out of the room closing the door behind him and I moved in for the kill. All thoughts of Alec and Megan were overtaken by the overwhelming need to feed.
Megan
I took Peter's chair next to dad and tried to fill him in on anything I had missed out when telling my story earlier and I could tell he was mad but controlling his temper.
"Do you think they believe me?"
"I'm sure they do, but like any court they need proof. Everything so far has been your word against Alec's."
"Yes, and he's one of the Volturi superstars, I know. But I'm not going to let him get away with this. One way or another he is going to pay for what he did. I'd rather the Volturi agreed and handed him over but if not, well.."
Dad took my hand and stared into my eyes.
"Megan, whatever the Volturi decide we both know that Alec isn't leaving this court a free man. You let us take care of that. Much as you hate Alec and I understand your thirst for revenge, I do not want you involved in any killing. Your mother would never forgive me."
"You think? I'm not so sure. I wish she was here. There's so much I want to say to her."
He tousled my hair, something he used to do when I was little.
"Don't worry. You'll see her soon enough and if you want to apologize for behaving like a brat well, she understands. We both do."
"I really hope so. I know I was awful and really out of order even before Alec contacted me. I don't even know why. I was mixed up, angry, and confused."
"You were missing Darius. That's what happens when we are forcibly separated from those we love."
I glanced at him shocked at his choice of words but of course, he was right. I did love Darius, I always had, and now I would get a chance to talk to him about my feelings.
"Do you think⦠I mean, is it possible..?"
My voice faded away as my embarrassment mounted.
He grinned and looked young and handsome again, "Yes. I think he feels the same way so stop worrying. If anyone should be concerned it should be him."
"Darius? Why?"
His grin turned momentarily mischievous, "He still has to get our approval."
I groaned and smacked my dad on the arm then became serious as the doors opened and Chelsea returned carrying my flight bag which contained the photographs Alec had given me.
The room went very quiet as she approached the dais and handed the bag to Marcus who took it and placed it on the table before him.
"Would you like to show us your proof, Megan?"
I nodded, got up, and approached the table staring at Alec who looked more concerned now. He must know what I was going to show them and I wondered what his excuse would be?
Laying the photographs out on the table face up I motioned for Marcus to look and he and Sulpicia both pored over them intently for several minutes.
"You allege that Alec gave you these along with the ring?"
"He did and that's not all. Here.."
I slipped the dismembered finger from its pouch and let it lay next to the photograph of Darius' mutilated hand.
"Is that proof enough for you?"
Marcus picked the digit up, stared at it and then turned to Alec.
"What do you have to say about this allegation, Alec?"
Alec moved closer and stared coldly at the table with its gruesome contents.
"I have no idea where these came from or who gave them to her. It certainly wasn't me."
Marcus nodded slowly, "So if we were to subject these photographs to fingerprint analysis they would not bring up any of yours?"
Alec blinked as if surprised. Maybe he hadn't expected Marcus to come up with this. I knew I certainly hadn't. If only Aro were still alive. He would have been able to touch Alec and know he was lying. Now I was the only one with that ability and I could hardly use my gift as proof. Of course, he would say I was lying.
"Well?"
Marcus continued to stare at Alec who was now looking very uncomfortable.
"I don't know. I mean I have no idea where Megan got these from. If it was someone else in Volterra trying to frame me then perhaps they got me to touch them without my knowing what they were. All I know is that I never took those photographs and I certainly didn't chop off Darius' hand and give it to her as a trophy."
"I'm a little confused, Alec so please bear with me."
Sulpicia was frowning at Alec.
"Why would someone go to all this trouble to frame you? It seems to me that the only person to profit from all this is you. Megan certainly doesn't appear happy to be here and she has explained why she came back to Volterra seemingly willingly enough. You have told everyone that things were sorted between the two of you and that you are sure there will be a wedding very soon. Now we hear from Megan that she is only here because she was blackmailed and she certainly doesn't appear to be in love with you. So, I ask again, why would someone come up with such an elaborate plan to frame you?"
"And I told you, I don't know."
Alec's voice was no longer so certain and I knew he could see himself sliding deeper and deeper into peril.
I was relieved to see Darius reappear with Peter and looking more his old self now although when he spotted Alec his face changed. He suddenly looked very much the predator homing in on his prey and Alec flinched but Darius came back to stand beside me and lay a hand on my shoulder.
"Welcome back, Darius. Now you are feeling better perhaps I could ask you a few questions?"
Darius' attention never left Alec, but he nodded his agreement to Marcus' question.
"Can you be sure that it was Alec who ambushed you? Absolutely sure."
"Yes."
And where was this?"
"It was on the Russian border."
"There! See! I was never in Russia. He's lying."
For a moment I thought Darius would attack and so did Marcus and Felix from their actions. Both moved between the two men and Marcus held up a hand to silence Alec.
"Please, Darius. A few minutes please."
Then he turned to an apprehensive looking Alec.
"As for you, hold your tongue. I seem to remember you were away from the citadel for several days at one point."
"I went to Rome on Volturi business."
"Yes, I understand that but you were delayed, at least according to your report."
"That's right. I was. Are you accusing me of running off to set a trap for Darius? That would be extremely clever since I had no idea where he was."
"I see, and you stand by this?"
"Yes because it's the truth."
Marcus turned to Afton.
"Would you tell the assembly what you told Sulpicia and me earlier today."
Afton looked uncomfortable as all eyes turned on him.
"I caught Alec looking at the reports on nomads coming in from our spies and asked him what he was doing. He told me he was trying to track someone for you and I naturally assumed that was the truth. Then a few days later he asked me for a favor. He said he wanted to buy something for Megan because she would be coming back soon. That they had made up. He wanted to take my place for the trip to Rome and I agreed. He'd been so depressed that it was good to see him in a better mood."
"Is that all?"
"No. Not exactly. I noticed he was looking for flights between Rome and Finland. It didn't mean anything to me at the time. It was none of my business."
Alec was looking more like a rat caught in a trap now, but he wasn't going to go without a fight.
"Rubbish. Yes, I wanted to get something for Megan but I was looking for flights between the US and Italy. Afton is wrong."
"That's a possibility I grant you, Alec. And you continue to deny your guilt?"
"Yes. I do."
Marcus turned to Sulpicia and she stood up.
"We have one more witness, but I would like to give you the chance to rethink your reply to that last question."
Alec pulled himself up to his full height and spoke his reply loud enough to echo around the chamber.
"I stand by my answer and no one has given a shred of evidence to disprove that."
"Felix. Would you come here please."
The big man stepped onto the dais towering over Alec and everyone else.
"Would you tell us what you discovered regarding this business."
"I was sceptical of Megan's sudden change of heart with regard to Alec and decided to keep an eye on him. I saw him take an envelope the same as the one on the table into Megan's suite before she went missing. Unfortunately, I could not stay to discover what happened next. I was called away on business and then I found out that Megan was missing."
Alec was furious. "You can't possibly be sure the two envelopes were the same and you had no right to spy on me. This is ridiculous. I am a valued member of the Volturi. You need my gift so why are you listening to these fools. Nothing said here connects me to this fiasco."
"There is one thing, Alec. Your gift. Darius was under the influence of someone and as far as we are aware there is no one else who can do what you do. How do you explain that?"
"I don't. We only have his word for that, No one saw him unconscious except for Megan and she would lie for him I'm sure."
"I'm rather confused by her attitude towards you actually. You maintained that Megan came back to Volterra for the love of you yet here she stands accusing you of blackmail, kidnap, and mutilation. Would you care to explain that to us?"
Alec scowled over at me, his eyes flashing.
"Yes, I can. She deceived me. She came back here because she thought someone would know where her precious Darius was and when I found out I told her it was over between us. She's doing this out of spite pure and simple. The two of them hatched this up between them. I was duped."
Darius' had enough by this point and stepped forward, both fists clenched.
"I've had enough of this. Megan and I are the wronged parties here and I demand satisfaction. This scum has used his gift on me twice now for sheer malice and tried to force Megan into a marriage she neither looked for nor wanted. He's dangerous and out of control."
Every eye was on him and I felt a surge of excitement rush through me as I wondered what would happen next. This time it wasn't my parents standing up to protect me but the man I loved and that was something very different.
Marcus and Sulpicia exchanged a glance and then she nodded,
"That is, of course, your right and as Alec denies any wrongdoing and we have only circumstantial evidence it might be for the best. What did you have in mind?"
"Judicial combat."
Sulpicia nodded, "It would certainly be a way to prove Alec's guilt or innocence and as the wronged party it is your right and in keeping with your origins."
Alec's eyes were bulging now.
"What? What is he talking about? I'm not going to fight him. I've done nothing wrong, prove otherwise."
"That's exactly what we intend to do. Judicial combat is binding on both parties. The winner is deemed to be in the right. In this case, if Darius wins you are guilty and he is within his rights to kill you or punish you as he sees fit."
"And when I win?"
"If you win then you can choose his punishment."
Alec thought about this.
"What kind of combat? His skills as a warrior against my gift? You may as well execute him now."
Marcus shook his head.
"No, this is purely down to your skill as a fighter, Alec. There will be no use of your gift and your sister would be advised not to interfere either or you will forfeit the battle."
"But he's a more experienced fighter than me. That's hardly fair."
He sounded like a petulant child and I smiled which only annoyed him further.
"It seems to me that you have two choices. Either you admit your guilt or you accept the challenge and prove your innocence. Which is it to be?"
Alec was backed into a corner and I for one couldn't wait to see Darius take Alec apart. After all, he had done to us both I wanted to see him suffer, so I was furious when after arranging for combat to take place an hour later Darius asked my dad to take me away.
I pleaded and threatened but he was adamant.
"Megan, we have a lot to discuss but I do not want you to witness what is about to happen and I'm sure your father doesn't wish it either. We both want you to remain the sweet girl that you are. The harder side of life will come along all too soon. In the meantime, let us take care of you like you took care of me."
Looking at my dad's face and then at Darius I could see I wasn't going to change their minds so I bowed to the inevitable. It was either that or I would be forcibly removed. I could have insisted I guess, used my shield to protect me from them, but that wouldn't be right. There was also the peck on the cheek Darius gave me which softened my anger and frustration.
Having to say goodbye to Darius again was hard, but this time I would only be a few doors away and I knew I would see him again soon. It never occurred to me that Alec might win this battle. He was in the wrong and he would die.
It was as I was walking to the door with Peter and my dad that something occurred to me and I turned back.
"What about your hand? We have no idea where Alec put it or if he destroyed it. You can't fight him one-handed."
"I could take him with both hands tied behind my back, don't worry Megan and I will force him to tell me where it is before I kill him. Either that or I'll take one of his in its place."
He winked and blew me a kiss then the door shut and he was out of sight. It would be unbearable waiting out here knowing Darius was in there fighting for his name and his life but I would be strong and soon he would walk out and put his hand on my arm once more. Then we would have all the time in the world to talk.
Best wishes to all my readers. I hope you are all safe and healthy. Love Jules xx
