A/N for 2021-02-14: Happy Valentines, folks. I hope it's a good one for you all. As always, my thanks to Chayasara and Eeyorefan12 for their extensive beta work on this story.

Erin


Demetri rubbed his forefinger against his thumb, making small circles. The physical gesture matched the action in his mind as his greater senses swirled through the air, sampling the essences of those around him. His gift for tracking was snake-like, slinking about and tasting the ether, easing closer and closer to his prize until he was near enough to strike. Searching now, he attempted to pin down the particularly slippery quality he'd come to associate with Victoria. He'd sensed it earlier when Jane and Alec had located and dispensed with two of Victoria's much-diminished but still troublesome army.

"Well?" Jane all but demanded.

He lifted his upper lip in a silent snarl. Telling her to be quiet had no effect. Threatening her was even more pointless, but like the habit of his fingers, it was his pattern. He snarled, and she hissed, both silently.

The taste of his latest meal was still in his mouth, the flavour dulling his senses a little. Only briefly had he questioned the wisdom of feeding, but a meal so freely hunted was a delicacy after so many taken from the penned prey of the castle. He licked his lips. A hunt always sweetened the drink.

Running his tongue over his teeth, he returned his thoughts to his present hunt. It was a frustrating one. Usually his prey practically fell into his grip.

Not this time. Victoria was . . . elusive. Even locating her with his mind was difficult. The rare aggravation reminded him of Bella—or, not of her, but of the futility of his gift when it came to locating her. Frowning, he paced away from Jane, walking towards the edge of the woods and the sunlight. They were miles from any human gaze, and he let himself step into the warmth of the sun, closing his eyes and remembering.

"Hmm."

"Hurry up," Jane called. "I'm bored."

She was so easily bored.

With a sigh, he set aside his preferred memories of warm flesh. He could easily recall the way Bella's blood had smelled, and while he missed this most human aspect of her, he looked forward to enjoying the less human and more endurable aspects, too. Surely Marcus was mistaken in his assessment of the situation; in Demetri's opinion, Aro gave too much credence to the nonsensical musings of his fellow Ancient. It was simply impossible that his Bella could be bonded so firmly to another, not when Demetri had endeared himself to her—had in fact physically claimed her in her most impressionable human days. No, she was his.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

"Tcha." Would no one let him do his work? He looked at the screen and frowned again. Heidi's text was a short three letters: Tra. Another of her silly bed games, no doubt. She was a pleasant distraction, but he had no time to play now. Surely she knew that. Putting his phone away, he swept his awareness over the landscape again. Victoria's movement was barely a shimmer in his mind, but it was there. "West!" He yelled and then began running, his grey-clad counterparts mere whispers behind him as he shortened the distance between himself and his unlucky prey.

- 0 -

If it would have helped calm her increasingly agitated nerves, or whatever they were called in this new body of hers, Bella would have gnawed at her fingernails. Instead, she walked around the reading room, flipping through the pages of her book as she paced. Making her steps as loud as possible, she listened for any unusual sounds. There was no set schedule, and her anxiety waxed and waned with the swirl of her thoughts. The sweep of sunlight over the floor told her that the day was progressing.

Near sunset, her vigilance was rewarded. A faint but familiar tingling swept over her arms and back, and she tensed in eager anticipation. It had begun.

The sound of startled and disgusted vampire voices reacting to an odorous disturbance reached her. She kept pacing, a nervous smile spreading over her face. Yes, she could smell it, too—and she'd never been so happy to be olfactorily revolted. Several of the remaining guard members were being dispatched to find the source of the smell coming from Volterra's streets.

It wouldn't take them long to locate it, and Bella moved quickly down the library stairs, locating Marcus the Lesser on the third level. "Now," she said, her voice breathy with apprehension.

He nodded and turned in the appointed direction while Bella hurried back up to the reading room, the familiar sensations running through her body now impossible to ignore.

Meanwhile, the vampire-offending odour grew stronger, and she heard a voice she knew well—Jacob's voice!—echoing off the Volturi's stone hallways: "What is this place? Man, it stinks in here! Pee-yew! What is this weird tourist trap?"

"Just follow me, please," Heidi replied smoothly. Bella swore she could hear a sour note in the woman's normally sugared tone. It was all she could do to suppress a near-hysterical laugh. She was certain Jake and anyone with him weren't being brought into the castle as food but only to satisfy the vampires' curiosity about the atrocious smell that had invaded the city. Bella imagined that Heidi was displeased at being sent on such a lowly errand.

Prickles of awareness again intruded on Bella's thoughts. Calm down! She almost hissed at herself in warning. Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand over her abdomen, which felt like it had pins and needles dancing in it. Soon, she told herself. Soon.

A moment later, Aro's alarmed voice travelled down the hall from the throne room. "What are you hiding, Alice?"

"I've hidden nothing from you, Aro. I just can't see anything." Alice sounded genuinely concerned.

It was working! Hands back at her sides, Bella made and unmade tight fists. So much could go wrong. Breathe, she told herself.

When the wild newborn with his wide-eyed stare appeared at the head of the stairs, Bella stared right back and then slowly stepped aside, letting the man's panicked gaze take in both the sight of her and the large door behind her. Marcus the Lesser had released him right on cue. The newborn bolted for the exit, splintering off one of the carved handles in his frenzied dash for freedom. His noisy exit was obscured by the hollow sound of someone—several someones—crawling rapidly through the vents. As alarmed voices in the halls began calling out about the escaped newborn, Bella paced by the large grate, which abruptly cracked as pale, familiar hands pushed it aside. Anything that happened between then and finding herself wrapped in a pair of arms was lost, because those arms were home.

"You're here!" She wanted to cry, returning Edward's embrace, but feared there was no time.

Edward was of the same mind. "We need to move now. Jacob, Seth, and Leah need us," he said, pressing a hard kiss to the top of her head before pulling away. He didn't let go of her completely—his hand felt like a vise, gripping her own, but she nodded, swallowing the powerful tangle of emotions in her gut. Seth and Leah, too?

The rest of the Cullens emerged from the tunnel opening, all of their faces set with determination. They were here on grim business, and they would attend to it first before they made time for more than cursory reunions. She sensed, more than heard, their muted greetings although Esme, probably unable to help herself, rushed forward to give her a quick hug before they were on their way.

Several faces that she didn't recognize had also emerged from the shaft. The familiarity with which the Cullens treated them told Bella that these were most likely her new cousins, the Denalis. They nodded to Bella briefly, but it was clear they were intent on the matter at hand.

Bella had never run through the hallways at Volterra, but she did now with her family, all of them keeping a tight formation with Edward and Bella in the lead. They ran unchallenged, and Jasper joined them out of nowhere just before they reached their destination. Most of the other guard members were already in the throne room. As Bella and Edward slammed the doors open, they and the rest of their group paused for only a fraction of a second, watching as Jacob, Seth, and Leah exploded into their wolf forms.

Aro stood, hissing loudly. Renata crouched in front of him, and the rest of the guard circled the three leaders.

"What is this?" Aro sounded incredulous and half amused.

"Justice," Edward said with a snarl, his teeth bared.

Aro merely laughed, and his eyes sought out Edward's father. "Carlisle? Does your misguided progeny speak for your coven now?"

Carlisle replied in an even tone, one that held no note of friendliness for his former host. "I believe my son and daughter have business with you."

Aro lifted his eyebrows in response, still smiling. Without changing his expression, he waved two fingers at the guard, who all advanced as one in the direction of the Cullens and wolves.

Alice pretended to move with the guard, suddenly turning on the grey-clad figure beside her and snapping the man's neck.

With this sudden mutinous act, the expressions on the other guards's faces were far less confident than that on Aro's, particularly once the wolves had started toward them, and Heidi began shrieking, "Traditori!" repeatedly. Her cry would summon any help there was to be had from other quarters in the castle.

The room erupted into chaos as the two opposing sides converged on each other. Bella registered the almost painful loss of Edward's hand from hers at the same moment she spotted him several feet in front of her, pouncing on Heidi and slapping her phone from her grasp. It landed with a loud crack and slid across the floor. Heidi sprang away as Edward moved forward, each quickly met by other opponents. Bella lost sight of both of them as she herself was attacked.

Wrestling with Alejandro, Bella kept catching glimpses of Aro standing behind the guard's protective line. She had bested Alejandro before in practice, but this was no practice, and the small man fought with the desperation that mortal imperilment supplied. She dodged his lunge and pivoted to pin him to the ground, just as she'd learned in her training with Jasper. Aro continued to smile from beside his throne, but as Bella brought her teeth to Alejandro's neck, she took satisfaction in watching that smile slide into a frown. She had no time to gloat, for as she whipped around to face her next assailant, she understood why Aro's visage had changed. The full ranks of the Lower Order had joined the fray, and they were attempting to help the Cullen contingent. Untrained in combat, they were doing so at a very high cost. Three of the brown-clad bodies already lay on the ground in pieces. She caught a glimpse of Emmett dispatching the guard member he was grappling with before ripping another away from Dominic, whose size had him at a disadvantage. Emmett threw Dominic's opponent to the side where Rose caught him almost in midair, ripping off his arm just as Bella's attention was diverted again.

Heidi's shrieked "Traditrice!" was synchronous with her sudden assault. She had Bella on the ground, her teeth to her neck before another growl and a blur of stinking brown fur displaced her. Jacob snarled down at Heidi and with a quick jerk of his head, claimed her as his prey. Looking up, Bella watched the ruler Marcus push past the guard to stand in the centre of the room with his eyes closed and his arms outstretched. Bella didn't understand his muttered words and never would, because a grey wolf dissevered Marcus's head from his body. It rolled several feet away to stop by a column, the face's fixed expression unexpectedly peaceful.

Bella launched herself towards the members of the Lower Order, spotting Esme and Carlisle moving to help her. There were even fewer of the brown-clad vampires than when she'd last looked. Blocking the guard member attacking Erastus, Bella glanced up to look for Edward. He was heading with determination towards the now unprotected dais where Aro stood with only Renata. Caius had joined the guards in battle, and the Cullens, Denalis, and wolves were still on their feet. The tide was turning. They were winning!

It was then she heard more footsteps rattling down the hall.

With shrill cries, seven female vampires flung themselves into the fight. The wives and their guards were as vicious as any of the other opponents Bella had faced so far, except they didn't attack her—they began with the Lower Order, who still were closest to the door. The sound of the women's high voices chilled Bella, and it made her freeze for just a moment—a moment too long.

A woman with fiery eyes and equally fiery hair had Dominic's head between her hands.

"No!" Bella cried.

"Left!" Jasper called, leaping to her side and dodging right.

She followed his command, landing behind the woman and catching her as Jasper knocked her loose. The woman's skin was as ancient as Aro's, and it tasted bitter as Bella sank her teeth into her neck. She cast the head aside, so intent on her kill that the sound of Aro's roar only reached her consciousness in pieces. Looking up, she traced his horrified gaze to the body beneath her, realizing that she'd just killed Sulpicia—his mate.

- 0 -

Edward had fought his way to where he wanted to be, but he had not tried attacking Aro yet. He knew there was no point with Renata guarding him. She was loyal to a fault, and there was no crack to leverage in that loyalty. She would willingly die for Aro, and Edward could not defeat both of them at the same time. By virtue of numbers alone, the Cullens would rout the guard and their leaders. It was only a matter of time. For now, he kept Aro penned between the dias and the back wall, letting him think he was trying to get to him. In truth, he was waiting on one of the wolves. Jacob was his preference, but Leah or Seth would do.

As Aro roared his fury and grief at the sight of his beloved Sulpicia now dead at Bella's feet, Edward thought he should feel something for him—some pity for the loss of his wife, his mate—but he could not. He could only feel satisfaction at the justice his own mate had just delivered. He supposed he was a monster for feeling so, but Aro was the greater one, and Edward would atone for his own transgressions later. For now, the best he could offer was a speedy end to Aro's misery.

"Kill her!" Aro yelled, pointing to Bella.

If there was anything that could have distracted Edward from his purpose, it would have been this order. But he already knew that his mate was well guarded by Jasper, and Alice and could see her through their eyes. She fought alongside them, and they would keep her safe.

Already on the defensive, the remaining guard members weren't free to respond to Aro's edict—all except Chelsea, who landed a mangling blow to Seth, kicking him aside. She was readying herself to lunge for the kill when Leah threw herself into Chelsea's path, shoving the small vampire away from her brother.

Edward took his time herding Aro and Renata away from the dais and towards the side of the room. This move would leave Aro even more open to attack, and it would keep Renata busy until Edward could acquire the help he needed. With Seth down for now and the other wolves still occupied, he focused his gift on the minds closest to him, particularly those he hadn't considered before.

The one member of the Lower Order who seemed to know how to fight was Marcus the Lesser. Though the source of the training surprised Edward, he remained intent on the prey in front of him when he realized that Marcus was heading his way to offer assistance.

The others will return, Edward. Aro had finally realized the gravity of the situation and communicated silently with him. Even if you destroy me, you will all fail when faced with the rest of the guard—the most gifted ones trained in combat.

"We'll take our chances."

Nearby, Marcus leapt back to avoid a swipe from Sebastian, but his jump landed him within reach of Aro.

Aro took immediate advantage, closing his pale and dusty-looking hands around Marcus's neck. Before Edward could react, Chelsea's voice carried from behind him with a roaring "No!" and she lunged forward. As Renata moved to block her, they collided and crashed into Aro, knocking him off balance. Marcus broke free and positioned himself by Edward. Unable to complete her attack on Aro, Chelsea turned the full force of her rage on Renata. They were evenly matched in size, but any advantage Renata had was overshadowed by Chelsea's fierce protectiveness for Marcus. Though startled and confused by Chelsea's sudden change in allegiance, Edward was grateful for the assistance. With Marcus by his side, Aro had no escape route. All three men watched Chelsea brutally dismember Renata, the sounds of her shredding, ripping, and growling filling in any empty air the battle had left. The thoughts of fury and vengeance Edward could hear in Chelsea's mind were surprisingly similar to his own.

At last, Aro was truly frightened. He was alone and unguarded, facing an opponent that could read every one of his thoughts—a vampire who had myriad reasons to despise him. His guard members were being killed at a steady pace. His sense of bravado was gone. It was no surprise when he began his attempts to bargain his way out of the deadly predicament.

This time he spoke aloud. "If you kill me, Edward, then what will you do? Rule in my place? Apply your sire's soft-handed approach to the vampire world?"

Edward did not answer. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the gouged and broken stones in the floor, the ones damaged by his own hands in his futile attempt to crawl from the room when Demetri had raped Bella. The memory was perfect in his mind, and the horrifying film reel was playing now—only all the months of pent-up frustration and rage over the attack finally had a place to go. His need for vengeance had a target, and it was right in front of him.

Edward moved like a cat, prowling in a semi-circle around his prey. His family and the wolves had just three guard members to finish. Child's play. He knew they would not intervene. Nor would Tanya and her sisters, who had every right to seek justice, having witnessed their mother's destruction on Aro's orders. He could hear the three of them silently urging him on, allowing his quest for retribution to stand for all of them. His focus was intent on Aro, his eyes never leaving the desperate man whose expression displayed his burgeoning panic.

"You will be overrun." Aro was whining now, cajoling him. "Your populace will eat you alive. Even the Romanians will have a chance to best you. I've seen the way you all conduct yourselves. I've listened to your thoughts and your sire's. I know how vulnerable you are. You'd be best served leaving me to guide you, Edward."

Aro's words flowed past him like water. Edward was lost to the memories of that monstrous night, to the atrocities to which he'd been an unwilling witness and participant, and to the many humiliations he'd been made to endure. The source of them all was before him, utterly unprotected. He reveled, knowing the present circumstances made his talent superior to Aro's. He feinted left and then leapt right to counter Aro's last desperate movement. When Edward's teeth landed on their mark, his hands finished the job his bite had begun. With one fierce twist, Aro's immortal life was done.

Without ceremony, Edward pulled a lighter from his pocket and ignited it, dropping it beside Aro's head. Wicking through Aro's long hair, the flames rushed up in a violent whoosh. He kicked the remainder of the corpse into the fire where it flared brightly for one last, brief moment.

Scanning the minds around him quickly, he registered that his family, the Denalis, and the wolves were alive and relatively unscathed. They were not without losses on their side, though. As for the remaining Volturi leader, Carlisle and Emmett had disposed of Caius without any offer of clemency. Edward's feet barely touched the stones as he nearly flew to Bella's side and the two of them fell into each other's arms. They were safe—for now.


DISCLAIMER: S. Meyer owns Twilight. No copyright infringement intended.