Disclaimer to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N: I apologize for taking so long between each chapter. I never forget- just trying to make sure everything is decent before I post it.
Thank you to everyone who leave such kind reviews. They are so encouraging and always make my day. I am really enjoying writing this story and I hope you all like this chapter. It was fun to write.
With love, -M
Chapter Six
My heart stopped.
Why would Carlisle come to the Volturi?
There was suddenly not enough oxygen in the room. I clenched the edges of my cloak, wrapping it tighter around me. I needed to calm down, to not bring attention to myself. I couldn't allow Carlisle to see me here, to force him to explain to Aro why he would know who I was.
My chest ached. None of it would matter if Aro touched Carlisle's hand. Aro would see me in Carlisle's thoughts, he would figure out he had let me into their world. The Cullens would all die because of me.
I choked back a sob. Carlisle was walking into his own death and there was nothing I could do.
Felix relaxed when he recognized Carlisle. I took the opportunity of his movement to shift myself so I could peer around his shoulder.
Carlisle stood in front of Aro, hands clasped behind his back with the edges of his mouth slightly upturned. He looked pained, the dark circles that were typically under his eyes now somehow seemed darker.
Marcus and Caius rose from their seats. Carlisle nodded to the men, hastily returning his attention back to Aro. Both smiled and dropped their shoulders, eased and pleasantly surprised that Carlisle had been their unexpected visitor.
Aro stepped beside Carlisle, positioning himself so that he could see everyone in the room, including me.
"Carlisle- it is so good to see you. What an excellent surprise! Please, tell me, how are you? How is your family?"
Carlisle's forehead creased, a shadow glossed over his eyes as he spoke.
"We could be doing better."
"Ah, things are not well then. And this is the reason for your urgent visit?"
"Yes, I was worried that I may be too late. I must ask for a favor."
Aro's concerned expression remained unchanged. I was intrigued to see his genuine compassion for Carlisle, rather than the fake empathy that had been allotted to me. Aro folded his hands in front of himself and walked towards Marcus and Caius. He turned, giving his full attention to Carlisle before speaking.
"Dear friend, what can we do for you?"
Carlisle took a deep breath. Confusion briefly overcame his face. I tugged my cloak even tighter around myself.
Carlisle dropped his head and began rubbing his temples. I had never seen him this way before. Even when he had found me in Phoenix, he had been calmer and more composed. Now, he stood before the Volturi and looked exhausted.
"My son, Edward, has lost someone. He is mourning. We believe that he will come here and ask you to take his life."
Panic hit every nerve in my body. The torture I had imagined of turning immortal now became unbearable. Horrific images flooded my mind. Adrenaline raced through my blood, the urge to plea to the Volturi for his life overtook my muscles.
"NO!" I pushed myself between Felix and Demetri, screaming. Demetri grabbed me and flung me back against the wall. I felt the bandages wrapping my shoulder tear, the warmth of blood slowly soaking into the sweater.
Faster than my eyes could register, Carlisle knelt before me, his hand lightly grasping my non-bleeding shoulder. I almost didn't recognize that Carlisle had been the one to sprint in front of me, the look of shock on his face so unfamiliar to his character. His eyes scanned my features, doubt slowly fading within his expression as he assured himself who I was. Behind him, Demetri was crouched, growling as his black eyes widened.
Without releasing his grip on my shoulder, Carlisle turned around and extended his arm between us and Demetri. Demetri's eyes darted from Carlisle to me, assessing his chances at pushing Carlisle out of his path.
"Alec, get Demetri out of here!" Aro commanded, stepping between Carlisle and Demetri. His expression remained plain, but his voice was stern.
Alec jerked Demetri's cloak, nearly ripping the fabric to get him to move. Slowly, Demetri straightened his back and followed Alec, his eyes never leaving mine.
Aro took a deep breath, his nose scrunching as he smelled the blood dripping from my shoulder. Jane and Felix also looked uncomfortable, both of them attempting to keep their focus on Aro.
Carlisle dropped his arm and turned to face me again. He pushed back my sweater, inspecting the torn bandages. Seeing the wound in my shoulder, Carlisle tore a strip from my cloak and began rebandaging my shoulder.
Tears welled in my eyes as I watched Carlisle work. By exposing myself, I had stripped him of his life. I would be the last patient he would ever help. The person responsible for the impending death of his entire family, and he cared for me with unwavering tenderness.
It felt like a futile effort. Aro stood over us, his expression unreadable as he watched Carlisle work.
Finally, Carlisle broke the silence.
"Bella, are you alright?" His voice was calmer than it had been before. Now, his face was softer, the sharpness of his features smoothed within his face.
Words tangled in my throat, nothing coherent able to travel past my lips. I was overwhelmed with his presence. The last time I had been with Carlisle, he had sutured my arm the night of my birthday party. The same night the Cullens had realized the burden I was to their family.
I couldn't meet Carlisle's eyes, shame engulfed me. Everything around me lost focus. Sounds became muzzled and my vision blurred. The chill of the stone beneath me soaked into my body. I gripped the torn edges of my cloak, gasping for air.
He thought I was dead. He was going to ask the Volturi to kill him, unable to live with the guilt of leaving a clumsy injury prone human to fend for herself. My body shook as specs of black crept into the edges of my vision.
"Bella, Bella it's okay, you're alright- I'm right here, Bella, but I need you to calm down." Carlisle spoke calmly, acting like it was a normal day on the job. I placed my head between my hands, my fingers sprawled at my temples and threaded into the tangles of my hair. I focused on the rise and fall of my chest, my breathing trembling with every inhale.
Carlisle lowered his head to meet my gaze. His eyes were soft, concern etched in every feature of his expression. Thick tears coated my eyes. I wanted to apologize for everything I had done to his family. I wanted to ask how I could help him, to offer my life if it could save those he loved. My mouth hung open, nothing but ragged breaths escaping my throat.
As I attempted to choke out my words, Jane stepped forward. She had collected herself, the fury she had exhibited earlier now intensified. Her gaze was fixed on Carlisle, waiting for permission from Aro to serve him what I had woefully missed.
Aro raised his hand to Jane, gesturing for her to step back. Reluctantly, Jane receded and returned to Felix's side. Behind Aro, Marcus and Caius now stood. Their necks stretched to see Carlisle hover over my shaking body.
Aro took a slow step towards us.
"It seems you already know our new friend, Bella…" Aro's mouth twisted into a smirk.
Giving me a small nod, Carlisle stood to face Aro. Raising his chin, Carlisle took a deep breath and approached Aro, gently extending his hand palm up.
Aro eagerly met Carlisle halfway and snatched his hand. The same expression that had crossed Aro's face with the human girl returned. Unlike the few brief seconds Aro had held her hand, he embraced Carlisle's for many long moments. His mouth occasionally twitched with amusement, followed often with interest and awe. Aro's grip on Carlisle's hand loosened and he slowly allowed it to slide out of his hold as he registered everything he had just felt.
Carlisle took a few small steps backward, returning to the wall I was now resting against. Aro's eyes followed Carlisle, but were glossed over, engrossed in a mixture of Carlisle's and his own thoughts.
"How extraordinary…" Aro whispered.
He turned his back to us, returning to where Marcus and Caius sat anxiously. Aro sat in his elaborately decorated wooden chair, remaining immersed in deep thought.
Caius moved his gaze from Aro to Carlisle, briefly glancing at my crumbled figure on the floor.
"What have you done, Carlisle?" Caius's words echoed throughout the chamber, slicing through the stillness of the air. His expression was traced with concern as his patience of waiting for Aro to regroup had expired.
Carlisle opened his mouth, preparing to respond before being interrupted by Aro.
"She is immune to so many talented abilities. And her blood, she is his singer, and he resisted… She is so calm, so well collected. It is remarkable. Yet your son did not wish to grant her this life..."
Aro continued to relay his newfound discoveries, but he began to speak so quickly and quietly I could no longer hear. The only indication that he was still speaking was the intense focus granted to him from the remaining vampires in the room.
I watched Marcus and Caius absorb Aro's words. Neither men gave away their thoughts through their expressions, only amplifying my fear.
Carlisle crouched beside me, inspecting his previous effort to rebandage my shoulder. Something between a gasp and a whimper came out when he tightened the bandages. Carlisle looked sympathetic and the guilt weighing down my chest became heavier.
"Bella," Carlisle whispered, "I am so happy you are alive." The genuineness of his words tore through me. I wanted to sob, to save Carlisle and his family, to go back in time and prevent myself from moving to Forks.
I suddenly realized that each remaining member of the Volturi now faced us. It was time. I reached across myself to grab Carlisle's forearm, my eyes welling with tears of regret.
Carlisle lowered his other hand, gently squeezing my wrist. He smiled at me softly as he rose to his feet.
Aro spoke first.
"Carlisle, you are a great and longtime friend to us. We all think very highly of you, and respect you and your family greatly. It is of no pleasure to us to find ourselves in this situation." Aro's tone was authoritative. He paused, allowing Carlisle the opportunity to respond.
"Bella is part of our family, she is very important to us."
"Yes, that has been made very clear. Yet you allowed your son to keep her mortal."
"It was not a decision made lightly."
"It was a decision made against the law."
Carlisle didn't respond.
"I understand now why Bella had denied us so many answers. You embraced her as if she was an equal. Her gift, it is truly remarkable. You have yet to find a reason for it."
"Bella seems to be able to block all forms of mental abilities."
"Yes, it is quite impressive. I can only imagine the strength of her ability as an immortal. She is already so powerful as a human."
"Unfortunately, other considerations have to be made."
"Yes. Yet, Alice has seen her as one of us?" Aro's lips curled into a hard smile.
"Yes." Carlisle remained calm and composed.
"Carlisle, I believe there is a happy ending for our predicament! It can be overlooked- what has happened, as long as it is corrected." Aro's smile grew wider. His attitude had returned to that of when I first entered the chamber. He had regained control, all his questions had been answered.
Carlisle furrowed his brows and took a deep breath before turning to face me.
"That is not a decision that can be made by me."
"Carlisle," Aro began, "you understand that if Bella does not become immortal, you, Bella, and your entire family must face the repercussions."
"Change me!" my voice sounded foreign as I pushed myself off the wall, my knees shaking under my own weight. Aro had opened my opportunity to save the Cullens. If Carlisle changed me, the Volturi would not harm the Cullens. Whether it was out of respect for Carlisle or a deepening interest in my ability, I wasn't sure.
Carlisle walked towards me and lightly placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Bella, you don't have to do this-"
"No, I want to. Please." I would save the Cullens. He would learn from Carlisle that I was not dead and could quit feeling guilty for my death. I would exist in my own personal hell if it meant keeping him and the Cullens alive and safe.
Aro began laughing, shrieking in delight at Carlisle and I's exchange.
"Then it is settled! A happy ending for everyone!"
Carlisle closed the distance between us. Leaning down, he whispered gently in my ear.
"Thank you, Bella. I will try to make it hurt as little as possible."
I closed my eyes, allowing my tears to finally flow freely from my eyes. I embraced the feel of the cool liquid pouring down my face, knowing that it would be the last time I would ever be able to cry.
Countless times, I had dreamt of a moment like this. An eternity in a world where he existed. I had never imagined it with so much dread and remorse. This is how I would be frozen in time, aching for someone who didn't want me. Once venom coursed through my veins, the slim possibility of maturity healing his absence would vanish.
Carlisle lifted my arm, his grip tightening at my elbow. I could feel the chill of his breath against my arm and the hardness his lips on my skin.
And then everything was on fire.