Finally the girl's screams stop. The newborn lies panting on the ground as Jane turns to address the girl at last.
"Your name?" Jane asks pleasantly, staring down at the young vampire who all but scrambles away from the child-like vampire's gaze.
"B-Bree!" The girl gasps between shakes.
"Bree," Jane questions, her voice suddenly cold. "Is his story true? Were there twenty of you?"
"Nineteen or twenty, maybe more, I don't know!" Bree cries, clearly terrified of more punishment for her ignorance. "Sara and the one whose name I don't know got in a fight on the way…"
"And who created you?" Jane asks impatiently.
"I don't know. Riley never said her name. I didn't see that night... it was so dark, and it hurt… He didn't want us to be able to think of her. He said that our thoughts weren't safe…"
Jane's eyes flicker to Edward for a moment before she looks back at Bree. "Tell me about Riley. Why did he bring you here?"
"Riley told us that we had to destroy the strange yellow-eyes here. He said it would be easy. He said that the city was theirs, and they were coming to get us. He and Mark said once they were gone, all the blood would be ours. He gave us her scent."
She points toward Bella, who stiffens.
"He said we would know that we had the right coven, because she would be with them. He said whoever got to her first could have her."
I snap my jaws shut - if I ever felt pity for Riley before, it's gone now.
"It looks like Riley was wrong about the easy part." Jane notes dryly. Bree shakes her head rapidly.
"I don't know what happened. We split up, but the others never came. And Riley and Mark left us, and they didn't come to help like they promised. And then it was so confusing, and everybody was in pieces. I was afraid. I wanted to run away. That one said they wouldn't hurt me if I stopped fighting."
"Ah, but that wasn't his gift to offer, young one. Broken rules demand a consequence." Jane smiles pleasantly. Her words confuse me and clearly Bree is also lost, but Jane doesn't bother to explain as she turns to Carlisle again.
"Are you sure you got all of them? The other half that split off?"
"We split up, too." Carlisle answers smoothly. Jane nods thoughtfully and she glances toward Demetri as she speaks slowly.
"I can't deny that I'm impressed. I've never seen a coven escape this magnitude of offensive intact. Do you know what was behind it? It seems like extreme behavior, considering the way you live here. And why was the girl the key?" She looks at Bella.
"Victoria held a grudge against Bella." Edward answers shortly.
Jane laughs, almost incredulously. "This one seems to bring out bizarrely strong reactions in our kind."
Her eyes focus on Bella as she speaks. I don't understand why until Edward asks in a suddenly tight voice, "Would you please not do that?"
"Just checking. No harm done, apparently." Jane answers breezily.
Abruptly realizing what Jane was doing, I glare at the child-like vampire. She looks toward me as if sensing my gaze, and this time I don't back down. I meet her gaze head-on. Even when fighting, I'm fiercely protective of my sister and I'm angry Jane tried to hurt Bella even if she didn't succeed. And even if I'm also a little smug that Bella is apparently not affected by Jane's power. Jane's eyes narrow as if sensing that, however, and instantly my courage flees a bit as my gut tells me I'm in danger. I gulp, tensing automatically as my body subconsciously prepares for an attack; but Demetri growls suddenly, a low warning noise in the back of his throat.
Jane backs off at once while I glance up at him in surprise. He doesn't notice, too busy watching Jane with narrowed eyes. She seems contrite, which surprises me, but she quickly regains her composure as she addresses the Cullens once again.
"Well, it appears that there's not much left for us to do. Odd. We're not used to being rendered unnecessary. It's too bad we missed the fight. It sounds like it would have been entertaining to watch."
"Yes." Edward's suddenly a little too interested as he watches Jane like a hawk. "And you were so close. It's a shame you didn't arrive just a half hour earlier. Perhaps then you could have fulfilled your purpose here."
Jane just meets Edward's gaze and she answers coolly, "Yes. Quite a pity how things turned out, isn't it?"
Edward nods, getting the answer he wanted even if it's not verbally. Jane doesn't seem the slightest bit concerned by this fact as she turns to the enormous vampire beside her.
"Felix?"
"Wait." Edward cuts in quickly, surprising and confusing me. I'm all too happy for Jane to leave but a sense of urgency has entered his voice and the air seems to have changed. I watch warily, not really understanding as Edward turns to Carlisle.
"We could explain the rules to the young one. She doesn't seem unwilling to learn. She didn't know what she was doing."
"Of course." Carlisle is swift to agree while I'm still left puzzling over what Edward means. "We would certainly be prepared to take responsibility for Bree."
Jane looks almost amused but mostly incredulously as she answers briskly, "We don't make exceptions. And we don't give second chances. It's bad for our reputation. Which reminds me…"
Her eyes turned back to Bella and for the first time she smiled at my twin. Although it's more like a devil's smile, so perhaps it didn't really count.
"Caius will be so interested to hear that you're still human, Bella. Perhaps he'll decide to visit."
And suddenly, the reason for Jane's glee is evident. I scowl, but it's Alice who speaks up for the first time as she answers, "The date is set. Perhaps we'll come to visit you in a few months."
Jane's smile disappears at once and she shrugs, not looking at Alice. I don't doubt it's because Aro envies Alice as much as if not more than he does Bella. Without once glancing at Alice or Timothy, who has slid just a little bit closer to his mate, Jane returns her attention to Carlisle.
"It was nice to meet you, Carlisle - I'd thought Aro was exaggerating. Well, until we meet again..."
Carlisle just nodded and his expression looked… pained. His golden eyes flickered regretfully down to Bree and I realized what was going to happen seconds before it did.
"Wai-!"
Demetri's hand closing over my mouth stops my protest but doesn't stop the other Volturi guard members from looking my way. Felix's gaze is curious, Alec's is indecipherable and Jane… well, she's looking more at Demetri than at me and again she seems almost surprised. But she quickly loses interest and she turns to Felix.
"Take care of that, Felix. I want to go home." She states in a bored tone, nodding toward Bree like she's an irritating fly.
Edward has pulled Bella into his arms once again and she's buried her face into his chest by this point, unwilling to watch. Somehow, the whole scene reminds me of the awful day in Volterra and my eyes widen as Felix approaches Bree, who trembles as she watches the fearsome vampire approach. I don't want to watch but I can't tear my eyes away, too horrified.
This time, it's not Alice but Demetri who pulls me away. He turns me in his arms and he tucks me under his chin while he wraps his gray cloak tightly around me, almost like he's shielding me. The cloak and Demetri's arms around me muffles the sounds but I'd have to be deaf to be unable to hear the sharp, metallic screeching from just feet away. This is followed by a strange crunching and snapping and I cringe as I imagine bones being broken; I'm not even sure I'm grateful for the lack of screaming because of what that implies.
At last, the sounds stop. But the smoke is thick again and the smell of burning incense fills my nose as Jane speaks up. "Come."
I lift my head from Demetri's chest and look back over my shoulder in time to see Felix shooting me and Demetri one last lingering look before he turns and disappears with the twins into the mist. It's only after another minute, however, that the Cullens move.
"We'd best start moving if we want to avoid any human attention." Carlisle says softly, quietly taking over leadership of his family. "Rose, Emmett, why don't you stay here with Esme, make sure that the fires don't spread. Esme, perhaps it's best if you stay here with them. Edward, take Bella home and get her warm. Alice, Tim and Jasper, head on down to La Push first. I'll follow after I've taken care of Mia."
Jasper's clearly itching to leave and get to Niki, who's probably hysterical by now after seeing Jacob injured, but I'm surprised when Carlisle signals me out.
"I'm fine." I tell him automatically, and every single one of the Cullens aside from the patriarch grimaces. "What?"
"We can all smell the blood, Mia." Carlisle explains. I stare at him blankly before I remember the cut on my shoulder. So maybe there was more than one reason that none of the Cullens aside from Carlisle and masochistic Edward had spoken a word since we arrived at the clearing. Although, I wonder at the Volturi's ability to remain cool and collected; maybe Demetri wasn't wrong about regularly drinking human blood giving them an edge when it came to resisting fresh blood.
"Oh… I forgot." I admit. Carlisle smiles and nods, before his eyes flicker to Demetri.
"Demetri, do you mind carrying Mia? I can lead the way." He suggests in the same, calm authority that he used with his family.
Demetri nods. We're the first to leave, probably because none of the Cullens trust Demetri. I can almost feel the unease oozing off Jasper and Tim as they watch Carlisle start off without anyone but me to protect him against Demetri; and I'm not much. But perhaps because of their trust in their patriarch or in Alice or in Edward, or all three, but they say nothing as Demetri picks me up - and soon we're blurring through the trees once again.
Almost as soon as we start moving, it feels like we've arrived. But instead of stopping outside, Demetri blurs inside and by the time everything has stopped moving around me, I realize we're inside Carlisle's home office. Carlisle is already sitting beside me by that point, ready to disinfect my shoulder.
"Mia, if you could please remove your coat." He requests.
I pull the thick winter coat off, grimacing a little as the motion makes my shoulder sting. Demetri takes up a position just behind Carlisle, staring at the thin wound with a frown. I feel a little embarrassed under his intense stare, feeling oddly exposed in my thin sweater, but I'm thankfully distracted as Carlisle takes over.
"It seems we were lucky. The cut is shallower than I thought, you won't need any stitches."
He lifts the cotton swab with disinfectant at human pace for me.
"This will sting a little." He warns me before he starts dabbing alcohol onto my shoulder.
Pain instantly shoots up my arm and I wince. Demetri watches almost curiously as Carlisle quickly gets to work on my shoulder. I wonder how long it's been since he's seen a human injury and I wonder briefly if Lulu's really never even had a papercut while in Volterra. This unfortunately reminds me of the last time someone had a papercut around vampires and I quickly direct my thoughts elsewhere before I can relive the pain that followed my and Bella's eighteenth birthday. I instead try to occupy myself with watching Carlisle as he starts taping some gauze on the cut to keep it free from infection.
"You are doing very well, Demetri." Carlisle mentions suddenly when I estimate him to be about halfway done. He's pretty much done by the time he finishes speaking, his hand moves so quickly, and I glance over in awe as Carlisle also packs up in the next second.
"I fed last night." Demetri's tone is bored, and I guess that he's tired of repeating himself. Carlisle however just nods.
"I suppose it is also your age that helps you stay in control." He comments thoughtfully as he gets up and moves away in a blur.
Demetri is peering at my shoulder and I shuffle awkwardly under his gaze. I jump when Carlisle, now holding a more comprehensive medical bag, appears in the doorway again. He smiles at me in apology.
"I must leave now to see Jacob."
My heart falls and I'm sure both vampires hear the stutter. Demetri is watching me thoughtfully while Carlisle is quick to reassure me.
"He will most likely be fine, Mia, but Sam has called for me to come see him. It seems he may have broken some bones."
Translation: he definitely broke a lot of bones and his superhuman healing probably started mending them wrong. My heart speeds up anxiously as I realize this is why Sam would allow Carlisle and the others onto La Push - there would be no other doctor who could treat Jacob in his current condition.
Carlisle blurs over to pat me comfortingly on the shoulder.
"He will live and he will heal, Mia." He promises. I take a deep breath and nod gratefully.
"Thanks, Carlisle."
Carlisle looks over at Demetri. "I may be gone for some time, but please feel free to stay as long as you need and make yourself at home."
Demetri jerks his head in a short nod. Carlisle is gone in the blink of an eye; leaving me alone with Demetri.
Now that we're alone, however, I'm feeling a bit lost on how to proceed. I'm far too pleased to see him again for my liking, but I'm also wary of his presence here where all my family and friends are within his reach. The fact that he came here on Volturi business only further sets me on edge. Yet at the same time, I can't deny now that he's here that I missed him. It's insane, I shouldn't feel that way; and yet, it's undeniably true. I missed the friend I'd made even if that image jarred with the ruthless Volturi guard member I now also knew he was. I suppose it's natural that since he's a contradiction in my eyes (a kind intellectual who comforted me when Harry died and also kills without blinking an eye), my own feelings for him are contradictory. Not that this makes me feel any better. Especially when it seems like my subconscious has already made up its mind. I even hugged him earlier out of instinct; my face bursts into flames at the memory. I duck my head before he can see although he can probably smell the blood rushing to my cheeks.
"Lulu said to tell you she misses you. If I came far enough west to see you." Demetri suddenly says and I look at him, startled.
He's still watching me but his lips have curved into a gentler smile and he's visibly relaxed with Carlisle gone. He looks almost carefree and much more like the man I'd first met. I shake my head; I can't keep comparing him to the man I'd first befriended. That man was an illusion, a fake to hide his real identity from a human. The real Demetri is the one I saw tear a newborn limb from limb. But I can't forget the way his eyes softened for a fraction of a moment when they had met mine.
Clearing my throat, I answer briefly, "Tell her I miss her too."
He nods. "And did you miss me?"
Silence. I don't want to admit the truth but I also can't lie; not when my heart picked up as soon as he asked. He seems satisfied enough with that and he relaxes even further, leaning against Carlisle's desk.
"And yet, you never responded to any of my letters." He teases, his red eyes still fixed on me.
I frown. "Did you expect me to?"
"Expect? Hm, probably not." He admits.
For some reason that makes me feel guilty. I lower my head but I jerk it back up when Demetri asks, "Now, will you explain why you smell like a wet dog?"
I meet his stare. He's not willing to back down now that we're alone but I really don't want to explain it to him.
"You haven't told me about 'singers'." I counter admittedly weakly. Demetri looks less than impressed but he gives in first, to my surprise.
"Cantante… We call them that because the blood of a singer is so appealing to the vampire it affects that it is like it sings."
I frown. Aside from the fact that there was a name for people like that, I didn't see why Demetri couldn't have told me that earlier when we were still in the mountains. It's not like Edward didn't know that this was possible, he'd already told Bella how she affected him more intensely than regular humans. Then, slowly, I realize that Demetri's hesitation had nothing to do with Edward. He'd been reluctant to tell me.
"And?" I ask as I sense there is more. Demetri's red eyes are grave.
"You don't want to know." He warns, but I shake my head determinedly.
"Tell me."
Demetri hesitates. "Singers are a rare find."
"And?" I ask a little impatiently.
"And the experience of drinking from a singer is, generally, considered to be the most exquisite meal a vampire can ever taste." He finally admits. My mouth drops open and I recoil despite myself as I'm once again reminded just how little vampires think of people as living creatures. We're just food; nothing more and nothing less.
Demetri has been watching me closely and he points out, "I told you you wouldn't want to hear it."
I ignore that as I think of something else. "Have you ever met any… singers?"
"You mean my singers?" Demetri clarifies
I jerk my head in a nod and he answers in a brusque, almost business-like tone.
"Yes, I have met two in my life."
The way he says it, I don't really need to ask but I do anyway. "They're dead, aren't they?"
"Put it this way, if you were starving and you were faced with the most delicious meal in the world, would you be able to stop yourself from eating it?" Demetri asks, no hint of remorse in his voice.
Partly for this reason, I counter, "Except you weren't starving."
"I may as well have been the instant their scents hit my nose."
Demetri is blunt and for some reason I can't hate him for it.
"That is the effect singers have on their vampires; you would make room for dessert if it smelt truly heavenly, would you not?"
I frown at this explanation. "Then how do you explain how Bella's still alive?"
At that Demetri pauses.
"I don't know." He admits and I'm surprised while he is more thoughtful.
"The lifestyle the Cullens have taken on… it is already against our nature. Perhaps their abstinence makes them more immune to the call. Or perhaps young Edward is simply a masochist."
His tone is a little dry at the end, but I can't help but agree.
"Well, I've seen proof that they're not more immune so I guess you must be right about Edward." I mutter.
Demetri just shrugs before he suddenly skewers me with a stern look.
"And now, your answer." He all but commands. I falter, and he notices.
"I answered your question." He warns. I know he did, but I still can't do anything more than bite my lip. Demetri's eyes narrow dangerously but I can't give up the pack. I'm reminded of an old nightmare, one from a time before the Cullens returned and Victoria was stalking my sister's footsteps. In those horrific dreams, I'd seen Embry and Jacob and young Seth all brutally murdered by a vampire; and I can't help but fear that will come to pass if the Volturi find out the pack is active around Forks.
"It's… not my secret to tell." I say finally. Demetri's lips purse but I beg him with my eyes to let the subject go. After a long moment where he just watches me, he finally agrees.
"Very well."
He's clearly unhappy but I'm relieved and I know it shows on my face. Demetri reluctantly smiles at my reaction, especially when I squeeze his hand in thanks. He tilts his head to the side.
"Then, another question."
I brace myself but this time his question is much easier.
"Have you decided what you will do now that you have graduated high school?"
I'm surprised. It's not a difficult question to answer but I can't help wonder, "Why do you ask?"
He shrugs but the action is careful as are his eyes.
"I'm just curious."
"Right..." I say skeptically.
He flashes a smirk then before he admits, "I may have been wondering if you would return to Italy with me."
It's funny that of all the events that have happened in the last twenty four hours, this is what shocks me the most.
"You want me to come back with you?" I repeat, unsure I heard him right. Demetri hears my surprise and his smile becomes more genuine.
"Is it that surprising? I had thought my postcards were quite obvious." He teases. I wrinkle my nose at him in response, but my heart betrays me as it flutters. Demetri hears it as well and it just makes his smirk widen.
"Well, I'm supposed to travel to Europe with some of my friends over the summer..." I say slowly, watching as Demetri's eyes gleam at once with anticipation. I can't help but smile as well; damn me for having missed him. And my bleeding heart for caving into him so quickly.
"I guess I could add Italy as a stop."
Demetri's brow quirks. "Just a stop?"
I laugh, thinking he's still teasing. "Well, as much as I love traveling, I have to come back home sometime. Not to mention Bella'll probably get married at some point then too."
I can't hide my grimace as I say the words. Demetri looks curious but his expression is suddenly wiped blank as I continue, "And then, college starts in September..."
I trail off as I notice Demetri's reaction. "What?"
"Why would you continue your human schooling?" Demetri asks, his eyes narrowing again as he examines me intently. I frown back at him.
"Why wouldn't I?
Something seems to shift and click into place in his mind. Demetri's gaze hardens and his tone is accusing as he says, "You still plan to give up your life in one year?"
My frown deepens. "Why are you surprised? You already knew that I'd chosen-"
"I had thought you would grow wiser over the course of three months." Demetri answers. "That is considered a long time for mortals, is it not?"
I narrow my eyes at him.
"And why would changing my mind be considered the wiser course?"
He shoots me a look of disbelief. "I would think it is obvious. Choosing between life or death is not exactly like writing Shakespeare. Even an idiot like Felix could do it."
I'm starting to lose my temper but I try to clamp down on it as I say in a precise tone, "Except it's not life I'm choosing, is it?"
"Why isn't it?" Demetri counters. "You would be walking, breathing, eating, learning if you so choose. Is that not living? But no, you stubbornly continue to choose to end your existence, and as if that is not enough, you decide to waste the last few moments of your life before your self-imposed deadline going to something as mundane as college."
"What's wrong with that?" I demand, insulted at how he's belittling my dreams. "It's what normal humans do, in case you didn't know-"
"But you are not what you call 'normal', Mia. And no matter which path you choose, you will never finish your current attempt at attaining a piece of paper humans have created to mark yet another moment in their short lives." Demetri snaps.
I stand, anger making the blood rush to my head.
"You see things pass without caring because you no longer have a concept of the beauty of life and death, you kill easily and without a second thought, taking innocent lives like it's your right, and all because everything you and the people around you have cared about is gone and the only things left are people as frozen in time as you!"
My hands curl into tight fists at my sides as the words finally pour out of me.
"I hate that you insist I choose that kind of life, but I despise the fact that you think that you get to have a say after it was your master who ruined my life!"
"And what life did you hope to have?" Demetri counters, also straightening up so he towers over me. I want to slap him but I know that would just end in me breaking my hand so I refrain. Barely.
"An insignificant life amongst the weaker kind, fighting to live day by day until one day you are only prolonging your own death, growing only weaker and weaker? Even your sister seems to understand this, why do you stubbornly cling to such a life?"
"It's not insignificant!" I shout back. "I have dreams and a goal I want to accomplish and a family I don't want to lose, and even if you look down on it, that's the life I want! That's what you don't seem to get through your thick skull! I don't want to live forever without the people I love!"
"And what of an eternity with the person you love?"