17th December 2122
Two days until battle
Grinning, Felix slipped something out of his pocket, holding is carefully in his hand and gently unwrapping the tissue paper that kept it safe. He glanced up at Bella's inquiring look, pulled the tissue paper away and handed the small object to her. For a few moments, she simply stared at it, then turned her gaze to him, then back to the object she held.
"You're keeping me shielded at all times, aren't you?"
"Of course," Bella replied, turning the small thing over in her hands. "So, your plan is… to bug the place?"
"I could only get one, but yeah. We'll place it in the main antechamber where Aro spends most of his time. Hopefully, we can get some answers with it. Here. It'll transmit everything to this so we can listen in whenever we can."
A slow smile spread across Bella's face. "This is brilliant," she said. "We can confirm our suspicions about him, as well as gain extra info."
"It's feeding day. I'll sneak in when everyone's in the feeding hall and go out to fetch a couple of animals for you after."
Bella placed the bug on the table and wrapped her arms around Felix. "Thank you," she said, quietly. "For helping me."
Two hours later, Felix scanned the corridors as he made his way towards the antechamber, satisfied that everyone was busy feeding. He opened and closed the doors behind him as silently as possible, doing his best not to alert anyone. They would most likely be in a feeding frenzy, but he didn't want to risk it on something as important as this.
Behind the center throne, he decided was the best place to position it. Chances of being seen were slim, and there was no real reason to go behind there. Even if someone did, it was unlikely they would notice a tiny object tucked right against the throne leg. Felix crouched down to rest the bug against it. He could hear footsteps outside, nearing the chamber. His fingers quickened, fumbling to position it correctly. As the door was pushed open, he straightened up and flew across the room, his mind whirring to come up with an excuse.
"Felix? What are you doing? Why are you not in the feeding hall with everyone else?"
Allowing himself a subtle sigh of relief, Felix turned to face the doors.
"Hello Marcus," he greeted, attempting to buy himself more time.
"Why are you here?"
"I was just…" It was a snap decision. He wouldn't tell Marcus. He'd avoid the question until he knew he could trust him. "Marcus, what do you know about the vampire hunters that went after the Cullens?"
Tilting his head questioningly, Marcus pushed the door shut and took a step closer to Felix. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean."
"Alright then, Felix. I knew from the very beginning. Aro had this brilliant plan to take down the Cullens, and obviously, Caius went along with it."
"And you didn't try stop them?"
"What was I to do? You know how Aro is. Regardless, I was indifferent. Whatever they chose to do, I didn't care."
Felix frowned, his fingers tapping against his leg. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I don't agree with what Aro has done to the Cullens. Especially Isabella and Edward. Kill them, banish them, do whatever. But to intentionally separate mates is abominable. Perhaps not so much as punishment. But this isn't a just punishment. Aro was the ultimate cause of the exposure, not Edward. Now, Aro is rather oblivious to you. Oh, he's slightly concerned about how much time you're spending with Isabella, but he's confident in your loyalty to him. I, on the other hand, have seen what you're doing. I know you're trying to help Isabella reunite with her coven and mate, and I support that." He sighed. "However, Caius too has caught on. Watch out for him."
Absorbing this information, Felix nodded. "Thank you, Marcus."
The older vampire gave a slight inclination with his head. "On the day of the battle, I know you and Isabella are both going to flee. I know this because you cannot return here. Aro will know what you've done, and he will want your head for treason. I assure you I will do my best to prevent him from succeeding. I made the mistake of indifference once and it caused the devastation of mates. I won't do it again."
"Marcus…" Felix said, slowly. "We don't plan on having a Volturi to return to. We want to completely eliminate them, save for some who I know we can trust."
A few seconds passed. "I see." Marcus gave a weak smile. "All the better, I suppose. "Just ensure that one way or another, I am killed."
Felix's head snapped up and his mouth fell open. "What?"
"Kill me, Felix. My death has been long overdue, my time on this world lasted for far too long." His voice hardened. "If you're truly loyal to me, you will ensure my death."
Swallowing, Felix had a moment of hesitation, where he watched one of the three Kings. It shouldn't have surprised him when Marcus asked to be killed, but it still had. There was a reason Marcus had far more sympathy for Bella and Edward than either Aro or Caius. The loss of a mate is the most devastating occurrence in a vampire's life, and that's what convinced Felix.
"Okay," he said. "Okay. I will."
"Thank you, Felix. I hope you win the battle."
Feeling impatient, Edward forced himself to breathe, perching on the end of his bed. Reaching over to the bedside table, he picked up the intricate frame of a photo of him and Bella. She was smiling radiantly- they both were- with her head resting against his chest and both arms wrapped around him in a tight embrace.
Breathing in deeply, he could smell her scent that lingered faintly. The scent that worsened the ache in his chest. That reminded him of her voice, her laugh, her smile…
A knock on the door alerted him to the presence of his daughter, who poked her head inside and went to sit on the bed beside him.
"Hey Daddy," she said, leaning against his shoulder.
"Hey Nessie," he murmured, eyes focused on the floor. She resembled her mother so much, it hurt Edward every time he saw her and remembered she wasn't there. But he couldn't push her away- he refused to. "You okay?"
She didn't answer immediately. When she did, it was shy, almost embarrassed. "I'm scared," she admitted.
Edward turned to look at her. "Why?" he asked, feeling stupid almost immediately. Of course she was scared. In two days, they were going to battle against the Volturi, and depending on which side was better prepared, they may not ever see Bella again. They may not live to see the next week.
"I'm scared because… what if the Volturi change their mind? Maybe mom won't be there. Maybe there's more of them than Alice saw. What if we aren't strong enough, or there aren't enough of us? What if the Volturi pick us off and they win? What if they hold more of us hostage, or force us to join the guard?"
Slinging an arm around his daughter's shoulders, Edward pulled Renesmee closer to him, still gripping the photo tightly in his hand as some small form of comfort.
"That's not going to happen," he said. "We're enough. We've been training hard, strategizing, planning. We've got this. You want to know why? Because we're determined. All of us want Bella back, and we all care for her enough to sacrifice potentially everything for her. And that care, that determination, will be enough." He was no longer sure whether he was trying to convince Renesmee or himself. "So we need to have confidence. Look at this with positivity. In two days, your mother will be here with us all. Our family will be whole again. That's what we have to focus on: the high possibility of success. Because if we don't have that, what's the point of all of this?"
"I'm scared."
Felix didn't say anything, just sat there and nodded, listening.
"I know they'll be training right now. I know they're intelligent, good strategists, strong fighters. But I can't help but be scared. What are the chances that all of us will make it out of this alive? Because I know they're all going to be there. Aro wouldn't be so worried if they weren't. And if they're all there, it increases our chances of winning but also the number of casualties."
"Bella." She turned to face Felix. "Don't worry about it. I know that sounds stupid and impossible. But stop thinking about the negative outcomes. What happens will happen and there's nothing we can do to change that but train as best as we can, and work our hardest. Remember why you're fighting and focus on that."
Closing her eyes, Bella let her favorite memory play through her mind: Renesmee's first birthday. Celebrating a full year of the life of something none of them thought was possible. Everyone gathering together to watch with fond delight, and sing happy birthday. Renesmee with the widest smile on her face as she made a wish, blew out the candles, then threw herself into her parents' arms.
"I'm fighting for… Renesmee," Bella said, the corners of her mouth pulling upwards. "For Edward, for all my family. And for myself."
"That's right," Felix said, softly. "Picture them. Picture the perfect outcome. The one where you all survive and have an eternity of happiness in front of you. Picture their joy when they see you again, welcome you back. Picture that, and strive to achieve it." He paused, thinking. "What do you want to do? What did you do before all this chaos?"
"I was a teacher," Bella replied, reminded of the simplicity of her life so long ago. Back when her biggest worry was the plan for the lesson, and which student was going to act out that lesson. Back when she was busy trying to please her boss with her knack for teaching, rather than preparing for battle against vampire royalty. She remembered the teachers, the students, the friends she made along the way.
Ashley.
Bella felt a stab of pain as she was reminded of that one human friend she'd made during her time as a teacher. One who had always been there for her. One who comforted her while she and Edward were going through a challenging time. One who had turned on her the second her secret came out.
Though Bella could hardly blame her- any normal human would have reacted with fear and suspicion- it still hurt immensely to remember that Ashley hadn't even paused to hear her out, opting instead to force her to flee, joining the other teachers with the matches in their hands. She would always remember clearly the tears in Ashley's eyes, the betrayal she felt.
Ever since she had met Edward, it had been her dream to be turned, become a vampire, just like him. He had always argued, wanting her to stay human and have all the human experiences possible, but she was adamant this was what she wanted. Now, she didn't regret her decision. But nothing could have prepared her for the alienation and hostility she felt as she saw her formed colleagues, some of her friends, so willing to be rid of her. It was the rare moments like that where she longed so much to be normal.
"I was a teacher," she repeated. "I enjoyed my job, and I made so many amazing friends. But that day… that day our secret came out, they all turned on me. Each and every one of them." She raised her head and blinked her eyes open. "And that's Aro's fault.
"So tell me again Bella," Felix said, "What are you fighting for?"
"For justice," she answered. "I'm fighting for things to be right again."
Standing up, Felix listened out for anyone roaming the corridors and thankfully, heard no one. After he had a confirmation from Marcus about Aro's big plan to take down the Cullens, he had returned to the feeding chamber, where Aro had given him a message to pass on to Bella. Felix had not, of course, relayed the message to her. That would only make her feel guilty, worried, stressed, and she didn't need that now.
"It's dark enough now," he said, glancing outside. "I'll go grab a few animals for you. Meet me in the East courtyard." It had come as no surprise to Felix that he was ordered not to let Bella drink animal blood. She had a choice between feeding from humans like the rest of them, or simply not feeding at all. Felix dreaded the idea of dragging a couple animal carcasses behind him to Volterra; if he were caught, consequences would be severe. But he had to do it. For Bella.
That was who he was fighting for.
Getting out of Volterra was easy enough. He followed the plan he and Bella had produced to escape before they'd heard news of the Romanians challenging the Volturi. Fortunately, Felix had been lucky enough not to cross any of the stronger members of the guard, and bluff his way past the hallway guards.
Reaching the nearest forest wasn't too difficult either, in the cover of darkness and sticking to the lesser used roads and paths. He pounced on a couple of deer, killing them in the least messy way possible. The last thing he wanted was to be dragging the bloody corpse of an animal for miles. A trail on blood was sure to arouse some suspicion and fear amongst the humans.
As he neared Volterra, Felix slowed, shifting the carcasses over his shoulder so they would make less noise. He stuck to the walls as much as possible, moving carefully past the windows towards the East courtyard. He was halfway there, a bit further and he'd be able to pick up Bella's scent.
"Felix."
A string of curses almost flew out his mouth as he slowly turned to face the vampire who had caught him. Staring into the dark eyes, the malicious smirk, the cruel face framed with blond hair, Felix knew he couldn't lie his way out of this one.
