A/N: A quick thank you to everyone who added this story in their alerts and/or added it to their favorite list. It truly means a lot to me.

Chapter 34-

Eleazar's POV-

"Yes, she is here. I can sense her." I nervously fibbed, looking all around me, too wary about being caught out on my lie anytime now. I couldn't lie to save my ass, and voila, Aro could read minds at that. He was distracted enough at the moment to not start with his mojo-jojo, yet I could only hope that Marcus would save my life were push come to shove. "She is angry."

"Is she?" Aro- the scared cat- begged me to confirm, his voice no louder than a weak whisper. For being the leader of our kind, he had no considerable courage to boast of!

It was part humorous and mighty lot embarrassing.

When Marcus had first approached me with their grand plan almost about to reach fruition, I was skeptical at best and afraid at worst. I was not a rebel, and did not wish to be one. How did it matter to me what happened within the four walls of this castle?

It made no difference to my life what Aro had done to Marcus, or vice-versa, and I wished for it to remain so. I had been about to say 'hell no', but then I had stopped, taking a minute to think. Aro was a megalomaniac, and this had been a long time coming. Though, I was surprised that Marcus had joined the rebellion. He had once been Aro's closest confidante, and honestly most loyal servant. But I guess with time- and what Aro had previously done to Marcus, he deserved the fire coming his way.

Now, the question remained, what was my place in this plan? And did I even want to get involved?

I wasn't about to benefit any from this, and yet my mind told me to go ahead with it. It was not always about personal gain, at times the focus being on the benefit of everyone at large. And if Aro's end was to come, our entire kind would benefit from it. That thought making my decision for me.

And so, here I was!

"What does she want? Tell her to go away."

Was it a crime if you laughed at your leader's face?

Either way, I wasn't about to take that chance.

"Master…I…she…"

"Go on." He ordered; his shoulders crouched as he pretended to be brave- pretended being the keyword here.

"Master, kindly forgive me for saying this…but…she will not leave you alone unless you agree to what she wants."

"What does she want?" he scowled. "And how did that Bella even die? Was it from starvation? I had assured that they get enough food in there? Humans can survive without food and water for a few weeks, right?"

I ignored his ramblings, not willing to go deep into that complicated mess. I shouldn't have been aware about his list of crimes, and it was better if it remained so.

"She wants you to quit."

"Quit what?"

If Aro loved anything most in the world, it was power. He was power hungry, nothing but the thought of being more powerful crossing his mind at any time of the day. Yes, surely, it would be easier to just kill him, yet what was the fun in that?

He had brutally tortured several, taken away what they loved most from them, laughing all the while about it.

He did not deserve anything less than to be treated the same way.

He deserved the misery, the guilt, the hopelessness, the desire for it to all just come to an end.

He would beg to die. He would beg to be freed.

And while we- rather they- were almost there, a few more steps were still pending.

Destroying Aro's ego was far more important than dismembering him or simply throwing him off in a raging fire, the arrow hitting the bulls-eye.

It would hurt him more.

Much, much more.

"Your position, Master. She wants you to leave the Volturi and retire as a nomad for however long your eternity be."

"Impossible." Sudden anger crossed his way, making me take a step back in fear.

"Apology, Master." I pleaded. "I tried convincing her to let you go. You are aware that I can sense why they are haunting someone."

"I will not leave my responsibilities behind."

As if he was even slightly bothered about his responsibilities and duties!

"I understand, Master." I offered my agreement; Marcus already having told me how to deal in such a situation. Aro wasn't about to readily agree, a plan B already planned and ready to implement. "I will take your leave now."

"But." He shouted after my retreating form, causing me to turn back and look at him. "You haven't resolved my issue."

I mock-sighed, shaking my head in regret. "I don't think I will be of any use to you, Master. She is rather stubborn in her wants. I wish I could have helped. Alas!"

"But you are my last hope!" he waved his hands in air, the desperation in his eyes unfamiliar, yet soothing.

He had ruined families.

He had witnessed the same desperation several times before in the eyes of his victims, never once imagining to be in their shoes one day.

And this was Karma, ladies and gentlemen.

Karma had finally come for Aro.

He was about to lose everything he had once owned and been proud of.

He had already lost Jane and Alec- his two most precious possessions. He had lost Caius- someone who blindly supported his mania. He had lost Demetri and Chelsea.

Who did he have now?

No one.

He was all alone.

No allies. No family. No loyal servants.

He may have still considered himself powerful; the truth being that there was no man weaker than him in our world today.

"I can't leave the throne." He winced, shutting his eyes tight. "Order her to change her wish."

Again, was it a crime if I laughed at his face?

"Master, it does not work that way." I clarified. "She, well, she is adamant. I understand that I shouldn't have been privy to what had occurred between the two of you…"

"As it should remain." He threatened, an eyebrow raised.

Seriously? Did he still believe that anyone was afraid of him?

What a joke!

"Of course, Master." I obliged. "Not even Carmen will know of this. You can trust me."

I was planning to call Carmen as soon as I was back in my room in the castle. She lived for such gossip! She would be overly busy these next few days, spreading the breaking news to every corner of our world!

"And that is exactly why I called for you." he stated. "You are one of my most loyal servants, Eleazar."

I smiled, nodding my head briefly, letting him believe that I was pleased by his bullshit. And the fact that he had just declared me his servant.

Not for long now, Aro.

"Tell me how should I get rid of her?" he demanded. "I can't live with this. She is everywhere. Just yesterday, she pulled my pants down while I was walking through the corridors. Everyone saw my privates!"

Well, who told you to go commando?

Though, I do feel pity for the residents of this castle who had to bear such a torturous experience. I would not wish that on anybody else.

"Master, I have tried." I attempted to be sympathetic. "She wants you to suffer."

"She rather well knows how to do so." he snorted. "But my decision remains the same. She can haunt me all she wants; I will not leave my throne."

Okay then.

I had tried my best.

Sorry, rebels.

"I understand, Master. Now if you will excuse me."

He waved a hand in air, dismissing me, my eyes on my phone as soon as I walked out of his chambers.

'He said no. What now?'

Marcus's message came sooner than I had expected, a single, lonely word reflecting on my screen.

'Wait.'

Well, what other choice did I even have?

I left for Denali the same day, back to my home and family, weeks passing by with no update on this. I had almost forgotten about any of this, believing this small chapter of my life having come to an end, when a sudden message greeted me first thing after a long hunt.

'I am ready. Just get her away from me!'

I smiled; our waiting period having finally come to an end.

'Demolish the castle, set everyone free, and declare democracy in our world.'