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21. AUDIENCE
(VERDICT)
After what felt like miles of stone passageways and dark medieval sewers, this was the last thing I'd been expecting to find.
The hallway was bright, well lit by rectangular fluorescent lighting set into the tiled ceiling above. The walls were off-white and the carpet a standard, unassuming gray. It could have been any corridor in any office building anywhere in the world if not for the small, dark-cloaked figure waiting beside an elevator at the far end of the hallway.
And something told me we shouldn't keep Jane waiting.
As we made our way along the corridor, I heard the heavy wooden door creak shut behind us, followed by the sound of the bolt sliding home. I kept my eyes fixed on the carpet at my feet until we'd boarded the elevator. Felix and Demetri stepped in after us, followed silently by Jane.
I struggled to keep my hands from shaking as the doors slid shut. It was an illogical reaction, I knew. I was in no more danger now than I had been at any moment since Felix and Demetri had first emerged from the secret passageway, but something about the enclosed space made everything feel so much worse. Maybe I failed to keep my hands still, or maybe it was the sound of my racing heart, but something alerted Bella. She gave my fingers a gentle squeeze. I squeezed her hand in return.
Oblivious to our fears—or perhaps finding some perverse satisfaction in them—Felix and Demetri seemed to relax as the elevator began to move, pulling back their hoods so that I could finally see their faces. Their complexions were darker than I'd been expecting, more olive than Jane's pale white, but their skin still had that chalky pallor that I'd come to recognize. Combined with their dark hair, it gave them a Mediterranean appearance, though I couldn't begin to guess where in the Mediterranean they might be from. Demetri's hair was long, waving down to his shoulders in a style that hadn't been common for centuries, if not longer, while Felix's was cropped short. It seemed more modern, but I couldn't be certain. What I could be certain of was the color of their eyes. I could see now that their irises were crimson only around the outer edges. Toward the center, they had darkened to black. I held back another shudder. I knew what dark eyes meant—they hadn't fed recently—but how thirsty were they? I swallowed nervously, glancing sideways toward Bella, but Bella wasn't looking at me. Her eyes were fixed on the back of Jane's head.
I risked a cautious glance in Jane's direction. From where I was standing, I could see only the side of her face, but her expression seemed apathetic as she stared straight ahead at the elevator doors. Still, something about her gaze was too focused, like she was trying to appear more bored than she really was. She seemed to be ignoring something—or someone. I remembered her expression when she'd first set eyes on Bella in the city above, that brief flash of . . . annoyance? . . . before she'd looked away. Was she intentionally ignoring Bella? Why?
The elevator came to a stop, and the doors slid open to reveal a rather stylishly decorated reception area. Dark wood paneling covered the walls, and the luxurious carpet was a deep green. Large, brightly lit paintings of the Tuscan landscape provided scenery to a room with no windows, and pale leather couches sat grouped around tables adorned with vases of brightly colored flowers. At the center of the room, a woman stood behind a polished mahogany counter.
A woman. A human woman.
I tried not to stare as we stepped out of the elevator, not because she was so beautiful—by human standards, at least—but because she and I were the only humans here.
"Good afternoon, Jane," the woman said as we approached the counter. Her smile was polite and welcoming, and her green eyes showed no sign of fear.
"Gianna," Jane replied with a nod.
I forced myself to look away. Whoever this woman was, she couldn't know the truth. How could she? But the crimson eyes of our three escorts and the faint glistening of the white light reflecting off Bella's bare shoulders were impossible to miss.
Felix winked as we passed the desk, and Gianna giggled in response. Yes, she must know, and she must know a great deal if she didn't question these blatant oddities. I didn't understand. The secret had to be kept, but Gianna was proof that at least some humans here knew about vampires . . . but that made sense, in a way, didn't it? If the Volturi ruled this city, there had to be some humans involved, someone to act as a go-between to bridge the gap between the vampire world and the human one. Maybe that should have comforted me—the possibility that my knowledge of this secret world might not be a death sentence after all—but then I glanced back toward Gianna one last time.
She was young, her dark skin glowing with health and vigor. She wasn't old enough to have held this position for very long . . . so what had happened to her predecessors?
Jane led us through a set of wooden doors at the back of the room. On the other side waited a boy in a pale gray suit. He seemed to be about the same age as Jane. His eyes were equally crimson, though his hair was a few shades darker. He greeted her, reaching out toward her as we approached.
"Jane."
"Alec," she responded, reaching out to return his embrace. They kissed each other's cheeks before he turned to look at us.
"They send you out for one and you come back with two . . . and a half." His eyes gave me only a fleeting appraisal. "Nice work."
Jane laughed. Alec's eyes drifted back toward Bella.
"Welcome back, Bella," he greeted her. "You seem in a better mood."
"Indeed," Bella replied, her eyes shifting away from Jane to focus on Alec.
I watched as his gaze drifted down from Bella's face toward our joined hands. He raised his eyebrows ever so slightly. "Is this the cause of all the trouble?" he asked.
Bella didn't respond, but behind me, I heard a deep chuckle. Felix. Bella turned to glare at him, but Alice touched her arm and shook her head. Now wasn't the time to start something. After one quick glance in Jane's direction, Bella turned her attention back to Alec.
"Aro will be so pleased to see you again," Alec said.
"Let's not keep him waiting," Jane suggested. Bella nodded silently.
Alec reached out to take Jane's hand, and they led us down another elaborately decorated hallway. I stared at their joined hands as we followed, trying to understand the nature of their relationship. They were both young, frozen in time at an age when they wouldn't have been interested in romantic relationships, but there was an affection there, some sort of a connection between the two of them. Were they siblings, then? Or maybe . . . twins?
I braced myself as we made our way down the ornate hallway toward a set of doors covered in gold—surely this was our destination—but we never reached them. Instead, we stopped at a wooden panel halfway down the hall. Alec reached up, sliding the panel aside to expose an unassuming wooden door. There was no lock this time. He held the door open for Jane, then Bella pulled me through behind them.
I'd almost been expecting another passageway beyond the hidden door—there had been so many of them already—but this was no narrow corridor. On the other side of the door was an antechamber, the walls constructed from the same ancient stone as the rest of the city. It opened out into a large, circular room with a ceiling that stretched up for several stories, at least. Thin rectangles of sunlight slid down through narrow window slits high above. It was the only lighting in the room.
Was this the turret of a medieval castle? It certainly looked like it.
There was no furniture to be seen except for three massive wooden chairs spaced unevenly along the curving stone wall, but the room was not empty. A handful of people stood about, caught in their own quiet conversations. Their clothes were modern and casual, nothing that would seem unusual on the streets of the city outside. I tried to listen, to make out bits and pieces of what they were saying, but I was too terrified to be able to focus on their words. I watched as two women in pale summer dresses paused in a patch of sunlight. Their skin glittered, throwing back rainbows against the stone walls.
Conversation stopped abruptly as we stepped out of the antechamber and into the main room. Everyone turned toward us, but only one took a small step forward.
"Jane, dear one, you've returned!" he cried in delight. His voice was soft, little more than a whisper. His hair was long and dark, nearly the same shade as the black robe he wore. Something about his face seemed familiar, and after several more seconds, I vaguely remembered his image peering out from a painting in Carlisle's office.
He continued forward, his movements unnaturally graceful, but he was not alone. The entire group seemed to move with him, some following behind, some positioning themselves carefully in front, like bodyguards. His face bore the unmistakable marks of immortality, but even among others of his kind, he seemed to stand out. His skin appeared fragile and delicate when compared to those around him, and there was a translucent quality to it that reminded me of onionskin. His eyes were crimson, but they looked milky and clouded. Alice had said the Volturi had ruled for thousands of years. Was this what happened when immortals grew old?
He reached out to take Jane's face in his hands and kissed her. Then he took a step back.
"Yes, Master." Jane smiled, clearly pleased by his praise. "I brought them back alive, just as you wished."
"Oh, Jane," he answered, returning her smile. "You are such a comfort to me." He turned his eyes toward us, his smile brightening.
"Bella has returned to us!" he proclaimed, clapping his hands together. The fact that Bella hadn't had much choice in the matter seemed irrelevant. His gaze fell to our joined hands, and his cloudy eyes widened slightly.
"And could this be Edward, alive and well? This is a happy surprise! Wonderful!" His eyes lingered briefly on our joined hands, and then he turned toward Alice.
"And might I inquire as to the identity of your friend, Bella?" he asked.
"This is Alice," Bella answered carefully.
"Alice!" he clapped his hands again. "How wonderful!" Something about the light in his eyes was . . . almost manic . . . twisted . . . scheming. . . I couldn't make myself look away.
"Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this."
"Yes, Master," Felix answered, disappearing through the hidden door.
"You see, Bella? Aren't you glad that I didn't give you what you wanted?"
"Yes, Aro, I am," she responded, rubbing her thumb along the back of my hand. "I thank you for your discretion."
So this was Aro. I remembered the name. My brain was scrambling, and it was taking all of my focus to keep my hands from shaking, but I could still remember what Alice had told me on the plane. Aro was the one who could read every thought you'd ever had with just one touch.
"I love a happy ending," he said with a sigh. "They are so rare. But I want the whole story. How did this happen?" He turned toward Alice. "Alice, Bella seems to think you infallible, but apparently there was some mistake."
"Oh, I'm far from infallible," she answered with a smile. She seemed perfectly at ease, but I could see that her hands were balled into tight little fists at her sides. "As you can see today, I cause problems as often as I cure them."
"I'm sure that isn't true," Aro chided lightly. "Bella explained very little about your talent, but I'm sure you're giving yourself far too little credit."
Alice flickered a glance toward Bella. Aro's eyes didn't miss it.
"I'm sorry, I know we've only just met, but Bella did have to tell me a bit about you in order to explain her . . . situation." His eyes darted toward our joined hands once again before moving back to Alice's face. His voice took on a musing tone. "Although I must admit that she left me with far more questions than answers." He paused before continuing. "I don't mean to be overly familiar. It's just that Carlisle is such an old friend. Knowing that you are a member of his family, I feel as though I know you a little bit already."
Alice nodded her head faintly but offered no other response.
"Bella assures me that he is doing well, that he is no longer . . . alone," he continued, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. "I am gratified by his success in this unorthodox path he has chosen. I find myself surprised by how it . . . pleases me. I had expected that he would waste, weaken with time. I'd scoffed at his plan to find others who would share his peculiar vision. Yet, somehow, I'm happy to be wrong."
If he'd been expecting some response from Alice, he didn't let on. Instead, he lifted his chin slightly, his gaze moving past our shoulders. All other eyes in the room did the same, though I was the last to turn. Felix had returned, and with him came two more dark-robed men. Their complexions had the same delicate, translucent appearance, and their crimson eyes were equally clouded. One had the same flowing black hair as Aro, but the other's hair was as white as snow.
I remembered again the painting in Carlisle's office—the three figures looking down from above at balconies overflowing with people—and another memory slid into place. I'd seen those same balconies recently. Bella had been prepared to step out onto one of them less than an hour ago.
"Marcus, Caius, look!" Aro called. "Edward is alive after all, and Alice is here, too! Isn't it wonderful!"
But Marcus and Caius didn't seem very excited by the news. The light-haired man actually looked annoyed, barely pausing to acknowledge Aro before moving toward one of the wooden chairs along the wall. The dark-haired man seemed utterly unfazed by Aro's excitement—his empty expression never changed—but he paused as he passed by, reaching out to touch Aro's hand briefly.
Aro straightened slightly, his enthusiastic gaze meeting his friend's spiritless eyes for just a moment.
"Thank you, Marcus," Aro said. "That's . . . quite interesting." But Marcus didn't look very interested as he glided away from Aro to take his own seat along the wall near Caius. The two women in sundresses moved with him, two of the attending vampires following behind. It was obvious now that these were, indeed, bodyguards . . . but why would a vampire need bodyguards? Who could possibly hurt them? Was it some strange symbol of their status?
Aro was still shaking his head when I returned my attention to him, his eyes once again fixed on Bella's and my joined hands. There was a look of surprise on his face. "Amazing," he said. "Absolutely amazing."
I thought back to what I'd just seen, to the way Marcus had reached out to touch Aro's hand. He'd been sharing his thoughts, but what thought had Marcus had that he hadn't wished to share with everyone else? Marcus, I remembered, could see the strength of relationships. Was that what he'd wanted to show Aro?
Aro's eyes were fixed on my face now. There was something . . . speculative in his gaze. I felt like a bug under a magnifying glass.
"My manners are lacking," he began. "I should explain. By now you must know that some of our kind have certain . . . talents, like Alice." His eyes moved toward her, lingering for little more than a second before coming back to my face. "I, myself, have the ability to read thoughts—not merely the passing thoughts of a moment, but every thought one has ever had. My brother, Marcus, is gifted as well. He has the ability to sense relationships."
I knew all of this already, of course, but this was Aro's show. Interrupting him would have been rude . . . and incredibly stupid. He seemed . . . unhinged enough, as it was.
"Marcus is surprised by the intensity of your relationship," Aro continued with a smile. "It takes quite a bit to surprise him, I can assure you."
I was certain Marcus's face still held the same expression of boredom on the other side of the room, but I couldn't pull my eyes away from Aro long enough to check.
"I wonder . . ." he began, a strange light coming into his eyes. He gathered his thoughts for a moment, glancing briefly down to Bella's and my joined hands one last time before looking back up. "The intensity of your relationship is so extraordinary . . . and so unusual, given the circumstances. I find it difficult to understand. Would you be so kind as to allow me a greater understanding?" He glided forward and reached out his right hand toward me. Beside me, Bella stiffened.
I didn't have to wonder what Aro wanted. He wanted to touch me, to read my thoughts—not just the ones I was having now, but every thought I'd ever had. He was trying to be polite, of course, but the courtesy was just for show. We all knew I didn't have the option of refusing. Taking a deep breath, I squeezed Bella's hand to let her know I would be okay and reached out my left hand toward him.
Miraculously, I managed to hold myself steady as his hands clasped mine. His touch was nothing like the marble skin I was used to, and it was colder than I'd been expecting it to be. I could feel the texture of his skin. It felt hard, yet brittle, as if it might be chipped away in flakes if one could find a tool strong enough to do it. But that wasn't all I'd been expecting. Having someone root through every thought, every memory I'd ever had was . . . strangely uneventful. I'd been prepared for old memories to rise to the surface, to see visions of things I'd long forgotten, but there was nothing. My life didn't flash before my eyes. I simply stood there, waiting with bated breath, as Aro bent over my hand, as the blood turned to ice water in my veins. After a moment, he released me and stepped away.
"So very interesting," he said. He glanced sideways at Bella for a moment before returning his attention to me. "Thank you, Edward. That was most enlightening. You are a very . . . perceptive young man."
I wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean. He took another step back.
"Bella, Edward seems to be under the impression that his blood has an . . . unusually strong appeal for you. Is this true?"
I saw something flicker across her face before she answered.
"It is," she answered carefully.
"And yet you refrain."
"I do."
"Might I ask why?"
The look Bella sent him should have turned him to ash on the spot. Several members of his entourage stepped forward, but he lifted one hand to still them.
"I mean no offense," he answered quickly, moving his raised hand so that it was now a gesture of apology. "I am merely surprised. If Edward is correct, it must be quite difficult for you to stand so closely beside him."
"It isn't easy."
"No," Aro answered, "I'd imagine not." He sighed. "But . . . why?"
"I thought Marcus had already explained that."
"Yes, I suppose so." Aro turned to look at his companion, and I allowed myself a brief glance in the same direction. I'd been right. Marcus was seated in one of the chairs—thrones, I now realized. His expression was blank with boredom . . . or . . . pain? "Such a waste . . ." Aro sighed, turning back toward us.
"A sacrifice, perhaps," Bella responded, lifting her chin, "but one I gladly make. I gain far more than I lose."
"Indeed," Aro answered. There was something else in his eyes, I realized. Somehow, something was going on inside his mind that wasn't coming out in his words. "Carlisle must be so proud of you."
"I hope he is," Bella answered, "but that isn't why I do it."
Aro's eyes flitted back toward our joined hands again. He rubbed his hands together thoughtfully, then turned back to me.
"Edward, I know now that you are aware Bella is a bit talented herself." He'd read my thoughts. He already knew this. His explanation was for the benefit of everyone else in the room. "Her mind, it seems, is shielded from many of our talents here, including my own, though she does not know why . . . or how." His smile was almost . . . guilty now. "We have a bit of experience here with talents among those who have not yet learned to control them. I must admit to a bit of . . . subterfuge. Bella's talent seems to block my abilities." He looked down at his hands sadly, as if disappointed. "I had wondered if perhaps, while she was touching you, she might prevent me from being able to read your thoughts as well, but it was not so."
So that was why his eyes had been straying toward our joined hands, why he'd been so eager to read my mind.
"But still . . ." he trailed off, as if entertaining some new, fleeting thought. I was fairly certain that whatever it was, there was nothing fleeting about it. "Knowing now the intensity of your attachment, I cannot help but wonder if we may be going about this in entirely the wrong manner."
Wrong manner? What did that mean? I glanced toward Alice. Her hands were still clenched into fists, but her jaw was set, her gaze focused straight ahead. She didn't turn in my direction.
Why wouldn't she look at me?
"Jane, dear?"
"No!" Bella snarled, letting go of me for the first time since we'd descended into the sewers. But Alice had already clamped her hands around Bella's arms, holding her back.
Jane smiled up at Aro happily. "Yes, Master?"
Bella was snarling now, trying to break loose of Alice's grasp. The room had gone still as all eyes fell on her. A slow smile spread across Felix's face, and he took a step forward, but one glance from Aro stilled him. His smile slid into a sulk.
"I was wondering, my dear one, what might happen if you used your gift on Edward."
Her gift. Was that what made everyone treat Jane with such deference? Why? What could she do?
Beside me, Bella's snarls grew louder, and she struggled to move forward, but Alice held her back. Alice's arms were wrapped around Bella's torso now, and Bella's arms were pinned against her sides. Alice was trying to whisper something into Bella's ear, but she didn't seem to be listening.
My heart rose into my throat. It felt like I couldn't breathe around it. My feet wanted to run, but where was there to go?
Caius rose from his chair, moving forward for a better view of the proceedings. His entourage followed.
Jane turned toward us, an angelic smile on her face. I clenched my hands into fists, not sure what was about to happen—
And then the world exploded. Or, rather, I exploded. One second there was nothing, and in the next there was only pain. No, not pain. Pain didn't even begin to describe this. There were no words to describe what I was feeling. This was every cell in my body bursting into flame at once—I knew it was every one because I could feel each one individually. This was every inch of flesh being stripped from my body. All of my fingernails were being ripped from my fingertips simultaneously. Someone was driving a thousand knives into each of my eyes while every bone in my body broke over and over again in a hundred different places. And that was only what I could describe. It was really much, much worse.
Shouldn't I be unconscious by now? The human body wasn't built to withstand this level of agony. I wanted to scream, but how could I scream when I couldn't even breathe? Wouldn't someone just kill me and put me out of this misery?
And then it was over. Just as suddenly as it had started, it was gone, and there was nothing. No more pain, not even a fleeting echo of it. I was lying on a cold stone floor, curled into a fetal position. How long had it lasted? Three seconds? Four? I couldn't be certain, but I could hear something above me—a low, rumbling growl. I forced my eyes open, looking up to find Bella standing at my feet. Her eyes were filled with rage, but Alice was still behind her, her arms still wrapped around Bella's body. I pushed myself slowly into a sitting position, my eyes following Bella's gaze to where Jane stood several feet away. Jane's eyes were still fixed on me, but the angelic smile that had graced her features only seconds before was gone. Instead, there was a look of surprise and panicked confusion.
Why was she confused? Was she . . . still trying to hurt me? Why wasn't it working?
I watched as Jane pulled her eyes away from me, as they settled on Bella, and for what I was sure was the first time in a long time, a new emotion crossed Jane's face. Fear.
"Ha, ha, ha," Aro chuckled. "This is wonderful!" He stepped toward Jane, reaching out to lay a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Don't be put out, dear one," he said. "She confounds us all."
But Jane didn't look very comforted. She didn't look afraid anymore, either. She looked absolutely furious.
Aro turned toward us.
"Bella, I do hope you aren't too angry with me." Looking up at Bella from my place on the floor, I could see that her eyes still burned with rage. Her growls had quieted, but Alice still hadn't let her go. Alice's gaze fell to the stone floor at my feet before slowly drifting up to meet my eyes. Her expression was sorrowful, apologetic. She'd known what had been about to happen, but there was nothing she could have done to stop it. It wasn't her fault. I gave her a little nod, just to let her know it was okay. She seemed relieved.
Bella, on the other hand, was still angry. Aro's bodyguards hovered around him, their eyes fixed on her face. Felix seemed absolutely delighted.
"Edward?" Aro asked. "I trust that you've suffered no permanent damage?"
Having only just ascertained that my underwear was still clean and dry, I wasn't able to respond, but I did manage to shake my head. Pleased, Aro smiled.
"You are quite brave, Edward, to endure in silence. Most impressive for a mere mortal. I asked Jane to do that to me once—just out of curiosity." He shook his head in admiration. I didn't feel very admired.
"You see, Bella?" he continued, turning his attention back to her. "Edward is quite alright. I do hope you will forgive my curiosity. It was only a little test. I wanted to know if, under certain circumstances, you might be able to use your talent instinctively, rather than intentionally. And look what we've discovered!" A bright smile broke out across his face.
But Bella didn't seem to be in a forgiving mood. She'd calmed enough now that Alice had finally released her, though.
"You could have used Alec," Bella growled through her teeth. Behind Aro, several members of his entourage glared in disapproval at Bella's blatant disrespect. Aro merely shook his head.
"But Alec's gift is so different from Jane's. You might not have reacted the same way. And look at what we've discovered. Isn't it wonderful!" His smile brightened again.
Seeing that I was moving to get up, Bella reached down to pull me to my feet. This time, she didn't bother taking my hand. She reached around my back, tucking herself under my arm again. Another moment passed in silence as Aro's smile slowly dimmed. He sighed.
"So what do we do with you now?" he asked.
Beneath my arm, I felt Bella stiffen. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alice do the same. This was what we'd been waiting for—the final verdict—but something about it still felt . . . unsettled.
"I don't suppose there's any chance that you've changed your mind?" Aro asked Bella hopefully. "We would be happy to help you learn to use your talent. It would be an excellent addition to our little company."
I didn't miss the subtlety of his phrasing. Bella's gift would be an excellent addition, not Bella herself.
Bella took a deep breath. I was afraid, for a moment, that she was still angry enough to give a rash response, but she weighed her words carefully before speaking.
"Thank you," she finally said, "but no."
"Alice?" Aro asked, turning toward her. "Would you perhaps be interested in joining with us?"
"No, thank you," Alice answered politely.
Aro's face showed no reaction, but I could see the growing disappointment in his eyes.
"And you, Edward?" he asked.
Me?
I stared at him in surprise. Was he asking me to join them? To become what they were? I searched his crimson eyes, wondering if this was some kind of a joke—or a trap—but all I could see was . . . hope? Did Aro want me to join them? Why?
I was still trying to understand when Caius's voice broke the silence.
"What?" he demanded in a soft but raspy whisper. He seemed annoyed.
"Caius, surely you see the potential," Aro chided affectionately. "He's a very unusual young man to have gained the loyalty of two of our kind. And there is something about him . . . "
I puzzled over his words. There was something in them, some subtle message to Caius hidden within, but Caius either missed it entirely or didn't agree because he turned away sourly.
Aro's eyes were fixed on my face. His expression was carefully guarded, but his eyes . . .
Bella slid in closer against my side, and suddenly I understood. It wasn't me that Aro wanted, not at all. I was just a means to an end. What he really wanted was Bella, but he'd seen what Marcus had sensed about our connection, and he knew he wouldn't win Bella if he killed me. He was hoping that if I agreed to join them, Bella would follow.
"Thank you for the offer, but . . . I'd . . . rather . . . not," I answered carefully.
"That's unfortunate," Aro sighed. "Such a waste."
Bella hissed beside me. "So that's it? Join or die?"
"Of course not." Aro blinked, as if in surprise. His reaction felt false, like it was no more than an act. "We were already convened here, awaiting Heidi's return."
"Aro," Caius hissed. "The law claims them."
"How?" Bella demanded.
Caius raised one finger to point at me. "He knows too much. You have exposed our secrets."
"There are humans here," Bella pointed out.
"Yes," Caius responded, his lips twisting into a hideous sort of a smile, "but when they are no longer useful to us, they will serve to sustain us. That is not your plan for this one. If he betrays our secrets, are you prepared to destroy him? I think not."
I opened my mouth to speak, to assure them that I would never reveal what I knew, but Caius hadn't finished yet.
"Nor have you made him one of us," he continued. "Therefore, he is a vulnerability. Though it is true, for this, only his life is forfeit. You may leave if you wish."
Beside me, Bella growled low in her throat.
"That's what I thought," Caius said. He seemed almost . . . pleased. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Felix lean forward . . .
"Unless . . .," Aro interrupted. I could see it in his eyes. He was unhappy with the current turn of events. "Unless you do intend to give him immortality?"
But Bella remained silent at my side. Several tense seconds passed.
"And if she does?" I finally asked. Aro seemed relieved. He smiled.
"Why, then you would be free to go home and give my regards to my friend Carlisle." His expression grew more hesitant. "But we would need proof of her intentions, which I sadly cannot be certain of." He glanced down at his hands. "Perhaps it would be best to take care of the matter now?"
To change me now. That was what he meant. Suddenly, the decision I'd avoided for so long, the decision I'd thought didn't exist anymore, had been taken away from me again.
Aro was watching us, his cloudy eyes bright and hopeful. He thought that if they changed me now, he could find a way to keep me here, at least for a little while. And he knew that if I was here, Bella would stay, too . . .
But Bella would never allow it. I knew that even before I felt her begin to slip away from my side. She would fight to the death to keep me human.
Caius watched carefully, clearly enjoying what was happening before him.
And then Alice stepped forward, reaching out to Aro with one hand. He waived off his anxious guard as she came closer, stepping forward to meet her halfway. She said nothing as he took her hand, but there was a fresh glint of excitement in his smile. Closing his eyes, he bent over their joined hands. No one moved, and for a moment, I wondered desperately if this had been a part of Alice's plan all along or if it was just some hopeless, last ditch effort to save us . . . but then a hazy memory rose to the surface.
"Honestly, I think it's all gotten beyond ridiculous. I'm debating whether to just change you myself . . . if that's what you want." Her words from the plane came back to me. They'd seemed a bit strange at the time, a bit unexpected, given our situation, but suddenly it all made sense.
"Edward, trust me. I've seen so many futures that could happen and so many that never will. I watch people's decisions constantly . . . "
All this time, I'd been hoping Alice had a plan, some idea of how to get us out of this alive, and she did. Even before she could be certain we'd end up in this room, she'd been preparing for the possibility.
But no, it wasn't quite that simple. It wasn't guaranteed, not just yet. "If that's what you want," she'd said. And I didn't know what I wanted. I still didn't know what I wanted . . . did I?
"Ha, ha, ha," Aro laughed. He looked up slowly, his eyes dancing. "That was fascinating!"
Alice smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm glad you enjoyed it," she said, but the flatness of her tone was lost on Aro.
"To see the things you've seen," he continued, "especially the ones that haven't happened yet!" He shook his head.
"But that will," she reminded him carefully.
"Yes, yes, it's quite determined. Certainly there's no problem."
Caius seemed disappointed. So did Felix . . . and Jane.
"Aro," Caius began.
"Dear Caius," Aro said with a smile. "Do not fret. Think of the possibilities! They do not join us today, but we can always hope for the future. Imagine the joy young Alice alone would bring to our little household! And Bella! And Edward, too!"
Aro seemed convinced by what he'd seen . . . but what had he seen? Alice's visions were subjective—they could change at any moment. But if he'd seen every thought Alice had ever had, surely Aro could see that, too. Still, he was undeterred. Was the future Alice had seen for me so long ago still certain? Hours ago, Alice had left the decision up to me, but . . . was I more decided than I realized? Was my decision already fated, even though I hadn't made it yet?
Or was the future not quite so fixed as Aro had made it out to be?
Alice sent a nervous glance in Bella's direction. Her eyes darted back toward the antechamber before sliding to Bella's face again.
"Are we free to go?" Bella asked.
"Yes, yes," Aro answered. "But please visit again. It's been absolutely enthralling!"
"And we will visit you, as well," Caius added, "to be sure that you follow through on your side. Were I you, I would not delay too long. We do not offer second chances."
Bella nodded, her eyes carefully fixed on Caius. With one final glance, Caius turned to make his way back to his place beside Marcus—Marcus, who'd watched the entire scene unfold without a word. I wasn't sure he'd moved so much as a finger.
Felix groaned.
"Ah, Felix," Aro said with an amused smile. "Heidi will be here at any moment. Patience."
"In that case," Bella spoke, "perhaps we should be on our way."
"Yes," Aro agreed. "That is a good idea. Accidents do happen. Please wait below until after dark, though, if you don't mind."
"Of course," Bella agreed.
"And here," Aro added, gesturing to Demetri, who stepped forward. Aro unfastened the gray cloak Demetri wore, pulling it from his shoulders and tossing it to Bella. "Take this, just in case. You are rather exposed and in some lighting . . ."
I didn't think lighting had anything to do with it. Bella was no more exposed than the women in sundresses. Aro just wanted to see her in a cloak. She slipped it on, though it was too long for her short frame. She left the hood down.
Aro sighed. "It suits you."
"Thank you," she said, taking a careful step backward toward the exit. "We'll wait below, as you've asked."
"Goodbye, young friends," Aro said. He gestured toward Demetri, who motioned us to follow as he moved toward the antechamber. At least they weren't making us leave through the drain I'd just spotted in the floor. I was only barely standing upright. I didn't think I could handle another trip through the sewers.
Bella reached back to grab my hand, pulling me toward the little door with a new sense of urgency. Alice took up a position on my other side. I glanced toward her, not understanding why we were moving so quickly if we would have to wait hours to leave, but Alice's face was unreadable.
"Not fast enough," she muttered.
Fast enough for what? Weren't we safe? They had agreed to let us leave . . .
And that was when I heard it.
"Well, this is unusual," a male voice commented. His accent was distinctly American.
"So medieval," answered a high, female voice.
People were coming in through the little door, spilling out into the stone antechamber. At Demetri's signal, we pressed our backs against the stone wall to let them pass.
I stared at them numbly, trying to understand. An American couple came first, followed by three twenty-somethings who whispered to each other rapidly in French. A middle-aged couple came next. They weren't speaking, so I couldn't be sure of their nationality. There must have been forty of them, possibly more. They were tourists, obviously. They filled the stone antechamber, gasping in surprise as they took in the ancient architecture. Some reached for cameras. Others just seemed confused.
My own confusion lasted only seconds, and then I understood. And I couldn't stop understanding.
They were all about to die.
I tried not to look at them as I fought against the rising nausea. I didn't want to see their faces.
"Welcome, guests!" I heard Aro call out enthusiastically. "Welcome to Volterra!"
The moment a break appeared in the crowd, Bella dragged me through the wooden door. I stumbled behind her, trying to move as fast as I could and cursing my aching ankle for not letting me move faster.
The ornate hallway outside was almost empty. Only one figure remained, a tall, beautiful woman with long mahogany hair and curiously purple eyes. It was a color I'd never seen, and as I took in the pale perfection of her skin, it occurred to me that blue contacts over red irises might make exactly that shade of purple. The woman was stunning—inhumanly so—and I could see that everything about her appearance, from the tight-fitting red vinyl top to the miniskirt that exposed long legs clad in dark tights, was carefully constructed to emphasize her beauty.
Male or female, an unsuspecting tourist would have followed her anywhere.
"Welcome home, Heidi," Demetri said.
"Demetri," she responded in greeting. I saw her eyes flicker toward me curiously before sliding sideways to study the gray cloak Bella wore.
"Nice fishing," he complimented her.
"Thanks." She flashed him a stunning smile. "Aren't you coming?"
"In a minute. Save a few for me."
Heidi sent one last curious glance in my direction before stepping through the door.
We hurried back down the corridor, but my limping steps only slowed us down. We hadn't yet made it back through the doorway into the reception area before the screaming started behind us.