I didn't understand before that moment what terror really looked like on Edward's face. I had been mostly unconscious when he'd rescued me from the ballet studio last March, destroying James and saving my life. I imagined that this afternoon, when Carlisle announced the immediate arrival of the Volutri to their house, Edward's face mirrored the terror he'd had when he saw shards of mirror sticking out of my leg, blood oozing from my wounds: his strong jaw clenched in agony, a fear that he normally forcefully subliminated surfacing in the clarity of his eyes.
"What do you mean, they are coming here?" Emmett said, leaning against a wooden bookcase. We stood in Carlisle's study, all members present except for Rosalie.
"Here." Carlisle gestured to the modern home around them. "Alice saw a confrontation outside, soon."
All eyes shot to Alice, who was leaning into Jasper, fear clear across her face. Emmett ran his hand through his hair. "How soon?"
"They will arrive within the hour." Edward's voice sounded weak, distant. To the casual observer, his voice might have sounded calm. I recognized that he used this tone only when something unfathomably bad was about to happen, and felt my blood chill.
"What did you see, Alice? Are you alright?" I said, noting the increasingly worried look on her face. Jasper held her tighter.
"Alice is fine," Edward answered quickly. He spread his arms wide and gestured to all of us to exit the room. He waved his hands with an uncharacteristic panic."I need a moment with Carlilse."
"What did you see, Edward?" I asked again, refusing to leave.
"I need a moment with Carlilse." His voice had refound its strength, his tone cutting. While it technically was directed at me, I could tell that it was a plea to the room, to the universe.
Esme's hand was on my shoulder. She guided me towards the hall, and I caved to her cool touch that was somehow warm. "Give him his moment. He'll come around." Esme shot a knowing look at Carlisle as we exited, followed by Jasper, Alice, and Emmett.
I turned back to watch the door click shut, and felt my stomach turn in fear.
"Alice, what did you see?" I asked again as we reached the lower level and stood in the kitchen. Since so many of my recent anxieties had stemmed from her vision and its limitations —such as the apparent disappearance of my future— I now felt them crash through me in full force.
She sighed, still in Jasper's arms. "They are not pleased with… us. About you." She gestured to me. "There appears to be a large group coming, some I've never seen before. They are coming to the house." She swallowed. "They are expecting a fight."
"A fight? A fight about what?" Emmett gasped.
"Our power," Alice answered simply.
"How many did you see?" Emmett answered. I could tell he was strategizing, always so confident of his strength and the strength of the Cullens.
"I saw eighteen of them coming."
Jasper's brows knitted together. "Isn't that… even more than the full court?"
"Yes," Alice answered. "They are not… holding back."
"Can we stop them?" Emmett asked.
"No, but Edward's going to try anyway." She sighed. "Bella, it's probably best to go get your things. Edward will be down in a minute."
I swallowed, and ran up the stairs to Edward's room. The brightness of it, the faint sunlight behind the looming clouds reminded me of our perfect morning. I felt my stomach turn in fear, recognition that I had done the right thing. As crazy as it had seemed to me to seduce him last evening, I recognized now that if this really was the end, I wanted to spend my final moments with him, loving him.
I heard Edward's gentle knock on the doorframe as I finished my packing.
"We're leaving." His voice was cool, collected. It frightened me.
"I know." I answered. I grabbed my bag and moved toward him. He didn't move, but remained blocking the doorway.
"We'll come back." It sounded like a vow.
"I know." I looked up at him, letting his penetrating stare piece me.
"Bella."
"Yes?"
He paused, hesitating. My fear increased, wondering what he may be holding back. He breathed deeply, closing his eyes. I missed seeing their topaz depths instantly, wanting his gaze to assault my senses and keep me grounded as we entered into such an unknown.
"I love you."
"This isn't goodbye," I answered. "No."
"Bella, we can try." He inhaled. "I want to hear you say it." The desperation returned to his voice.
"I love you, more than anything. Enough to know we'll get through this."
He leaned down and kissed my forehead with the briefest of touches, before taking my hand and guiding me down the stairs.
"We are leaving, now." Edward said to his family. "I will call you from the car. I have to get Bella as far away from here as possible."
I thought of Charlie, and felt a strange wave of crippling sadness as I understood there wasn't time. We had less than we did before our escape to Phoenix, and no time to strategize.
The Cullens looked at us nervously, unsure of this plan as well.
Edward pulled me along to the garage, opening it to find his Aston Martin parked next to Rosalie's BMW. Rosalie was partially under her car, partially under his, holding up her car's red frame with one hand.
"Rose, we're leaving. You might want to get out of the way." Edward opened the door for me and took my bag, tossing it back into the impossibly small back seat.
"Why?" She barked as she put the car down.
Edward sighed, clearly frustrated at his requirement for explanation. "Because the Volturi are arriving in the next thirty minutes, and we need to leave."
I knew in that instant there were things in Alice's vision that had not been shared with me.
"The Volturi are coming here?" Rosalie echoed, reminding me so much of Emmett's response.
"Yes." Edward spat. "Now get out of the way."
"No."
Edward growled at her, the sound reverberating off of the walls. "I will run over you, Rosalie."
"How dare you leave our family unprotected for this human."
Edward started towards the driver's side of the Vanquish. He pointed at the passenger side. "Get in," he commanded me.
"I won't let you leave." Rosalie said as I entered the car. I closed the door and wondered how serious Edward's comment had been.
Based on the intensity of his glare and the snarl from his teeth as he sat beside me, quite serious.
Edward put the key in the engine and pressed the red button to start the car, the sound all consuming as it rioted off the thin garage walls. I could sense Edward's foot press on the gas, but instead of forward movement, we were consumed by even more sound and spinning tires.
Edward paused, opened the driver's side door, and got out of the car.
"LET GO OF MY CAR!" He bellowed.
"No! You have done so many stupid things for this stupid human, and I will not let you abandon us if the Volutri are coming!"
"I will hurt you, Rosalie." His voice resumed back to his calm demeanor. "If you are asking me whether your life is worth more than even attempting to save Bella, the answer is that I will gladly kill you myself."
I flinched, unable to contain myself at the violence in his voice.
"Try me." Rosalie's voice was stubborn, resolved.
Edward moved away from her and quickly to the passenger door. He opened it with such force that the entire door came off. He tossed it aside, disturbingly casual. I felt my stomach turn with fear once again that he wasn't concerned about destroying his car, worried about what he saw in Alice's vision.
"Rosalie is going to block me with every attempt at driving," he said resolutely, his voice shaky but calm as he addressed me. "I would kill her but we don't have the time. We need to run."
I swallowed and reached in the back for my bag.
"Leave the bag," he commanded. I moved my hand back and got out of the car.
"Run?" Rosalie laughed. "You think you are going to outrun the Volturi? Edward, you have lost your goddamn mind."
He ignored her as I climbed on his back. I closed my eyes, knowing what was coming: Edward wouldn't be holding back on his speed or strength as we moved as quickly away from the house as we could.
He kept bolting, and I kept my eyes shut.
I only felt the gentle jostle of his movements as he darted through the forest. My eyes were glued shut, terrified by the speed at which he ran. I could imagine the flash of evergreens going past us, their spicy scent sometimes stirring me. I clung to Edward, his stone stature, hoping that he could sense the trust and love and affection I held for him.
Edward didn't speak. He didn't do anything except run —run as far and as fast as he could away from his home and his family.
We were interrupted by our nightmare: the dark cloaks of the Volturi, stopping in front of Edward.
He tensed. I felt him thinking, his mind searching for an out. He couldn't find one, and he stopped. I clamored down and stood shakily on my feet, surrounded by an unknown patch of forest. The clouds were barely visible through the canopy.
"The benefits of flying private," Aro said, a dark humor in his tone. I shuddered as I recalled his eerie figure, the fragile looking alabaster skin contrasting with deep red eyes. "To give you credit, Edward, you did get very far. We didn't expect to have to clear the Canadian border."
Edward growled in return, his frustration evident in every muscle of his perfect face. "Aro."
That was his only greeting.
"Yes, it's me." Aro smirked. "And, let me introduce you to my friends…"
"We know your friends," Edward replied. "No introduction necessary."
Aro laughed. "Rosalie did mention you'd be in a very sour mood when we found you. She was not…incorrect."
"What did you do to them?" I barked, suddenly concerned for Edward's family more than my own situation, which was dire. Edward seemed to have his sole focus on me, on the Volutri, on monitoring every movement that could possibly interact with me.
"Nothing, dear Bella. Carlisle is quite persuasive when he wants to be."
Edward's frown became more pronounced. "Why did you come here?"
"Bella, obviously." Aro responded, his hand extending flat, palm side out, as he gestured to me. "We're very unhappy with how you've handled this, dear Edward."
"There is a plan," Edward responded, his eyes trailing to the cloaked figures in the forest, panic crossing his brow. "Soon. Now, if you let me."
My eyebrows shot up. This was not the plan. Shock coursed through me as I realized I would do it: I would give up everything now to leave this situation with Edward by my side.
"Dear Bella looks surprised at this," Aro chuckled. "And, that doesn't matter anymore." Aro breathed in sharply, the breath making a hissing sound as it passed through his perfect teeth. "We have come to correct the situation ourselves."
Edward's hand was suddenly on mine and his grip was tight, maybe a little too tight. I couldn't say anything though, frozen in fear. He could take my hand completely off and I wouldn't have cared at that moment. He shot me a glance, and noticing my slight wince, loosened his grip. The only thing I noticed was the agony on his face as something new washed over him.
"It's not possible," Edward said. "It's impossible."
Aro laughed. "Well, you didn't let me do my introductions. How rude."
Edward's mouth tightened. I couldn't stop watching their interactions with one another as Edward pushed me behind him, his body somehow widening as he crouched.
Aro's laugh filled the damp forest air around us. "I guess you could say perhaps we've touched a nerve."
Silence fell between them as Edward stared at him with his eyes full of hate.
"Enough of this," Aro finally said. "We need to clear the air, reset…this." He gestured to Edward's menacing posture and stare.
"You both know Caius and Marcus." Aro said, gesturing to the two tall, ancient vampires with their papery, translucent skin with their dark eyes. They were motionless, making no movements towards myself or Edward. "Isn't it great to have this little reunion so soon?"
No one laughed at his comment. He raised his eyebrows and frowned a little.
"Let me continue… you also know our friends Jane and Alec. They're enjoying their visit to the Pacific Northwest so far."
Jane smiled, mostly to herself.
I remembered Jane and Alec's abilities. As part of the Volturi guard, they were selected for their talents that went far above the norm for their kind. Jane was a walking contradiction: a Botticelli face, the ability to create pain. Alec's gift was just as brutal — sensory deprivation. I shuddered.
"Where are the rest? Alice said —" Edward started, but Aro cut him off.
"What Alice sees is irrelevant."
I jolted backwards in shock, so surprised by the bluntness of his tone.
A playful glint returned to Aro's eye. "What I mean is that we've found a way to throw her off course." He laughed, his voice shrill. "It was actually very difficult to do, and that leads me to my next guest."
Edward swallowed, confusion washing over his face.
"Maxim, meet Bella and Edward. I believe you've seen them before?" Aro was full on grinning now.
The tall figure to his left stepped forward and pulled his cloak down. He was not what I was expecting: he was elderly, and not beautiful by any definition. His skin was beyond translucent and almost more like a membrane, the veins transparent deep under his ancient skin, a shadow of his bones hinted deep in his flesh. It was not the obvious fact that he was the oldest vampire I'd ever seen that gripped my attention, nor the sudden chill that coursed through me when I saw that he only had one eye.
It was that I recognized him, my brain thumbing through the mental index to realize he'd been at Aqua the night Edward proposed.
Maxim said nothing as he approached us. No one spoke, and time seemed to still around us. His movements were like water as he moved across the moss, his cloak billowing around him. He stopped right before me, and I felt a strange hollowness as I noticed he was floating.
Ice coursed through me as I realized where the legends had stemmed from, this menacing figure before me.
He extended his hand, his nails filed into points and his fingers gnarled as they unfurled before me. My breathing was in quiet pants of terror as I motioned my face upwards, understanding I had nowhere to run, nowhere to go.
Edward's hand interrupted him, blasting through his arm entirely and sending the mangled limb crashing to the ground, it clinking against a rock.
"Do that again and it will be your head."
His eye moved to Edward as he stepped towards him again. "I am here to help you, boy." His voice was barely audible, hoarse and distant, like it was uttered from the end of a tunnel.
Edward laughed. "Sure."
"Surprised?" The voice breathed. I felt the ends of his cloak begin to caress my legs, twisting around my jeans and tendrils finding their way under the fabric to flutter up my skin.
"Yes." Edward said, his voice full of something I couldn't recognize. My thoughts were scrambled by the itching sensation starting to build on my legs, my wrists.
"Leave us alone, we don't want your help," I heard myself saying. The wisps of the cloak moved farther up my legs, a liquid smoke as the strands began to explore my body. My eyes found Edward, the tendrils enveloping him, too. We were slowly being wrapped in the wisps of Maxim's cloak.
"Too late." The man's eye was following us as the blackness of his cloak encased us.
Edward's hand grasped mine as the blackness overtook everything. Whatever sun hid behind the ever-present clouds disappeared completely, no light hitting my eyes. I could only feel Edward's hand in mine, the gentle pressure of it increasing slightly as darkness fell over his heightened senses too. And intuition alone told me that the man before us was staring at us with his singular eye, not deterred at all by the all-consuming night. I opened my mouth to speak, to call to Edward, but shut my mouth when I felt the shadow of the cloak touch my lips.
I felt vaguely motion sick as I lost track of how long we existed in sensory deprivation. I wondered if this was Alec and his peculiar abilities. I wondered what Maxim could do, what had confused Edward, what he said was impossible. Was he killing us both? Was he changing me without biting me?
My answers were laying before me as I felt the cloak pull away, the sting of clouded sunlight returning.
I noticed several things at once.
First, the light. It burned me, lights pulsing in my irises as I adjusted to the sudden burst of overcast that replaced the intense darkness.
Second, that Maxim was gone, but all other members of the Volturi were there, different somehow, though.
And third.
Warmth was coursing through my hand. I turned to face the man holding it, and was met with a pair of startled green eyes.
