Ch. 39 No Words

(BPOV)

"Hi, Bella!" Alice swung the door open with a smile just before I could knock. Then she frowned. "Jacob Black." She wasn't as friendly when Jake walked up behind me, but she didn't hiss. It was a work in progress.

"Hey Alice. Is Edward around? I just wanted to check on him." The Cullens had just arrived back from SeaTac. I couldn't imagine the emotional rollercoaster he was feeling from thinking Iris was gone to her showing up first as his sister and then as a member of the Volturi. We still didn't even know the whole story of how she wound up there to begin with.

"Bella." Edward opened the door wider to allow Jake and me to pass. "I'm fine, better than fine really." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He was clearly stressed out.

"What is it?"

"Iris hasn't contacted us since she left, and Alice keeps seeing things."

"Seeing what?" I asked. What happened to Iris?

"Well, first she was standing in a dark place, like a cave. Then I saw Laurent. He is trying to explain something to her about her ability. She can alter the number of her electrons in the valence shells and lose her electromagnetism momentarily..."

"Laurent is with her? Why isn't she back yet?" This wasn't making sense.

"Laurent—no!" Alice gasped and Edward's head shot in her direction.

"What is it?" Jasper asked as he appeared at Alice's side.

"Alice? Edward?" Esme called from behind the group.

"Let's go NOW!" Edward shouted, and was out the door before I could even ask what had happened.

I felt a gust of wind that I guessed was the other Cullens rushing to catch Edward. I could only assume that Alice and Edward saw something bad about Iris. What could I do? I looked to Jake who shrugged looking lost and concerned too.

"Let's go back to the reservation and wait. They'll call if they need us for something." Jake said in a low voice as he pulled his arm around me tighter.

"Jake, it's Iris! We have to help!"

"There's not anything for us to do, especially not you, without knowing what's going on." He reasoned. "Don't be stupid. We'll help as soon as we hear the word. I promise." Jake had assumed the position of alpha when he phased. He said it was only natural since his great-grandfather had been Tribe leader and alpha in the last pack. I could trust what he said. He would help if the wolves could be of assistance. I sighed in resignation and allowed him to lead me back to my truck.

•PTaT•

"I'm sorry it had to come to this, Iris. I had such great plans for us together, and I believed that, with time, you might see the benefits of being here. Your gifts are too great for us to lose, but you also must pay back the debt of what you have taken, so you will be held until further decision is made for you." Sooooo I'm not dead? Or?

"My new friend, Laurent. For your help in returning what was lost to us, we have decided to offer a permanent position to you here with us at the castle. You will be assigned to help oversee Iris as she pays penance for her misbehavior. Do you accept?" Anyone who did not have much experience with the Volturi leaders might hear this and believe that Laurent really had any choice in the matter. I, however, noticed the subtle way that Aro looked to Chelsea, who I'm quite sure was not present because of her own interest in the matter. She was most likely "helping" Laurent make the—correct—decision in staying with them. Bitch. She was on my list of people to kill right after Jane and Laurent now. I don't know why her stupid powers didn't work on me, but it seemed like the more she tried to make me want to be here, the more negative I felt about it. Maybe it was just that I knew very well what she was trying to do...

"Yes, sire, I accept your gracious offer. Thank you." Laurent bowed his head.

"Wonderful. Alec, I will also be requesting your help. Would you be so kind as to escort our newest member to his and Iris's chambers?" What? Alec? Laurent? No! Shit. I guess I should have realized, but ugh! Fuckety shit!

"Of course, Master." Of course, master. Dumbass suck up! How was I ever going to get out of here??

Felix decided to bring his ugly ass along too. He slung me back over his shoulder—I still couldn't move so long as Laurent kept it up. "Am I that scary, Felix? Are you so worried about me that even with my other two wardens, you still feel the need to come along?"

He glared daggers at me before answering. "Oh, we're never letting you out of our sight ever again." He smirked.

"Better hope Laurent is well cared for. I'm not so sure that staring at me will fix anything..." I'm coming for you too, ugly face and all.

"I'm not so worried about that." He looked at Alec, and they smiled at one another. That wasn't creepy at all. Bet somethings up with them.

What was Edward doing now? I told him I would contact him soon, and Alice probably saw something...I really hope he wasn't coming here. I have no way to tell him it's not safe. What would he even say when he got here? Surely he wouldn't come in here, guns blazing, shouting about me. He usually thought things through...well, except for when it came to matters of the heart. Shit.

We reached my hole and Laurent looked incredulously at Alec and Felix.

"You expect me to stay here with her indefinitely?"

"Aro expects you to serve as you vowed him that you would." Alec answered. Damn boy. "Is there a problem?" Am I allowed to answer that? Because yes, there is actually.

"No. This is fine." Laurent answered immediately. Coward. How did he even get caught up with James and Victoria? They were creepy as hell, but at least they were all in. I mean, they fully committed to their insanity. Laurent? He probably couldn't even kill a spider if he thought it might bite him.

"I have a problem with this." I said to no one in particular.

"Of course you do, but you're not here to have an opinion. Goodbye, Iris." Alec smiled. God he and Jane were so freaky the way they looked so young. It was like the twins from "The Shining."

"Wait—" Everything was black. All was gone. I could be anywhere, anything, anyone. I couldn't feel, see, hear, taste, or smell. I was nothing. I just knew that I was.

•PTaT•

Seconds or days or years passed. I really couldn't tell you which, but suddenly I was present again—and not where I was when I was put under Alec's influence. I was standing in the back of the atrium. I still couldn't move. Laurent was to my right. I was thirsty. Very thirsty, so it must have been a longer amount of time passed rather than shorter that I had been...indisposed. Venom coated my mouth as an unnecessary reminder that it was way past time to hunt. I swallowed the bitter liquid back as it continued to pool beneath my toungue.

"Iris, hello, young one. Are you feeling better?" Aro said with a polite smile. Freak.

"Iris!" My eyes darted around wildly until they located the point where his voice came from, finally meeting the dark golden eyes I missed so much. For just a moment I was relieved. He was here with me finally. My body felt drawn to his, but it took my mind a minute to catch up. He was here. Shit. Why was he here?! No!

He was being held down by Felix, Jane standing near with a smile. Why was he here?! They can't! No! Not him!

"Edward?! No! What are you doing here? Kill me! Kill me! Leave him alone! Take me!" I was blubbering, tearlessly, suddenly unable to catch my breath as superfluous as oxygen was to us. "He didn't do anything! It was me! Take me! Please!"

"Oh, Iris, I am sorry for this. He has confessed to destroying our dear friend, Demetri. I thought you might like to say goodbye to him before he is gone too. This is a kindness on my part, so do not take advantage." Aro's voice was sharp by the last part.

Gone? Edward? No! Why? Why did I get him involved?! I should have stayed away. I should have tried harder on my own. I shouldn't have killed Demetri. I shouldn't have believed so arrogantly that I could take down a thousand year old tribunal of vampires on my own. I am not unstoppable. I am not uncontrollable.

Edward's eyes had not left mine. They were horrified, tormented. I could only assume that my own looked quite similar to his. I wanted so badly to cry, to feel some kind of release. I needed to run to him, to hold him, to be near him in his finals moments. Damnit Laurent!

"Iris, it's ok. You'll be ok. I love you. It's ok. I'm alright." How had this happened? Where was his family? Why did he turn himself in? I couldn't understand. Why? WHY?

"Edward..." I continued to sob without tears. "No...I...love you...no...Edward..."

"Love, it's ok. Please... go on. I'm ok. You'll be alright. I love you..." he sounded like a broken record. I couldn't tell if he was consoling me or trying to convince himself. Maybe both. But I was suddenly angry, and I focused back on the others in the room.

"No! Damnit! No! You're nothing but a bunch of bullies! You're all just trying to take control of anything you fear. I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to hurt anyone! I came here wounded, and you tried to take advantage of me, use me. I never agreed to be here or follow your orders. I owe you NOTHING! I don't regret getting Demetri killed to make my loved ones safer because none of you are to be trusted! The only loyalty here is the false kind created by Chelsea whom you control by giving her anything she wants, and when that fails, you call in Corin to help her get her fix!"

"Iris..." Edward spoke in warning, but the words flowed from me too easily now, fueled with all my hate. It was like the shit with my parents all over again, but on a grander scale.

"It's all a joke! Everything here is a fucking JOKE! You only want power, and you will threaten others whom you deem worthy, hold their worst fears over their heads, only to oh so graciously forgive them if they agree to take a place by your side to gain that power. I won't play your games! I won't stand for it, so if you're killing him, you better kill me too or else I will remain a threat to you. Always. You should fear me! I will always be waiting for any chance to take all of you down, and believe me, the day will come that I WILL take you down, Aro. You won't even see it coming." By the end of my speech, my voice was dark, steady, and menacing. I spoke each word clearly and concisely to ensure that the full meaning of my message was understood. I was done with these games. I was no fool. I would NOT stand by idly and watch as this dysfunctional bullshit continued. The entire guard was present, and they would each hear what I had to say.

Aro's face was smooth at first, unreadable, but the longer my speech had continued, his expression grew more dangerous, anger-filled. He did not like me exposing his dirty little secrets to the guard.

"You, child, will learn your place. I feel no threat from you or anyone. If you insist on denying the security and eternity which was offered to you here, then I will have no qualm in ending your life for the crimes which you have committed." He turned back to Edward. "I am sorry to lose such talent as yours..." he trailed off, shaking his head. "It is truly a great loss, but you must pay for what you have done. Felix?"

"No!" I shrieked. No! No! NO!

Edward turned to me, looking at me, holding me captive with all the warmth, love, and adoration he had ever felt reflecting in his amber irises as he smiled peacefully. "You are everything," he whispered just before Felix ripped apart and ended the only one I had ever truly loved.

I could only stare, speechless.

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