2010 Author's Note: Here it is - the penultimate chapter! I anticipate having the end of the story up within a few days. Which is kind of sad...

Happy reading! ~Pace

Chapter 25

In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.

The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well...

`Well!' thought Alice to herself, `after such a fall as this, I shall think nothing of tumbling down stairs! How brave they'll all think me at home!'

~ "Down the Rabbit Hole", Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carrol

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He chose to travel via the tunnels in the older walls, knowing the guard was already streaming into the corridors below him. If he hadn't had Edward, he could have gone further up to the roof which would have given him more options to elude the trackers, but the additional weight slowed him and he knew he would be caught instantly if he chose that route. He prayed Caius had not already informed Aro that he was familiar with the ancient, secret passageways.

He exited the room through the small observation area on the other side of the mirror and then turned left to travel east until he came to the opening that dropped to the next floor. He deftly removed the grate with one foot and jumped, shuffling Edward and grunting when he hit the floor harder than he had intended and cracked the stone. The passage was darker without Demetri's and Alec's torches and he stumbled several times, once nearly falling head first. A very small portion of his consciousness cursed Edward for choosing the most inopportune time to incapacitate himself, but he was far too focused on listening for anyone approaching and mentally retracing the path he had made only once before to dwell on Edward, apart from periodically exclaiming to himself how much heavier than usual the boy seemed.

Once on the second floor, he traveled further east. He had to duck as the tunnel was not designed for anyone so tall as he. The stooping made it all the more difficult to stay upright with Edward, and once he had to stretch up to re-balance his load, causing his head to graze the stone ceiling which resulted in a small avalanche of rubble that sounded thunderous to him. He cringed, imaging 35 pairs of sharp ears tuned to it, and increased his pace in spite of his hunched stature.

The path seemed endless! He was already starting to contemplate throwing in the towel and surrendering when he saw the bend not far in front of him. Heartened, he sprinted toward it, turning and then traveling south onto a sharply sloping pathway that took him past the first floor to the lower levels. The passing was easier with the higher ceilings, the slightly more expansive space, and the sloping floor that enabled him to accelerate. He tried very hard not to think about the ascent at the end of the corridor and having to run with Edward up that path.

The corridor made a dead end into a bigger hall with several doors. There, he made for the dungeons, easily finding his way through the maze of narrow halls and ante-chambers until he came to a small room with a set of large, heavy wooden doors, weathered with time. He easily broke the lock holding them - the only purpose of the lock had been to contain the human prey brought in from the outside, after all - and stepped through to the regular passageway that ultimately led up to the street entrance of the castle.

And then he abruptly halted and gasped, almost collapsing from the shock.

Demetri and Alec stood before him, waiting.

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Edward sat perfectly still in the black abyss. He felt very frightened because he understood that Carlisle could not reach him now that he had gone this far, which had not been the case before. The absence of any meaning to time, previously irrelevant, struck a painful chord in him, for he did not know if he had been gone hours or minutes or days. If it had not been very long, he imagined that Carlisle hadn't even discovered that he was missing and that fact in and of itself made him cry. There is nothing so terrible as being lost and not having anyone know or care about your absence.

As he reflected on that, he next realized how sad and worried Carlisle would be when he did discover that he was gone and couldn't get back to him, and that brought on a fresh round of tears because he had sworn to himself so very recently that he would never again make Carlisle worry on his account. He was thoroughly miserable and wished that there were someone, anyone he could lash out at to relieve his own suffering, even though he knew it was entirely his fault that he was stuck in here. The loneliness of the silent, empty tomb swallowed him; he felt as though he were standing at the very end of the world staring out into nothingness.

He had been sitting for a while, wallowing in self-pity, contemplating how long it would take for him to go stark raving mad, when he heard a noise. He lifted his head swiftly from its tucked position, his mind alert and scanning for anything in the area.

There! He heard it again. Almost as if someone were moving, very fast and purposefully, and very near to him. He concentrated all of his efforts on it when he suddenly had the strange impression that he was being carried along with the current, even though he did not appear to be moving anywhere.

Puzzled, he stood and shakily trotted across the open space, relying entirely on his hearing since his sight was utterly useless in the void. It never occurred to him to be afraid of whoever it was, as he was eager to be found. He slipped on something and fell for what seemed like a very long time, but when he stopped, his attention was immediately diverted as he discovered that his mind was now able to see clearly where he was, even if his eyes could not. The very next second he realized he knew where he was. He was glad that Carlisle had chastised him for not paying attention to the layout of the castle because after that he had especially taken note of the passageways to appease his mate - even if only for a very brief period of time.

He recognized that he was in the hall near the room where they had met with Marcus and the others for the first time. He wondered if he had somehow fallen through the ceiling to arrive here. He was confused but did not dwell long on that problem as it simultaneously dawned on him that he should be able to make his way back from this point.

He vividly recalled having followed Carlisle that night out of the passageway in the wall to the stone steps. He remembered because they had traveled secretively and Carlisle had been a nervous wreck the entire time. He could visualize the steps leading to a very tight passageway (he remembered that because he had had to crouch, the ceiling was so low, and he had grumbled to Carlisle every time he scraped it with his head, sending a shower of powered rock down on him), and then down several more steps, and then turning right into a much wider hall, then right again (he remembered that because he felt it was all so needlessly complicated, though he had refrained from grumbling) into yet another cramped hall, and then endlessly more steps, and then the very dark tunnel, and then into the light and down another corridor. He had only to reverse his steps to make his way out.

He hurried through the halls, a sense of urgency that he now recognized as belonging to his silent traveling companion as much as himself propelling him along the proper route.

He knew exactly where he was, and in his excitement, he rushed headlong to the wooden door blocking him.

But then he hesitated, realizing that if he didn't find what he was looking for on the other side of the door, he would be certain to lose his mind because that would mean he was truly lost and would have to spend the rest of eternity in here all alone. But Carlisle had taught him that when one is most afraid of something, the best thing to do was to simply face it so that it was behind one as quickly as possible and one didn't have time to linger agonizing over the possibilities. Repeating that to himself, and imagining that Carlisle was there with him to lend reinforcement, he stepped forward to open the door in one quick motion and then cried out loud and almost fell over, so glad was he to find himself peering out into the familiar corridor.

He began to retrace his steps, his confidence growing with each correct turn. And at last he reached the hidden passageway where he broke into a run, eager to see Carlisle.

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"Give the boy to me," Demetri ordered. "I am faster than you and will carry him the rest of the way."

Carlisle stood frozen, eyeing him uneasily. How did they know I would come this way? Marcus could not have told them, unless...

Unless Aro had gotten to Marcus.

He took a step back, clutching Edward's limp body tighter. His eyes shifted from Alec to Demetri and back again, his defense mechanisms aroused, ready to attack.

"Carlisle! Marcus sent us to help! Now hurry! Give Edward to me. We haven't much time!" He stepped forward to reach for the boy.

"Why didn't Marcus mention it to me?" He backed up further, one slow, methodical step at a time.

"Because we did not know that it would work for us to get to you. As luck would have it, Aro's attention was diverted and Marcus instructed us to come here. Hurry, Carlisle! We don't have time!"

He wanted very much to believe the other man. It would have made it easier not having to carry Edward, and having someone else with him would have made the journey bearable. He had been alone most of his existence and the one thing that was indelibly ingrained in him was how much easier everything was when one wasn't alone.

And they were asking, not simply grabbing Edward.

But they had used that ploy before...

He couldn't take the risk. These were the same two who had separated him from Edward once before, the same two who had been in Vermont.

But if he refused, they would simply take Edward from him. He was no match for either of them. Well, Alec if he didn't have his ability.

He wanted to lunge at them, to scream in rage and frustration. He had come so far! He had almost made it out! And now in the eleventh hour, to be trapped like an animal.

"Why isn't Chelsea down here?" he asked, suddenly aware that she had moved. Or been moved.

"Aro sent for her earlier. All the more reason to hurry before things escalate!"

He had backed into the wall. Keeping his eyes on them, he bent to lay Edward gently against it and then crouched down in front of him to shield him.

He snarled fiercely as Demetri stepped toward him.

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Aro was a veritable whirling dervish, shouting contradictory orders left and right, verbally whipping his minions into a frenzy, and then berating and threatening them when they failed to do what he really wanted. Jane stood beside him, hands clasped to her chest, her eyes glowing from all the excitement generated by the chaos. Caius stood calmly on the platform, issuing the correct orders when the confused legion turned to him in exasperation for clear instructions. Chelsea and Marcus stood together behind Caius, absolutely silent.

The rank and file raced from one end of the castle to the other, unable to locate the fugitives.

"In the walls!" shouted Aro, circling the room like a wolf circling its prey. "Look in the walls!"

Caius hesitated, looked once at Aro, and then nodded his assent and stepped down to lead the others.

Panting from excitement, Aro raced towards Marcus and Chelsea. "There are traitors here! Working against us! Find them! Kill them!"

Marcus stared solemnly at him and stepped forward, surveying the disorganized troops running pell mell across the great hall to fall in behind Caius.

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He could smell Carlisle and knew he was close by. He ran faster and faster, his head dizzy from the mental exertion as well as with excitement. He had come back all by himself! He sensed that he was lying down and could feel Carlisle alongside him. He struggled to open his eyes, but his lids were so very heavy, he found he couldn't lift them at all. He sighed heavily and made a more concerted effort. They were barely open, but he could see the comfortingly familiar back of his mate and immediately relaxed. He was safe. He basked for a long moment in the blissful feeling of being where he belonged. So utterly content was he, it took him yet another minute to realize that the other vampire wasn't aware that he had returned, wasn't even looking at him, in fact.

Carlisle's tense face was turned to the other side of the room, where Demetri and Alec rigidly stood, ready to fight.

"Carlisle!" Edward breathed, surprised that his voice sounded so weak, almost as if he were still in the tunnel. He tiredly lifted his hand to touch the other man.

Carlisle instantly looked down, and while relief shined in his eyes, the wary expression stayed etched on his face. He turned his focus again to his enemies across from him.

"Carlisle," he croaked insistently, tugging at his shirt. "It's alright. They're only here to help. Marcus sent them."

Carlisle looked back down at him, disbelieving. How could Edward possibly know what was going on?

"Alec removed his block," Demetri explained, relieved that reason might finally prevail. "Marcus thought there might be a connection between cutting off Edward's senses and his lapses from consciousness. We were sent to correct that and expedite your departure."

Carlisle was too weak even to respond. He felt his entire body turn to jelly and he almost fell forward, flat on his face.

"Let me take the boy," offered Demetri. "He's still too weak to run. And we must hurry!"

"I can walk," protested Edward, feebly starting to move.

"No!" chorused Carlisle, Demetri and Alec in unison. The quartet regrouped and ran through the door to make for the coast.

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Marcus stood on the edge of the raised platform, surveying the pandemonium. He shook his head once at Caius and then clapped his hands loudly, calling the room to order.

"Stand!" he ordered definitively in a voice unrecognizable to everyone present, and every vampire in the room froze - more from surprise than anything else. "We have had enough of this madness. Caius, call the others back."

Aro stared at him in horrified astonishment.

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Edward lay quietly against Carlisle, his mind struggling to stay alert and in the present moment.

Don't try so hard. Carlisle smiled down at him, lowering his head to plant a kiss on Edward's lips. You need to rest.

Edward readily gave up the fight and closed his eyes.

"I still don't understand," Carlisle frowned, turning his attention back to Alec who was seated in the small row boat with them. "What did Jane do to him?"

Alec lowered his head to avert his eyes, unaccustomed to speaking to outsiders. "It wasn't just in this instance," he confessed in a high pitched voice that betrayed his age. Carlisle realized he had never heard him speak before and was struck by what a child he was, in spite of his formidable power. "She has been working on infiltrating his mind for some time. Aro guessed that there was something different about Edward from her experience with him in... Vermont." He said the last word so quietly Carlisle almost didn't hear it. Both of them shifted uncomfortably, looking away from one another.

"Aro initially thought Edward might be a seer. They are known to be... unstable." He chose the word carefully, glancing up at the other vampire to gauge his reaction before continuing. Carlisle had a fleeting feeling that Alec was afraid to upset him and found that very odd. "But then he learned Edward was a mind-reader. He thought that there might be similarities between their minds, even though their abilities are quite distinct.

"He'd already spent a great deal of time studying his own mental processes; he just needed to evaluate Edward, to see if his hypothesis was correct. But once Edward grew suspicious of him, and he was unable to touch him again, he sent my sister to help him discover how Edward's mind works.

"It was a very simple strategy. She would play games with Edward, to see if he could follow her. Then she would report back to Aro so that he would know how Edward had responded to each stimulus."

Carlisle found sitting still difficult; hatred he had never known flooded him. The thought of Edward subjected to experiments that might have gone dramatically awry...

"When Aro discovered that he could lure Edward away from you at will, either by having Jane threaten him or offer him the companionship he craved when you were busy, it was only a matter of learning how to manipulate his thought processes to see how far she could venture into his mind. Each time she would go one level deeper to see how he would react. Aro thought, hoped it would be possible to find a level of the subconscious that Jane alone could penetrate, giving her control of him once he was there."

Carlisle exhaled sharply. Of course. It all made perfect sense now. He should have guessed that Aro would be years ahead of anyone else in psychological studies. Oh how very lucky they had been to get out at all!

"By keeping Edward's thoughts isolated - my cutting him off from others," the child continued, "it was easier to control her mobility in his mind. When his senses branched out to fix on so many thoughts at once, it was almost impossible to contain him. You, of course, were the exception to that, which was very frustrating for Aro."

"He knew?" Carlisle was surprised.

"Not at first. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't determine where the problem lay. He only figured it out because you and Edward continued to communicate with one another."

Fuck. So it really had been his fault after all. So much for subtlety. He was amazed he was still alive and with Edward. Instinctively, he pulled the boy even closer to him.

"What made Aro behave so irrationally?"

Alec looked up, weighing his words carefully. "Aro was very... foolish. Throughout the experiments with Edward's mind, he had Jane conduct the same ones on him. It wasn't successful. His mind absorbs too much at once; on several occasions, she had difficulty bringing him back. He should have stopped, but he was determined to harness Edward's powers."

Carlisle sagged against the back of the boat. Of all things...

He looked down at the serene being in his arms. And then he burst out laughing.