The Kings looked to the remains of the Egyptian coven in disgust, but a sweeping feeling of dread settled over them. While the Vampires had been swiftly taken care of by the guard, barely a fight put up by the so-called 'gifted' Immortals Amun had created, it had done little to reassure the Volturi, they had expected a bigger fight, more resistance, Amun had seemed almost unprepared for the battle he had decided to start.
Caius's critical eye took in the chaos, while the guard restrained the survivors and Aro stood in front of their leader. Something was off to Caius, Amun had revealed himself far too soon, he had no hope of winning against them; the choice to move against the Volturi didn't make any tactical sense at all.
Caius let his voice echo through his mate's minds, wishing in that moment Aro's powers stretched across the ocean so Blue may hear also. There is no strategy here Aro. No reason or logic.
Marcus' voice rang out in agreement, Amun has never known to act so recklessly.
Aro waited silently in front of Amun, listening in as his mates provided their insight, all the while appearing to glare down in judgement at the Egyptian leader. He held his palm out to the Vampire, unsurprised when Amun did not take it. In a single second Aro reached out to lay his palm on his neck.
Aro closed his eyes breathing in as the memories flowed through him, he took a moment to sort through them and make sense of what he had seen. His eyes snapped open and his lip curled back to reveal his sharpened teeth in a grin. "My, my." He turned as though unhurried from the man on his knees and began to walk back to his mates, behind him the guards dismembered the leader and a fire was lit. It appears the Dacian coven is more trouble than we first thought.
Caius snarled. They organised this disaster?
They pushed it. Aro corrected, although Amun did not know why they wished for him to attack so suddenly...
Marcus's voice went through their minds, A distraction?
A muscle twitches in Caius's jaw and they all seemed to come to the same realisation. The Volturi castle was all but undefended; only Felix and a few others had remained behind. In a flash Aro and Marcus ran for their home, Caius lingering only to call the guards back to the castle.
Marcus arrived first, sweeping the perimeter then heading first to ensure the humans Blue had under her care were safe. Upon finding nothing out of place he relaxed. Walking further into the room to assure himself the sleeping humans were unharmed.
Aro appeared by his side looking unruffled by the run. They waited in the entrance listening to the humans' chests rise and fall in silence until Caius arrived to join them. It felt like the ominous feeling from before lifted as they stood side by side, they pondered the Romanian's objective with the fleeting fight in Egypt but relaxed to the sound of 11 heartbeats.
11 heartbeats.
Marcus's eyes snapped up and he checked the beds, sure enough, 11 bodies were in the room. But had Blue not mentioned Oliver was staying with the Orphics? Where is Oliver?
The single question was all it took for Caius to flash into the room and wake the nearest body. Daniella groaned, giving him a glare which he ignored "Where is Oliver? The young boy. Where is he?"
She was suddenly wide awake, a few others stirred at Caius's questioning, Aro couldn't bring himself to quieten Caius, he too was worried. "He said he was going to help Blueberries or something, I thought he meant he was going to help in the kitchen."
Caius pulled back sharply, giving his mates a significant look. Olly had gone after Blue.
The three fleed the room and ran the castle searching for his scent hoping he was simply hiding, it was futile and Caius let out a frustrated yell kicking the chair across the antechamber. Emotions were running high after the fight and with their mate gone as well as Bella not responding and now Olly missing, tensions were high.
Marcus slammed into Caius trapping him against the wall with a growl. Caius snarled back but Marcus remained unmoving, a stern look in his eye, he waited until Caius had finished spitting angry words. Are you quite finished?
Caius stared at the floor, feeling slightly ashamed but still overwhelmingly afraid, he never got like this except when something happened to the people he loved, someone could hurt and taunt him all day and it would only make him grin but the minute someone he had allowed himself to care for, was threatened, fear would cripple his mind, resulting in his rage.
Marcus purred soothingly in front of him, gripping the back of Caius's neck and burying his Caius's face in his neck. Caius clutched at Marcus's back and let his mates scent overwhelm his senses. Another hand found itself on his shoulder, Aro grounding him back into the moment.
Aro spoke aloud letting them hear his melodic voice, inflecting it with strength. Aro would take the lead on this one, Caius no doubt feeling guilty at not pursuing the remaining Dacian member's thousands of years ago. "We will call Blue, tell her Oliver will be on his way to her. However he will achieve this I don't know but I do believe he will, Oliver is awfully good at getting where he wants to go."
Marcus hummed still holding Caius firmly, "She is very capable of protecting her child Caius, it is likely nothing will come of this impromptu adventure."
Finally, Caius pulled away still drawing in deep breaths to allow their presence to remain in his senses, he slid his hand into Aro's pocket and stole his phone, ignoring the cheeky look Aro shot him, he selected their mate's number.
Ring Ring
Ring Ring
Ring Ring
Click
Hello, you have reached the voicemail for number 965 765 688 please leave your message after the tone.
Beeeeep
Caius hung up. He flicked his eyes to view his mates and saw the same realisation cross their minds. The destruction wasn't for the castle. It was for Blue.
-IMMORTAL-
"Come on Blue! Think." I thought back to the last few conversations I'd had with Will Alli before she stopped responding. What was the last thing she had said to me?
"He Blue lab results came in for the manufacturers of wheelchairs, I followed up all of them but it just seemed like they all came from different places, wheelchairs aren't made entirely in one place either, fabric comes from somewhere wheels another..."
"I take it you didn't find anything?"
I felt her grin over the phone "Not on the chairs no. But believe it or not the boss was actually helpful today, must have been me telling him you were moving the kids outta the hospital."
I perked up with interest "Oh why?"
"Well, you know how he is, weird. But when you were being busy for those two weeks he seemed rather invested in why you 'weren't doing anything to help', I think he was just annoyed I wasn't focusing so much on the case."
I felt a twinge of guilt eat at me "I'm sorry Alli, I was-"
"-Hey no, I know Blue. Honestly, he's just a dick, besides I told him you've done heaps these past few weeks and are moving them out really soon."
"So that's why he started being helpful? 'Cause he's suddenly realised the Orphics are going to want the guy responsible behind bars?"
"Well, that's what I think."
"So what did you find?" I couldn't help the curiously leaking into my voice.
She perked up again "He suggested we get forensics to examine the wheelchairs not to see where they were made, but where they had been, he seemed to think the kids might have been in a different location before they were put in the bunker. Which makes sense not all the Orphics went missing from Davenport, he might have moved them around, or had a similar operation set up somewhere else and taken the chairs from there."
A horrible thought occurred to me, "You think there would be more?"
She was quick to reassure me "No, no Blue, I meant there might have been in the past, kids that might not have made it before he figured out the nutrients formula and stuff, I doubt there would be others, it takes dedication to keep watch over someone in that state." I took a calming breath, she was right, I was just jumping to conclusions. "Although if we don't catch the guy he might think to start his science project up again, I'm planning on catching him before he can Blue."
"Good. I take it that you have a lead from the chairs?"
"Yea some residue matches some factory or something, I'm checking it out tonight."
"Be careful."
"I will."
A factory. That was incredibly unhelpful. I tried to remember if Alli had mentioned what type of factory or anything to narrow down my search but came up blank. I sat myself on the sidewalk and drummed my fingers in thought, trying to focus on what I knew and not the danger I felt creeping closer and closer to my friends.
The files.
Of course, Stefan wanted me to look at them because he wanted me to find Alli. It was a trap obviously, but I still rushed back inside the precinct to return to the reports. I flicked through at a speed only my eyes could follow before pausing on a forensics report, my eyes locking on to the words.
Wheelchair fibres tested positive for Phenethylamine and contained traces of Anthraquinone...
Pulling out my laptop from my satchel I typed in the scientific words and it's uses.
Phenethylamine (PEA) is an organic compound, natural monoamine alkaloid, and trace amine, which acts as a central nervous system stimulant in humans. Right so, the drug. I plugged in the next word.
Anthraquinone is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon derived from anthracene or phthalic anhydride. Anthraquinone is used in the manufacture of dyes, in the textile and pulp industries, and as a bird repellent.
My mind was racing trying to figure out what factory would produce drugs and also dyes/bird repellent. Wait, PEA was illegal... Bringing up the Washington paper I searched for 'Factory' and 'Drugs'. Sure enough, several reports of drug busts were shown in the last 10 years. I scrolled through them looking for something that might point me in a direction.
Found it. I read the heading again. Johnson's Dye Factory busted as a PEA house. Bingo. I jotted down the location on my hand, I paused for a moment. I should probably tell my mates that the Dacian coven had kidnapped Alli... and also Alec. But I really didn't want their phone to go off during a fight and distract them.
I pulled out my phone and turned on the app which allowed Aro to access my location through his. I then grabbed a marker and wrote the location across a spare sheet of paper adding, Dacian Coven - Stefan - Agent Dacian, and Alli, before ditching my satchel, shoving my phone in my pocket and running out again.
-IMMORTAL-
Alec snarled beneath the tape that had been mockingly placed over his mouth, he yanked on the chains keeping him restrained to the chair and tried to pull on his powers. A mocking voice pulled his glare to them. "Aww, is the poor weapon of mass destruction having performance issues?"
Alec glared at Ryder who smirked in response, cooing at his rage. Alec had followed the Vampire to the outskirts of the city thinking he was being unnoticed until the man had suddenly turned and touched his skin before he could react. The Vampires touch had been shocking, it instantly zapped all the endurance and strength a Vampire possessed, Alec had felt the same fragility he had, had when he was human and it had enraged him.
Alec tried to call on his powers to trap the Vampire but they hadn't come. Alec supposed he understood Demetri's ire at being unable to track the Vampire last time.
Agent Dacian had appeared then and ordered the other Vampire to "Focus on keeping that one weak, once Blue arrives I will call for you." Alec had begun to fight back at that, but as effectively human he was helpless to defend himself let alone his Queen. He remembered feeling like this only one other time in his life, and yet again someone would suffer because he wasn't strong enough.
-IMMORTAL-
Demetri snarled and disappeared. Bella jumped at the sound of stone breaking, she didn't know if it had been part of the cave or one of the Vampires. Moving closer to Didyme, Bella slipped her hand into the statues, there was little she could do against a Vampire besides getting in the way, so to distract herself from the deafening sounds echoing in every direction she pulled her other hand up and pushed the wet hair off her porcelain face.
Bella couldn't say the statue in front of her was beautiful, it looked to tortured to be beautiful, the shopping hair and lifeless eyes didn't help, but the most unnerving part was the evidence of horrors that had been inflicted on the girl, and she looked a girl, Didyme couldn't have been older than Bella she had youthful features and slightly filled out cheeks, Bella imagined in her human life Didyme's skin would have been rose-tinted.
Bella remembered Didyme's gift, the gift to spread happiness, how horrible and cruel for someone to do that to such a giving soul, wasn't happiness what made life worth living? Joy and love? Bella felt a tear roll down her face; she knew a few people who would have benefited from Didyme's gift, herself included. Everyone needed happiness in their life, but it seemed like the one who would need it the most in the coming days would be the Vampire herself.
Bella delicately ran her fingers over the strangely frozen hand, the texture was marble-like, but in a different way from how Edward had felt, while all Vampires had skin as tough as stone it gave slightly under pressure, Didyme did not, it looked like a Vampires, but she was completely moving and felt of porcelain. Bella couldn't help but think she would break like porcelain too, despite knowing that was far from the case.
She didn't dare touch around the hole in the girl's chest, instead tried to give her comfort by rubbing small circles on the back of her palm. Didyme's eyes were white, only the thin ring of pink separated her iris from the rest of her eye, Bella reckoned that meant she had been starved from blood, she felt a little wary at being close to a Vampire who had most likely no eaten since being placed within the water, yet the Vampire's eyes did not even twitch.
Bella was shivering, she remembered it now she was cold and freezing, releasing Didyme she bent to pick up Demetri's jacket about to swing it over her shoulders she hesitated. If the water had been cod the few minutes she had spent in it, it was likely Didyme was far colder. Bella carefully placed the jacket over her shoulders and drew it together at the front buttoning one of the buttons to ensure it stayed, then she walked over other bag and dug out the emergency blanket, it would do for now.
She ended up pulling out some food and snacking on it while what sounded like loud booms of thunder continued to resound. Bella was a little worried about the closer crashes from falling Stalactites and had decided she needed to move them both to a safer place.
Bella packed up her back, pulling out the rope and pulley, she packed everything else up. Tying one end of the rope firmly around Didyme's waist and then up and over both shoulders like a backpack, the held the other end in one hand and began to make the journey around the water back the way she had originally come.
She had enough rope to make it to the passageway, occasionally having to stop to lift it over a stalagmite, but she got there. Tying it to her own waist and putting her bag on the ground she turned to edge a little past the opening and began climbing up.
It was far more difficult than descending into the ravine had been, as this wall was significantly more vertical, however, Bella stuck at it, she had a destination in mind and a plan. The rope stretched across the water and rose to Bella's end as she climbed. The hole in the ceiling got closer but as it was away from the wall slightly Bella needed to climb up and onto the ledge above her.
Bella's hand slipped and she shrieked, clutching tightly with every other muscle she managed to cling to the wall. Drawing in a panicked breath she, ignored her racing heart and tried to reach up again, she needed to do this, another section of the cave came crashing down, a single look confirmed it was near the island. She needed to do this.
Snarls and growls accompanied the crashes but Bella paid it little mind, she would worry about Demetri later. She reached again for the underside of the ledge and clung with her fingertips, remembering all the tips her rock-climbing instructor had told her years ago, she lunged forward with her other hand and let out a sound of pure relief when her torso stayed arched into the rock. She was nearly horizontal now like a sloth, under where she needed to be.
Swinging her leg up and over the ledge she locked her thigh against the rock, feeling a sharp bit pierce her skin she ignored the pain for now and used the rest of her core strength to swing up following her leg until the laugh burst out of her and she allowed a moment to catch her breath leaning against the wall.
The moment passed and she edged forward in a crawl until she was just before the opening and stood up, it was risky standing on the unsupported edge but she needed to be as close as possible. Leaning out she was able to stick her head through, the rock was thick and she couldn't break the surface but she didn't need to, she just needed a good throw. Untying the rope from her waist she chucked the end up, only for it to come back down pathetically.
Digging the pulley out of her pocket she threaded the rope through and tied it in a knot, now with the weight she reared back her arm as much as she could and threw it up. It went out and after making sure the rope wasn't about to fall back down Bella mentally cheered, and made her artful descent from the ledge.
She dropped back beside her bad and throwing a last look to check on Didyme, pulled it over her shoulder and ran back the way she had come. The climb out the ravine opening was far easier and she did it with speed, more urgent than the descent had, had and adrenaline pumping through her veins. She sounds hasn't stopped yet so Bella took that as a good sign.
Once making the surface Bella headed across the rubble and grass to the direction she thought the passage followed, searching for a gap in the earth. She found it after a few minutes and falling to her hands and knees she swept over the grass trying to feel for the pull. Her fingers latched onto the hard metal and she grinned. Taking in a deep breath she knew she would have to pull quite quickly on the first pull, otherwise, Didyme might hit the tip of the stalagmite in the middle of the pool.
Bella turned and placed the rope over her shoulder and clutched it to her chest before running forward. Lifting the equivalent of a person in weight was a rather difficult task it turned out, and Bella immediately struggled, but with no other choice, she endured.
Once Didyme had lifted off the ground it was a little easier, but Bella made sure to be careful and slow right down when she thought the rope was getting close to the end. A glance over her shoulder confirmed that was the case and she turned, swapping her hands. She gathered up the rope in a pile keeping it taut and unmoving, she allowed herself to get closer to the hole, leaning backwards to counter the weight.
She got until she could just see through the hole and began to pull the rope harder, watching so Didyme didn't hit the sides. Bella winced as Didyme's arm scratched on the wall as her she got closer to the top. Bella stopped and keeping the rope steady she knelt down still leaning back and reaching blindly with one hand to grab the porcelain skin.
She hooked her fingers into the crock of Didyme's elbow and releasing the rope lunged forward to grab under her other arm, she struggled to pull her over the lip of the hole and ended up falling backwards, Didyme thankfully only landing on her arm. "Ow." Bella hissed but shoved it off in favour of pushing herself to her feet and doing the same for Didyme.
Bella considered there might be more Vampires than just, whoever the Vlad person had been. Fearing for her flamboyant friend, she pulled out her phone, for now ignoring the multiple missed calls from Blue, she'd deal with that later and dialled Felix.
"Bella!"
"Felix, Demetri's fighting with some Vampire, Vlad or something and I don't know what to do-"
"-Are you safe?"
"-For now, I think there might be more."
"I'm coming."
He said nothing else, hanging up so with Didyme now moderately safe, Bella positioned herself at the edge of the hole to watch as the cave came apart piece by piece the sounds of thunder keeping up as night fell. She hoped Demetri was alright.
-IMMORTAL-
I felt my feet slip from under me as I came to a stop. I landed on my ass at the edge of the forest, abandoned the factory ahead. Really not a good time for me to be clumsy. I stood up brushing off the dirt and analysing the building. It looked empty, and I couldn't smell or hear anything besides the background noise of animals residing in the forest.
Knowing not to spring a trap out of stupidity I circled the edge of the forest and mapped out my surroundings. The forest was on the East and South side with open farmland stretching from the others, I stayed as hidden as I could but I knew I would have to do something eventually.
I did what I did best and decided to look at the situation from a detective's standpoint. What did they want? Well, Stefan had taken Alli, in the hopes of luring me in. Why did they want me? My mind immediately brought up that the Romanian was most likely angry with the Volturi for burning their castle down... So it wasn't about me, it was about hurting them.
The realization hit me, I was a Vampire now, which meant my bond with my mates was as strong as it could be and if one of us were killed the others wouldn't survive it. I felt fear claw at me but shoved it down, I had no plans to die today, and Alec was lily in there being restrained by the one who could mute Vampire gifts, I just needed to get to him. I felt the beginnings of a plan form, I would sneak in and find Alec, I could take on one Vampire surly, I'd had no training aside from two weeks with my mates, and that was very basic, but I was still technically a newborn I had raw strength, so I could take on one Vampire. After that, Alec who was much more experienced and exponentially more powerful would be able to help me with Stefan and if anyone else was around while I went and searched for Alli.
A cold hand grabbed my exposed jaw and I wiped around to find the grinning face of Ryder. I immediately tried to throw a punch only for my fish to make a resounding crack against his jaw, the pain crippled me as it travelled down my arm and I saw cracks appear in my skin. I cried out and Ryder responded with a laugh easily restraining me and flashing me to the doors of the factory.
I was momentarily thrown, distracted by the pain and surprise I had a sinking feeling that Ryder's powers didn't just affect gifted Vampires, but normal ones too. I felt exhausted like I had run the length I had to the Factory but on human feet and lungs powering me not Venom.
I whimpered as Ryder twisted the arm behind my back forcing me to walk through the door into what looked like a waiting room, without any chairs, rather just a room that separated everyone from the rest of the factory. It held two doors each either side and a desk at the back wall like a receptionist.
Behind the desk stood a familiar-looking girl. "You have got to be shitting me." Aside from the now ruby eyes, the figure looked exactly the same as the annoying receptionist from Kennewick, the same one Alli had complained about being completely useless and who had faked ignorance over Agent Dacian.
"Surprise." She sneered, I happily returned it, crying out when Ryder twisted my arm again. My cry seemed to summon said agent because instantly Stefan was before me a look of mock exuberance on his face.
"Blue, so glad you could join us."
"Bastard. Where is Alec! What have you done with him?"
He laughed "Alec is safely locked away, he is awfully dangerous and we wouldn't want him spoiling our plans, hopefully, he will consider joining us after this is over."
I wanted to spit curses at him but my mind locked on to the choice of wording he had used "Our plans?"
In answer he spun around and walked to the door on the left, Ryder marched me close behind and Stefan paused letting me catch up before throwing the door open and spreading inside, I walked forward a few more steps before stopping stock still. Ryder ripped my arm further back but I couldn't feel it over the rushing in my ears.
"Oh my god." I felt myself tremble and barely registered Stefan's sadistic grin, even the hundred or so Vampires standing beside him did nothing to pull my gaze from the view spreading the entire factory. Rows and rows of wheelchairs lay in perfect lines with IV poles and bags of blood dripping either side. It looked systematic and meticulously mapped out, room to walk between each person and every one of them lay limp as though sleeping, but I knew better.
If I could have thrown up in that moment I would of, as it was my stomach clenched and Venom leaked out of my eyes, I couldn't mask the horror I felt at the sight, there had to be three hundred at least, humans of every race and age, it seemed there was no preference, and I doubted the older looking ones had been taken at the age they were now. I didn't realise I had been moved forward nor did I hear the choked sounds I was making, my eyes couldn't stop staring at the mass of people who had suffered.
"I saw you liked our branch Ryder was keeping under watch, so much so you took them for yourself." Rage burned in every fibre of my being as I snapped my eyes to look at the man who'd organised the horror beside me.
"You're a monster!" I spat it in disgust, the cry sounding closer to tears than anger.
He laughed a hollow laugh, "So are you Blue. We are Vampires, we need blood, it is thanks to your mates that our existence must be kept a secret. He spread his arms wide gesturing to the people, this is the solution."
I shook my head "This isn't a solution its torture, it cruel-"
He cocked his head to the side as if my reaction intrigued him "You care for them? The humans?"
I heard laughter come from the Vampires behind him but ignored it "They're people! We were all people too!"
He sneered appearing in front of me to grab my chin forcing my face skyward, "And now we are better the stronger species!"
I wasn't going to argue with him on that anymore, nothing I would say would do anything to change his mind, "Where's Alli, what have you done with her?"
His smirk returned and he released me gesturing to Ryder, "Perhaps you would like to see her, your highness?" The other Vampire picked me up and turned me to face the wall opposite the lines of people, the ground rose into two steps separating the raised platform from the ground, on it sat an empty throne. It was pitch black with chains draping over it and wrapping around the stone.
Ryder forced me forwards until I was standing before it, "Sit, my Queen." I clenched my jaw and did as he said, remaining blank face as he pulled my arms over the armrests and clamped the manacles that went the length. Once again I was restrained to a chair, oh the irony.
I kept my emotions in check and pulled on the anger and indifference as a mask to strengthen my will. This will not break me. The Vampires before me spread out to stand in front of the wheelchairs and I could now only see between them to the people occasionally. Stefan stayed front and centre and gave a gesture to the door it opened and Alli was dragged between two more Vampires.
I kept my mouth firmly shut and hid the panic in my eyes, keeping them locked on her form. I mentally took stock of her injuries, she had bruises littering her skin, worryingly easy to notice even against her darker complexion, she was breathing heavily and blood dripped from her mouth.
She was brought to a stop a few feet from Stefan, "Alli dear, how wonderful to see you once more."
Alli managed to gain strength enough to raise her head and give him a cocky look, "Want some more you freaky creep?"
He gave a humourless laugh. "So brave for one so weak." He flashed behind her, the other Vampires stepped back as he wrenched her around to look at me, forcing her to kneel and holding her from behind, he hissed in her ear. "Your saviour has arrived... although I'm afraid she's a little- tied up at the moment." Alli's eyes locked onto mine and I wanted to beg for her forgiveness at the fear I saw when she gestured what she was seeing.
Alli's eyes hardened and she gave me a smile I didn't deserve. "Hiya Blue, long time no see."
I gave a water laugh "Yeah Alli, long time."
Stefan clearly didn't like his intimidation tactics weren't having the desired effect on Alli and snarled interrupting us, "Oh Blue, you came all this way to find your friend, and now you have. Isn't it grand?" He releases her with a flourish and addresses his audience. "We have waited patiently for this day, nearly 2000 years since the Volturi stormed our castle and burned it into the earth, 2000 years since the destruction of my coven, the Dacian coven. But now, today, the Romanian Coven will rise from those same ashes, as I speak my brother Vlad prepares to take the Volturi's castle!" A cheer went up but I felt cold wash over me, the army my mates had gone to face... it had been a distraction.
"And now! We will cripple the power behind the so-called 'rulers' of our kind, killing the mate and killing them all!" Another cheer, I flicked my eyes to see how Alli was dealing with probably seemed like a lot of nonsense to her, although her statement from earlier about Stefan being a 'freaky creep' probably meant she had seen enough. Her eyes held mine and she nodded. She was okay. For now at least, of course, she was, Alli had a fiery spirit, she would be fine.
Stefan appeared behind Alli once more, except this time he held a knife tight to her throat, a sound of panic escaped me and I jolted forward against the chains, "No!"
He sneered "But before we do that, I want you to know that your efforts were all for nothing, this moment has been set in stone the second you extend your hand in friendship to this human. You killed her the minute you spoke-" He lowered his voice in mock sympathy "-And I want you to know that you didn't save her, you didn't find her in time."
"No, don't Stefan-" Alli's eyes pierced into mine, she looked scared but also as though she was trying to comfort me, of course, she was. Stefan drew the knife clean across her throat, and I screamed "No!" blood rushed down and her hands came up as though to try to stop it, within moments the blood soaked the front of her clothing and her hands dropped to her side as she slumped in Stefan's hold. "No, no, no, no, no, no-"
The smell of the blood was so strong I felt it through my now human senses, I strained against the chains, I needed to get to her. Distant laughter echoed through the warehouse and Stefan stepped back letting Alli crash onto the cold concrete. My voice broke into a whisper "n-no."
Stefan gave lady gesture to Alli's body and a Vampire stepped up to remove her flashing away. I had done nothing.
Now the Vampire turned to me, "Your death will allow my brother to storm your home without resistance. Do not be sad, rejoice for our rule will bring about the end to such operations as this, with our coven in charge Vampires will pick from the mice we live amongst without having to resort to hiding our feeding."
I snarled at him through my tears as he approached like a predator edging his way closer. "You misunderstand the point of eternal immortality. You do not deserve it!"
He smirked in response, "But unlike you. I have it."
-IMMORTAL-
Alec jerked again trying to pull himself. Ryder seemed about to comment when Stefan appeared, "She's here, bring her to me." Ryder disappeared and left Alec alone. Oh, how he wished he could fool himself into believing 'she' was someone other than his Queen.
He upped his efforts and cursed the lack of strength in human bodies, surly they could break through some metal chains? A noise from above gave him pause and glanced up. There was nothing but an air vent, he was about to look away when he saw a slight shift and the great came crashing down. Alec watched it land a few feet from him with wide eyes. Jerking back up to the ceiling he saw a very familiar mop of brown hair. "Sorry," Olly gave him a sheepish look.
FOr a moment Alec was stunned then the panic increased tenfold. Olly was here. Olly was in a place filled with many, many Vampires. His mate was here, human and Alec couldn't protect him. Before he could articulate the flurry of emotion that passed through him, the 9-year-old gripped the edge and dangled down, dropping the remaining few feet.
He stood up looking quite proud of himself and pointed at Alec's restraints "I told you I should come."
"Are you insane!" Alec yelled the words as loud as he dared.
Olly looked offended at the lack of gratitude, "Well I could just leave you here." He crossed his arms in anger.
Alec nodded viciously "Yes! Go now! Get as far away from here as possible. Call the Kings, tell them we are here. Can you do that Olly?"
Olly lost his pout and frowned instead "No, I'm going to help you!"
Alec gave a frustrated sound about to insist Olly leave as there was no way his tiny human body could break the metal when Olly pulled out a ring sling on a cord from under his shirt and produced a lock pick, "Buttercup gave it to me," He said in explanation writing forward to start unlocking the manacles, chatting gleefully as he went, "She said-" He did a very bad impression of Blue's voice "-'No self-respecting kid of mine goes around without a means to break into locked rooms.'-" He giggled at his own impression, "-I think Bumble was just worried somebody might catch me, like they caught you, Alec."
The lock clicked and released, Olly twisted it unhooking it from the manacles and releasing Alec's right arm before moving on to the next. "Thank you, Oliver."
He chuckled in response, "Welcome Alecccc." He dragged out his mate's name in a singsong voice, seeming unbothered by the stressful situation. Despite Alec's increased fear with Olly's presence the younger boy also brought a wave of calm only a mate could achieve, he drew on it to focus. The minute the second lock popped out Alec drew his mate into a hug.
A test of his powers showed they were still unusable, Alec guessed Ryder needed to touch a Vampire to do more than dim their senses but one he had he could control it from a distance, which was very inconvenient. For now, Alec's priority was escaping with his mate and contacting the Kings to let them know what had happened, he would be no use basically human.
He grabbed Olly's hand and paused trying to hear through the door, deciding to risk it he opened and once seeing it clear he headed for the exit. Once outside he stopped against the outer wall of the Factory. He was about to ask Olly for his phone when a very familiar smell hit him. Blood.
Following the scent, he rounded the corner and saw a woman covered in her own blood. He thought it good Vampires would waste blood like this, but then again the operation they had running meant they didn't really run out of it. He reached to turn her and pulled back in shock as a familiar face stared back at him. Alli. The Agent his Queen had gone to find, he had meet her occasionally when Visiting with his Queen and had been immediately taken by the girl, as all who meet her inevitably were.
Without hesitating, he released Olly's arm and knelt over her biting into her neck and praying he wasn't too late. It took restrain to pull back, Alec had never turned anyone before, but he managed, watching the body he saw her eyes grow lifeless and blood bubbled between her lips. Panicking he lent don again and sunk his teeth into her once more. Pulling back the second time he saw it, recognising the signs of the change he closed his eyes in relief.
"Take her to a safe location and watch over her change." Alec's eyes snapped open to see the three Kings before him.
He hurried to spit out what they needed to hear "One can take away all our strength speed and everything that makes us superior to them, don't let him touch you. He's called Ryder, Dacian is in there and so is our Queen."
Aro gave him a tight nod of thanks and then they were gone. Olly pulled from his side to run to his sister. Jane reciprocated the embrace and gave her brother a searching look, upon seeing the fear in his eyes her jaw clenched and he nodded at him, "Do as the Master command, I will watch over Oliver, he is safer with me than the changing newborn." Alec nodded.
"Take us somewhere first, I cannot lift her."
-IMMORTAL-
I refused to close my eyes, I would not. Not when my mates had done their best to provide safety for me, I wouldn't seek it in the familiar darkness behind my lids. I felt my chin wobble but clenched it tight, my arm stung the cracks still visible, unable to seal due to the clamps of metal around it. I smelt my friend's blood all around and worst of all the sight of wheelchairs stretching out. I had failed them. The Orphics, I wondered how they would feel knowing that I hadn't saved people before me, and I would never save them either, I would never turn them now, they would be stuck paralysed for their lives.
'And my brother will take your home...' The Orphics were in the castle. A sob rose up in me, they would be put right back into another chair when they were found by the Vampires, once again confined, once again drained. Venom tears fell, as Stefan approved. I would not close my eyes.
Stefan reached for my head. I wondered morbidly how it would feel, Caius had once told me Vampires felt everything Human's feel just more durable, which meant the release of death was further away. I imagined decapitation would be rather painful, if the cracking in my arm was anything to go by.
I tried not to wonder what my mates would feel upon my death. Would they feel pain? The same pain I did? I hoped not god I hoped not. I knew they would perish if I did, but I didn't know what that meant, I hoped it meant they would fade. I didn't want them to suffer. I didn't want them to fade. My mind wanted to say the words I'm sorry, allowed so I could hear my own regret, but I didn't feel I deserved it, I had done this, I had put myself and my mates in this position. I would never be sorry enough.
Several flashes entered the room and suddenly there was chaos.
Stefan disappeared from in front of me and went flying into the wall opposite the door, Caius stood in his place stitching visible. The surrounding Vampires jumped into action going to attack Caius but were stopped by Aro who had a look so blank I shrunk back a little.
Aro effortlessly tore through the Vampire who launched themselves at him, while Caius appeared before Stefan and engaged in a flurry of movements. Vampires around the edge of my vision abruptly fell into piles of shattered limbs, a trail of parts zipped through them like a title wave, I couldn't see only the result of Marcus's movements.
I saw Jane stand in the doorway with Olly by her side and for a moment I was terrified for him. Jane locked eyes only with me and gave a single nod. I understood then, she would not let any harm come to my Kid. Olly pointed out into the sea of movement and Jane followed his finger. Her gaze landed on Ryder and he crippled beneath it. Good.
It was barely seconds until a deafening silence descended and only a few of the Vampires remained standing all on their knees cowering. Stefan had lost an arm and the other was wrenched behind him as he was forced to kneel at the steps of the throne he had made for me.
Marcus flashed to my side with a tortured look on his features. I gave him a look of relief "I take it the army wasn't a problem then?" My usual attempts to pull humour into the situation only seemed to increase the look and he knelt beside the throne gently pushing his fingers under the maniacal he flicked his wrist and the first one snapped open, he did the same to the others, while I watched Aro.
Aro's clothing was ruffled and a few edges of the suit were ripped, it was unsettling to see my normal pristine mate so untidy, it gave him a darker feel, more dangerous and forbidding than his usual curious nature. He came to a stop before Stefan who Caius was restraining as though it was no effect whatsoever.
Aro paused and I watched with interest, unable to predict his next move. Marcus's voice rang out in all our minds. She is safe. I looked down and saw, sure enough, all the manacles had been bent back or snapped. I raised my arms to wrap around Marcus who pulled me into him letting me shudder.
A thunderclap echoed and I pulled my head up to see the aftermath of what was clearly a backhand from Aro. I was shocked to see tiny fragments of Stefan's face hit the floor, massive cracks spread over his cheek and he cried out in pain.
Marcus let out a soothing sound, pulling my arms into his own, as though insuring the cracks on my skin were disappearing. Once they had gone fully he let me stand, wrapping my fingers in his own we walked side by side to stand behind Aro as he let loose his rage.
It was truly remarkable to see the flashes of emotion that flew across his face, Aro's hand closed around Stefan's throat in a chokehold. Caius released him and was soon wrapping his arm around my waist, checking me over with his own eyes to be sure.
I had never actually seen Aro inflict damage on another before, I'd seen him delight in a Vampire's demise in my dreams but witnessing him tower over Stefan was... strangely thrilling.
Aro's eyes remained open and staring at the Vampire before him even as he absorbed all his thoughts and memories, he released Stefan abruptly with a soulless chuckle and straightened, brushing imaginary dust from his suit as he turned his back to the pitiful mess he had left behind, not even considering him a threat.
His voice rang with all the authority he possessed and every Vampire cowering on their knees heard him, but his eyes remained looking over us. "It would appear that you did not learn from your last attempt to weaken us Romanian. And Stefan-" Aro spun and plunged his hand through the Vampire's chest, ripping it back out to hold his heart for him to see. I gaped at the act, it was the worst thing you could do to a Vampire, I knew that I had told Bella that. Aro sneered in disgust as Stefan screamed and he crushed the crystalised organ, his eyes watching rapidly the increase in pain Stefan displayed.
Aro was holding his heart. He was touching Stefan whilst torturing him. I realised that Aro could see the act not only from his own perspective but through Stefan's thoughts and feelings as well. Holy Shit. "-That. Is for my sister." Oh. When Aro had touched Stefan he had seen what happened to Didyme, millennial old mystery solved, but from his reaction, I doubted it was a happy resolution.
Marcus tensed beside me at the words and Caius's lip pulled back in a snarl but both actions were drowned out by Stefan's screams. The cries ceased when all the dust had slipped through Aro's fingers, only to come from a different direction. I glanced to see once of the Romanian's charge with a scream, Stefan's mate most likely. Or was. I snarkily added looking at the dust that blew lightly across the concrete.
She barely moved two paces before Caius had decapitated her and pulled out a lighter to lazily flick it onto her crumpled form. She went up in flames and Caius remind unflinching at the sight. Stefan seemed to fade out of the present moment and stared lifelessly at the floor.
Black-robed Vampires flooded into the room. The Volturi guard. I peered at the carnage around me and realised properly for the first time just how powerful my mates were, I had wrongly assumed that my Kings had a guard to protect them all this time, I now knew how wrong I was.
Marcus nodded to them, "Restrain the prisons and take them to the dungeons." The guard moved to obey. I didn't know we had a dungeon? I ignored that line of thought for now and instead peered up at Aro who was looking as though afraid I was frightened of him. Which just wouldn't do. I released Marcus to sling my arms around him, making sure to lay my palm on his skin, letting my thoughts and memories flow through. I'm alright. I promise.
He hugged me tighter to him before releasing me and making as if to leave. Panic seized me, "No!" My mates' heads snapped to me and even the guard paused. I looked out at the people the IV poles reminiscent of a marijuana forest, "We can't leave them!" None of my mates spoke as though waiting for me to make a decision, so I did. "We have to take them with us."
Caius looked nervous but tried to argue anyway, "Carissima, we cannot-"
"-Why." I demanded, "They can't stay here, and we can't leave them for the police the same thing as with the Orphics will happen!" My voice dropped to a whisper when I realised I had been yelling "No one cares about missing nobodies, it's how the Romanian's got away with it in the first place."
Aro seemed torn "Changing that many people would result in chaos, and we would have to step in and destroy them, dearest."
I searched desperately for an answer, "We don't have to change them all at once. I can do it. You can train me and I'll train them to control themselves, p-please, we can't leave them."
"Yes." My head snapped up to look at Caius who held my gaze, it appeared he held the reins in this decision, most likely as my other mates trusted his judgment for predicting the outcome. "Yes-" He repeated "-We will train you, then you will train them. They will be your responsibility Amore, you will have to stay committed."
I nodded my head vehemently "I will. I promise."
It seemed enough to satisfy them because Marcus looked to the guards, "Well you heard your Queen, prepare to move them also, but be careful they are still human."
Marcus took my hand and I walked with him, join my other mates, about to exit the door I stopped. Pivoting I gestured to the chair that had held me captive, "Please make sure that comes to Italy as well." I felt my mates questioning looks, "I've decided how I want my throne to look." was all I responded with, but it was all I needed, I knew they understood. I had spent many years fearing a panic attack from simply sitting on a chair, after my mates I hadn't realised it so much before, but I found myself sitting without a thought in the world, they had taken that fear from me and this experience would not give it back. The broken shackles that made up the chair was my throne now, and from it, I would ensure a situation like this would never occur again.
A single glance back at the rows of humans and my eyes hardened. Emotion had overwhelmed much of today, but it would build the walls of my future rule, for now, it was time to go home.