Previously: Isabella is made a Queen of Volterra, Sulpica is incapacitated, Aro flips a gasket, the Whitlocks get to Romania, Isabella asks them to end the war, and Stefan convinces Isabella to take on his curse in exchange for negotiations to take place.

Chapter 14: Volterra Needs Her King

One moment, I was reaching out to be exposed to the sludgy blackness that was Stefan's life force, and in the next, I felt a rapid plummeting sensation and was standing on the edge of what almost looked like the Grand Canyon.

"Bella!" My grandmother shouted at me. I looked at her over my shoulder and swayed on my feet a bit where I stood at the edge of the canyon. "Get over here! What do you think you are doing?! You are going to fall and kill yourself!"

I gazed back and peered over the side again. The river below was so unbelievably small. I found myself captivated. How long had it taken the river to create this gaping hole? How much longer would it take for it to dig too deep and be lost within the earth's heat forever?

At that moment, the river began to grow, bubble up and fill the canyon. My grandmother's pleas became screams of pain. I could not tear my eyes from the living waters below to spare her a concerned glance. It mattered not, for as the waters reached halfway, her screams morphed into a chilling laughter. Just as suddenly as the river had come to life, the demented laughter was coming from a voice that I wished I could forget.

Finally able to rip my eyes from the river, I whirled to face the new source of laughter. Maria was standing there in her white sundress, cackling freely as if in disbelief, and a man stood next to her, opposing in his serious silence at her side. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she went instantly quiet.

"Do not make this harder on her than it already is, Niña." He urged Maria kindly before turning to look at me. "You do not belong here."

I opened my mouth to ask where here was, exactly, and found that I could not speak. I raised my hand to my mouth, only to find that I did not have one. I felt my heart skip a beat, which only amplified my fear and disorientation. It was then that I realized my sight, smell, and hearing were not the heightened senses of a vampire.

"Do not let yourself fear!" The man snapped sharply before softening his voice again. "Fear will bring the Other. You are lucky that friends found you first."

I could not help but raise an eyebrow and glance at Maria when he mentioned friends.

"Believe it or not, in this place, we are the closest thing to friends that you will find. We are not enemies, at least." The man said in answer to my obvious disbelief. "I am Benito, Leading General. Welcome to the Void, the space that lies between existence and non-existence, between death and nightmare."

I tried to make the confusion evident on my face so that I could get an explanation.

"This is the spectral plain, the land of the non-living. You shall find only the dead here. Well, that was its original purpose, at least. The emergence of the vampire species made things a bit complicated." Benito said, glancing over at the canyon behind me and nodding. "Your mind is very strong. That boiling river in the ravine will keep the Other out nicely while I tell you what you will need to know to get out of the Void unscathed… mostly."

"Benito, it is not our place to tell her such things." Maria insisted, actually appearing worried. "What of the Other?"

"Since when has he ever stopped me?" Benito replied, obviously not expecting an answer. He returned his attention to me and began to explain. "King Stefan the Celt Slayer is the Original. He was the first vampire. He had a fatal blood disease as a human and, thinking that it would save him, began secretly drinking the blood of those healthier than him as well as injecting himself with a mixture of metals, herbs, and liquids that he has never even told Vladimir. As you can imagine, it went horribly wrong. For three days, he was what his village called a shell of man.

"It was not fever that wrought Stefan for those three days, as they thought. It was the Void. He had discovered how to enter this place in a state of half-death, as you have, and he unknowingly cursed himself in that moment. He lives with the curse to this day because of the deal he made in order to leave the Void.

"It took him three days burning in the fires of Hell to convince the Dark Lord to let him out of the Void to walk the earth. The Dark Lord agreed, but upon sending Stefan back to earth, he gave him the need to continue drinking the blood of humans and kept his soul, imprinting it into the very essence of the Void. This is his curse. He knows all that the Void knows because his soul is still here.

"Vladimir was the second. Stefan turned him by accident in the first moments after he woke. The sudden need for blood overtook him, and it was only the fact that Vladimir was his brother that saved him from death. That is when Stefan realized that he could turn others into what he had become. The brothers have been together since the beginning for this reason. They, and you if you make it out of here, are the only ones on earth that know the truth of the vampire origin.

"Now it is time for the part that will frighten you, Leading General. In order to return to earth from the Void, you must make a deal with the Other as Stefan did."

At that, Benito and Maria suddenly thrust together, melting to become one lump. I watched as the new form began to take shape. There was suddenly a man standing there, and even though I could see him, and he looked shockingly normal, I could not describe him. He simply was, or seemed like he was, but must have also been mostly in my mind, as no details entered my mind as to his appearance.

I tilted my head, and he mirrored my movement exactly. There was no delay. I felt the confusion crinkle my eyes and once again watched as his face copied my expression.

"I am what those here call the Other, although I have many names." I heard the thought enter my head. It was foreign, cold, and unsettling. I found myself feeling terrified at the prospect of trying to convince 'the Dark Lord' to let me go. I heard him as he laughed slightly. "You should be terrified."

"You can hear my thoughts?" I questioned mentally.

"Yes. Your mind is very clear to me, which is strange. You must be one of Stefan's descendants. You were born of the fires of hell into his blessings and not his curse. I would very much like another soul like his. Yours seems more powerful though. The leeching ability is yours alone, I can tell, amplified by the fire that Stefan can give with his sting. Extraordinary, isn't it?" His voice echoed in my head, resonating around and tangling with my own thoughts. "Stefan's story is well known, here in the Void. After all, his soul does give much power to this place."

"I don't want to give my soul." I thought, my whole being rebelling against the very idea of it. How had Stefan given into such a thing?

"He did not give in right away. He was feeling the fire while he was here. Even still, it took three days for me to have him agree. He has always been incredibly stubborn." The Other said, a nostalgic smile donning his face. "Lucky for you, I know that if my price for releasing you is your soul, we would be here forever. I have a different deal for you."

I simply stared at him, waiting to hear his offer.

"Stefan sent you here, expecting you to lose." The Other began, his smile truly chilling. "I have so missed torturing him. If I let you go, I am going to give you possession of his soul. It is yours to do with what you wish. You would have complete power over him, but know this: if you ever gave his soul back to him, took it from the Void, I would come for you, and I would never let you go."

It seemed too easy. I found myself hesitating at the idea that he would really offer me a deal that would benefit me so much. Deciding that I really didn't have much of a choice - after all, it was take his deal or be trapped in the Void forever – I nodded in acceptance. "I will take your offer."

"This contract is sealed." He replied, his smile widening. An echo of the burning I'd felt during the change seared through me, and just as suddenly as I had been sucked into the Void, I found myself lying on the floor of the ballroom in the Romanian castle.

Jasper was standing over me, snarling at the Kings where they had retreated (violently and against their wills, if their disheveled appearance was anything to go by). Peter and Charlotte were on Jasper's flanks, looking just as vicious. Once I had my bearings again, I spoke.

"I am alright, Major. Let me up, will you?" At my words, he jumped back, seeming to take stock of my emotions. His brow came together.

"I cannot feel you." He admitted, seeming put out by the fact. I got to my feet right away and dusted off my cloak.

"The spectral world lingers on her." Stefan put in from the side of the room where he stood with his brother and Fyodor. "It will wear off soon enough."

"Enough with your party tricks now, Count." I announced hotly, acting as if my little trip through the Void had not affected me. "It is time that we begin negotiations."

"I must admit that I did not expect you to return." He said slowly, watching me carefully.

"Yes. I know you didn't." I replied, watching him as blankly as possible. "The Other gave up your intentions."

"I am sure he did." Stefan whispered, actually looking afraid at the Dark Lord's mention. "What else did he tell you?"

"He did not have to tell me much. Benito and Maria found me, and they knew much of the legacy you left behind." I replied, hoping that he would pick up on the fact that I knew his story without having to actually say any of it aloud.

"I see." He breathed, looking solemn. "You know everything."

"Yes." Said I, waiting for a reaction. He clenched his eyes and jaw shut, exhaling out of his nose as if in pain.

"You know the deal that I made. Would you be willing to tell me what he offered you?" He asked. I hesitated.

"I don't know if that is such a good idea." I said slowly. I wanted to negotiate, not coerce. If he knew that I had total control of his soul, he would know that I could have him agree to anything. I knew that if I used it as blackmail, that eventually, he would find a way around it, and the war would just pick up wherever it left off. This needed to be his and Vladimir's choice entirely. "I simply wish to negotiate the end of this war, no more. I promise that it is in both of our best interest to keep you in the dark about the deal that I made."

"Alright, just tell me this: did you have to give your soul?" He asked, opening his eyes and meeting my gaze. It was suddenly obvious to me how much this had truly changed his opinion of me. I saw so much respect and understanding in his stare that I felt softened to his plight.

"No. Instead of taking my soul, he has weighed mine down with the weight of all worlds." I whispered, letting the fear and helplessness that I felt into my voice. He finally had someone else to talk to that I had been to the Void and back. I could not deny him the empathy that I could give. "You can never be whole, and I can never be free of burden."

"For what it is worth, I am sorry." He said, honestly looking torn. "I did not think he would let you back. Your eternity is now tied to the spectral world as well, and no matter my sins and soullessness, I would never wish that on another, even if you are Volturi."

"Then let us move passed all this. Let us negotiate and speak together, not as Romanian and Volturi, but as survivors of the Void, masters of the blood, and descendants of your curse. Let us not send any more of our kind into the spectral world over this war." I pleaded, hoping with all I was that he would agree. There was a long pause, and Vladimir moved forward to stand beside his brother.

"She would be a good friend to have. Perhaps it is time to let all this go, Stefan." Vladimir encouraged. "I know that it has been a long time, and I remember as well as you the things that Aro has done to you, to me even, but Isabella has a point. We have a chance to end this conflict. I think we should take it."

"Yes." Stefan choked out, his eyes filling for a moment with venom tears that would never fall. "My soul is tired, and my heart aches. I would very much like to enjoy walking the earth, as I have not been able to since my birth into this life."

"I have used Aro's gift against him, so believe me when I say that I have seen what he did to the two of you. I know the significance of what I am asking you to do." I said, trying to let them know that I was aware of the endlessness of this war, of the deep seeded hatred between Volturi and Romanian. "After everything that you did for Aro of Velathri, he still turned against you, took your land, usurped your throne, and murdered your mates. In retaliation, the two of you have also caused much damage. By sending Benito's creator into the South to create the bloodiest culture in vampire history, instigating small civil wars, encouraging espionage, and repeatedly threatening all that would honor the Crest, the two of you are as much to blame for the war continuing as the Vulture of Velathri."

"You are right, of course." Vladimir replied, waving his hand in invitation for us to walk with him. We followed him and Stefan out of the ballroom and down a hallway. Fyodor took up the rear as an escort. "We wanted the war to continue. It seemed to be the only way for us to be certain that Aro would never forget his sins. Foolish, really, since his memory is as perfect as any of our kind."

"I saved him from death, and he threw the life debt in my face. Perhaps I simply wanted him to know that I could take away his eternal life just as I gave it." Stefan admitted, lips pursed as he opened a door that lead into a study. Stefan's smell permeated the room, and I was left to assume that it was his.

"Wait, you are King Aro Volturi's creator?" Jasper asked, genuinely shocked.

"I am." Stefan confirmed, indicating for us to take the seats around his desk. We all sat except Fyodor, who took up post just inside the door. "That was many, many years ago."

"I hear that he is around 3000 years old?" Peter put in, curiosity overtaking him.

"Yes. I am unaware of how old he was when I introduced the venom to his veins, but I changed him in 1760 BC, give or take a couple decades. Calendar was complicated back then, as every civilization did it differently." Stefan said, shrugging and meeting my gaze. "How do you propose that we end this war? You must know that Aro is not going to take it sitting down."

"First, are we in agreement that we end all conflicts between the former Romanian Crown, and her people, as well as the Volturi Crest, and her people? You would keep all current land that you hold claim over, here in Romania, in Siberia, and I would also vote to give you the site of the Great Battle where your mates were killed in the Ukraine so that you could do what you wished with the site. The Volturi would continue to rule in their present capacity, but Aro would be replaced by myself, his True Mate, until Caius, Marcus, and I all feel that he is fit to rule." I outlined. "Is that acceptable?"

The brothers looked at one another for a slight moment before turning back to me. "Yes, that is absolutely acceptable." Vladimir answered for them. I nodded and pulled out my blackberry.

"Then it is time to set things in motion." I said, dialing Volterra's main line. It rang only once before being answered by the Volturi Guard on duty.

"Leading General, I have been told to forward any calls from you directly to King Aro." I heard Demitri answer, his voice steely.

"Then why haven't you?" I asked, keeping my voice level. Hearing Demitri speak so coldly to me was harder to deal with than I had thought it would be.

"I need to hear it from you. If you have truly forsaken the Crest, I would have you say it to me." Demitri replied, waiting afterward to hear my response.

"I will not say that which is untrue." I whispered, trying to keep my composure. "I need you to forward this call to Caius."

There was a long pause, and then there was a click.

"Isabella! Finally, you have called. I was worried. How are things going there?" Caius said, his voice intense but nearly silent.

"We have come to an agreement. I am going to need a great deal from you, Caius. Do you think that you and Marcus could gather together a coalition that is strong enough to overthrow Aro?" I asked. He sighed heavily.

"You are asking a great deal, but you can consider it done. When will you return to straighten this entire mess out? Aro is going to be feral. He is not at all in his right mind. I worry for him."

"I know, Caius. I am doing all in my power to save him from himself. I will return with haste. Expect me within three days." I answered sincerely before hanging up the phone.

"Caius the Wolf Hunter truly cares for Aro of Velathri." Vladimir observed, awed by the fact.

"They may not be brothers of blood like the two of you, but they are limitlessly loyal to each other. Caius gave Aro his first experience among the elite, and Aro has never stopped paying him back for it." I murmured, lost in Aro's foggy human memories. "They watch out for each other."

"I think it is time that we all watch out for one another." Jasper spoke up, his gaze meeting mine, and he made me feel a bit urgent.

"Go for it, Major." I said, waving him to take the floor.

"Count Stefan, Lord Vladimir, this is going to take a lot of military cooperation. We will need your help in defending Isabella against Aro when they confront, just in case he or those loyal to him, decide to do something stupid. I will also need help in keeping the South from reforming under a banner of bloodshed."

"Consider it done, God of War." Stefan announced, standing and offering his hand. Jasper stood as well and gripped his forearm in a formal shake. "You now fight under the Volturi Crest with the Romanian Crown at your back. Let us set up defensive strategies before you head back to Italy."

.:!*!:. 38 hours later in Volterra .:!*!:.

"Aro of Velathri, in a three fourths majority vote, the Volturi Royal Council has found you unfit to rule. You shall be put into custody until the entire Volturi Royal Council is present to reconvene and make a decision as to your fate, the fate of the Volturi, and the suspension of your crown." Caius proclaimed, his eyes hard and haunted, and the announcement was nearly drowned out by Aro's desperate shouting.

"Proditor! Postquam omnia eras donatas Triumviratus, vobis suspende con insigne et adolebit cum ignis! You have crossed the Rubicon now, Caius, and unlike the great Casear, you have done so foolishly. I shall burn you myself! I would never have betrayed you. You were like a brother to me! What have I done to garner such hatred from you?"

His cries, threats, and confused pleas slowly faded as he was dragged down into the dungeons to be guarded around the clock by only the most trusted of Caius and Marcus's people.

"She had better come back quickly. I am already doubting my own strength of will." Caius whispered, falling back down into his throne, dropping his head into his hands.

"Isabella will not fail us. Her bond to the Crest is stronger than ever." Marcus slurred, sounding even more tired and bored than usual due to the stress of the last couple of days. "Our brother shall not be forsaken. Aro of Velathri will rise again, hopefully as the great man that I met all those centuries ago."

"Velathri needs her vulture." Caius whispered, looking up into the light pouring in from the windows above the thrones. "Volterra needs her king."

A/N: Woo! Look at me go! I am cranking these chapters out, lovelies! Seriously though, I am so proud... *wipes away fake tear*

Poll Update: The poll for the award that this story was nominated for begins today (May 19th) and ends in two days! Please, please, please take time to vote. It would make me oh-so-happy! The site for voting can be found by typing nighttimerainawards into a search engine. Their blog will be the first link.
Playlist News: I am going to be putting up a playlist for this story. Just like with OSDU, I will put a new song on the list on my profile whenever I update the story. There will be a song a chapter. I should have the first 14 songs up soon.
Update information: I am still not going to try to make you guys any promises. I am done breaking your hearts. Besides, I said that I was going to give up deadlines for updating this story, and you guys got another chapter in less than a week! Maybe it is a sign...

If you guys have any questions, comments, or critics, please send them my way. Love you guys, and thank you so very much for all your support. My readers are the best!

~Elizabeth