Secret Beneath the Roses 13: The rose is threatened
A/N: The girl's have finally made up, but now what new obstacles await them?
"It's the Volturi," Alice whispered, horror running through her veins, extinguishing the earlier joy she had felt.
"It is indeed," the man on top of the wall smiled. "You were looking for us, so we came to find you." The man leapt off of the wall and to the ground in front of them, his red cloak billowing around him.
Rosalie instinctively put Alice behind herself, taking up a stance that could be called defensive. "We have no need for the Volturi anymore. We were just leaving."
The man chuckled at this, a laugh that sent shivers down Alice's spine. Why did she not like where this was going?
"You don't have a choice anymore. You're coming with me, and you're going to do it quietly or so be it you will end up losing more than just a limb." More shadows dropped down from the walls, surrounding them. The man had brought back up from the Volturi. Seven vampires circled around them, making the circle tighter and herding them in. Rosalie whipped her hand back and forth, growling furiously. Their chances did not look good right now. It would be suicide to try to fight their way out. Rosalie, however, wasn't aware of that. Her muscles were coiled tightly and prepared to spring but Alice grabbed onto her arm and held her back. "Don't be rash Rosalie. It's not going to end well for you if you attack them. Remember they are vampire royalty."
"More like vampire scum," she snarled. "How dare they ambush us?"
"Don't make this anymore difficult," the head vampire insisted. "No harm will come to you, if you follow our directives."
Rosalie's response was to snarl at the man, but Alice squeezed her fore-arm with enough force to make it hurt. "Stop it. Let's just go and get it over with," Alice said, watching as slowly Rosalie nodded her head. Her muscles didn't relax however, still tensed should something happen and require her to spring into action.
The Volturi surrounded the two girls and began to lead them down the streets. The streets were mainly empty by now and any people that saw the red cloaked figures moved to the other side of the street and smartly kept away. The vampires walked in silence before they arrived at a sewer grate. Popping it open they silently indicated for the two girl's to hop in. Alice wrinkled her nose in disgust as the smell of old and wet things hit her nose. She dropped down, Rosalie following after her, and was surprised to see that the sewer tunnel had been renovated into a grand tunnel, with torches hung up every couple feet or so to light their way, not that they needed it. They were vampires after all and could see in the dark.
The Volutri guards slide in after them and surrounded them once more as they traversed the silent tunnel. Alice could feel goosebumps arise on her skin. Something bad was going to happen and she could feel it. She just didn't know what.
At last they entered the end of the tunnel, a pair of giant doors in front of them. They swung open by themselves, revealing a giant stone gray court where three figures were seated on thrones above the rest of the court. Torch light danced on the pillars and night light filtered in through the glass ceiling .
"Ah, the guests have arrived," the man sitting in the middle chair arose at their entrance, his red cloak billowing around him. His paper thin white skin, red glowing eyes and long slicked black hair were all too familiar to Alice. She had meet this vampire countless times before. It was Aro.
"How lovely to see you all again," the man cooed in his child like voice as he descended down the stairs, meeting the group of travelers who stopped halfway across the court. The guards left the two vampires as Alice and Rosalie were approached by Aro. Alice tried to keep the shivers from going down her back but looking into his red eyes set on a childish looking face, made her disturbed in ways she couldn't understand. "It's almost like a family reunion!" he cried, turning to address the two vampires still in their chairs behind him who merely grunted in response, pale faces hidden behind the hood of their cloaks. He turned back to Alice, stroking her cheek with a fore finger. Rosalie tensed up next to Alice but smartly remained quiet. "The only Cullen's we're missing now is Emmett and Edward." At this a side door in the room was opened up and Esme, Carlisle and Jasper strode out, escorted by the Volturi guards. They were grim faced and quiet but otherwise looked unscathed.
"Mom, dad, Jasper!"Alice hissed, horrified that they were all in the hands of the most powerful vampires on the planet.
"Release them now!" Rosalie hollered, swinging her arm to catch Aro, but the man had disappeared back to his seat in the seconds Rosalie had her attention fixed on her family.
"No need to be so horrified," he tsked, waving his finger disapprovingly at them. "And after I did you all the favor of bringing you together. You're parents were looking for you Rosalie and now you're here."
"Well I don't want to be here anymore. So let us go." She spat at him and Alice laid a cautionary hand on her shoulder. If Rosalie let her anger get the best of her, they would be punished by the Volturi for not being cordial to them.
"Are you sure?" Aro hummed. "Last time I checked you wanted to have your precious soul mate bond shattered. Did you make up with your pet?"
"There is no more need for it. I have realized the errors of my ways and thinking. I seek no more business with you."
"Are you really sure? Sulpicia took time out of her busy schedule just to help you out, dearie." At his words Sulpicia slide out from the shadows behind the thrones, her long blonde hair trailing behind her. Seeing the sight of the woman who had almost broken their bonds sent thrills down Alice's back. This was the woman, the one who destroyed soul mates bonds, who ruined vampiric lives. She was despicable. How could anyone have the heart to do such a thing. She probably doesn't have a heart.
"I really am fine now. I've had my time to think over it." Rosalie was beginning to get unnerved with how Aro was pressing her on this issue. What was he getting at? Did he have an ulterior motive?
"So you love her?" Aro asked gleefully, leaning forward in his chair as he awaited his answer. "Do tell. I do love a good love story."
Rosalie began to squirm visibly and Alice winced. She knew the girl was not comfortable at all with admitting out loud her feelings for Alice since she still felt they were wrong. "Well?" Aro asked. "I'm waiting."
Rosalie opened her mouth but closed it again when no sounds came out. "I guess you do not love her. Sulpicia-the bond."
"I do!" Rosalie cried out at last, panicked at the idea that Sulpicia would break her bond now.
"What was that?" Aro asked, putting a hand to his ear. "Say it one more time for me, will you? I'm old vampire and my hearing isn't what it used to be."
Rosalie bristled at this. Vampires hearing never deteriorated. He knew he had struck a nerve with her and was going to play it his whims. "I love...her," Rosalie choked out, and her cheeks would have been blushing a thousand degrees if she could blush anymore. Alice felt her heart leap with joy at that comment. So the blonde truly did love her and for her to admit it in front of the most powerful vampires in the world and their own family was a huge step for her. For their relationship. Maybe it could work out without a hitch.
"That wasn't so hard, now was it." Aro clapped his hands. "Now we must discuss payment."
"Payment?" Alice echoed, her joy cut short.
"You sought out our courts for help. And while you declined it in the end, there is still a price to pay. The Volturi do not just hold court on a whim. Vampires who seek our help are charged the appropriate price for it." Aro smiled at them, sending Alice's skin crawling with unease.
"I never heard of such a thing!" Rosalie shouted out, her hands curling up into fists.
"It does exist. Now since there are five of you here," Aro muttered to himself as he calculated something in his head. "Ah, yes. The price of our help is Alice."
Alice felt the world stop around her. Did she-had she heard it right? The payment was her? What? That didn't make any sense? Sounds, noises and light became distorted around her and she was vaguely aware of the way Rosalie was protectively holding onto her, of the way her parents and Jasper were shouting out protests and obscenities at the courts. Aro just smiled at this happened, propping his head up lazily in his hand as he waited for it to die down. When it didn't he raised his hand for silence and everyone shut up, small growls escaping their lips instead.
Alice could feel herself resurfacing to the world again, her head breaking through the waters of her shock. Rosalie was holding the small girl so tightly in her arms that Alice could barely move. Her eyes flickered back and forth from the three Volturi leaders, daring them to rip Alice out of her arms.
"Aro, you cannot do this," Carlisle pleaded. "She is my daughter and to ask me to give her up is absurd."
"We can give you anything else, just not our children," Esme added, sounding like she was close to tears.
Aro shook his head at their offerings. "This is my price and that is final. If you have anyone to blame, blame Ms. Rosalie over there. Had she not sought us out, than you never would have had to pay such a price. But as you all are aware of howI have desired Alice to join my coven for many years, you would be fools to think that I would pass up on such an opportunity."
So this was what it was about. Alice felt disgust ooze through her veins. She was well aware that the man had wanted her to join his coven of free will all those years ago because of her gift. She thought he had given up after she had rejected him all those times but clearly he had been waiting and bidding his time and now he was going to force her to join. She no longer had the choice of saying no.
"Aro, Alice doesn't want to work for your coven. You need to respect her desires." Carlisle stated, trying to remain calm. "As my long time friend please take this into consideration. Respect her wishes." He was trying to appeal to his sympathy, to whatever wayward bonds still existed between them.
This had the opposite effect on Aro, and the man's features contorted in anger. "Respect her wishes? What about respecting the wishes of the Volturi? Don't think I don't know. I always know, Carlisle. Not only have you befriended a human but she is dating one of your Coven. And not only that, but now her father knows about the existence of vampires as well. So, two human beings. Two human beings Carlisle!" Aro showed two fingers to punctuate his point. "You broke the rules of the Volturi quite clearly, rules that were put into place for the safety of our kind and of the human kind. So don't talk to me about respecting your wishes, when you can't even respect something that is common sense!"
Carlisle flinched back at this, disappointment at himself evident in his gaze. "It was unavoidable," he started softly. "She is Edwards' soul mate. We cannot break that bond between them, nor would we want to. And certain circumstances arose that forced our hand in telling the father about vampires. We did not do it intentionally."
"Weak. Weak. Pathetic excuses!" Aro raged, throwing his hands up like a child in a tantrum. "You always had a choice. You could kill the man. Protecting the existence of our kind is more important than a silly humans life. You better do something about the girl and father, Carlisle because if you do not, then we will." That was not a threat so much as a possibility. Alice felt despair line her bones, making her body feel heavy. What had they gotten themselves into now! Bella was yet again in danger and all because of them! Alice had to get her out of danger, had to protect her. She knew how precious the soul bond was and she couldn't imagine Edward or Bella's life without it. They would be devastated. They wouldn't be functioning people anymore.
She forcibly removed herself from the blonde's arms. "What are you doing?" the blonde hissed as Alice strode into the middle of the court, cleared her throat and placed a small hand on her chest. "Aro, I will join your side."
Gasps of outrage where heard all around the room. "Alice are you insane?" Rosalie asked as Carlisle, Esme and Jasper shouted out a chorus of no's.
Aro smiled at this, pleased that the girl had chosen his side. "But on one condition," she added and his smile drooped a little but he didn't say anything.
"I will work willingly for you, for however many years it takes to pay off this debt. But in exchange I want my family to be safe and I want no harm to come to Bella or her father, are we clear?" It was ripping apart Alice's heart to do this. She didn't want to separate from Rosalie, not when they had just finally come to an understanding, but her sense of mortality wouldn't allow any harm to come to Bella. She was only human and it had never been her fault that she had gotten caught up in this. Alice would be fine, she was a vampire. She could be strong.
Again her family let out cries of outrage at her actions which were drowned out by Aro's high pitched laughter. "How bold of you, to make a deal with me. But very well. I shall see what I can do about not bothering this Bella girl. Really, to give up your freedom for a human...you are a marvelous girl," Aro chuckled. "That concludes the deal. I'm not so merciless as to not let you say your goodbyes. Go on. Say goodbye." Aro shooed her and Alice turned to face her family. They all had grief stricken facial expressions, except for Rosalie who was shaking and fuming with anger.
"Why Alice, why?' Jasper asked, his pitch whiny.
"We could have saved Bella another way," Esme started, pulling her daughter into a bone crushing hug and patting her hair.
"There was no way. If we had to fight the Volturi we would lose. We would all die and it would be for naught. And this works out better this way." Alice pulled away from her mom, looking into her grief filled eyes. "Aro would have hunted me down for however long it took. Now he has me but only until I pay off my debt. This way I can come back after everything is done, and will no longer have to worry about him pursuing me anymore."
"My dear Alice," Carlisle sighed as he stroked her hair. "You are too pure for this world. Too kind. Aro, I know Aro. He will not willingly part with you."
"I am aware of that. But I will find a way. Do not worry," Alice smiled even though she felt her whole world was collapsing right now. How many years would it be before she saw them again? Before she got to play video games with Emmett, listen to Edward playing the piano, stay up all night giving Bella makeovers, baking food she couldn't eat with Esme, listening to Carlisle recount stories of his past, or watch historical documentaries with Jasper? And when would she be able to hold Rosalie and be with her again?
She turned to the blonde now, who was working her jaw furiously and had her arms crossed over her chest. Alice approached her hesitantly, worried what the girl would do now.
"You're going away. And after all we just discovered, you're going away," the blonde whispered, not trusting her voice to remain strong.
"Rosalie..."
"I should fight them, rip out their entrails through their nostrils. Yet here I am standing around."
"Rosalie..." Alice cupped the blonde's cheek in her small hand and brought her forehead down to her's. She looked into the blonde's eyes, her blonde hair creating a mini curtain from the outside world. "This hurts. It really hurts me. But I have to do what's right."
"You're leaving me for that stupid human!" Rosalie hissed, blinking back hurt.
"I know. But it's more than that. Aro will not stop to hunt me down and who knows what other tricks he will pull out his sleeve to get to me. He could even go after you."
"Let him try," Rosalie scoffed, sniffling.
"I did this to protect you," Alice said giving the blond a wry smile. Bella had been the first reason that Alice had wanted to do the deal, but then protecting Rosalie and her family had become the most important reason to her. She pressed her lips gently to the blonde's before she pulled back. "Stupid Alice," Rosalie said, her voice really unsteady right now. "I'm the one who wants to protect you."
"I'll be back before you know it," Alice promised and exited the safe haven behind Rosalie's hair and into the real, and very cruel world.
Guards had come up and were surrounding the Cullen's. "I'd say it's been oodles and oodles of fun seeing you again Carlisle, but it wasn't." Aro waved goodbye to the family as they were escorted out. Rosalie wouldn't tear her gaze away from Alice even as the guards pushed her to move faster. Alice wanted to go to the blonde, to erase the worry from her face but she just stood where she was, rooted to the floor.
"Come on, move it blondie!" a guard gruffed, giving Rosalie an extra push as she slowed down by the doors. She was finally pushed out and the doors closed behind her. Immediately cries of "Alice! Alice!" could be heard behind the closed doors and Alice closed her eyes,hands over ears, hoping to block out the sounds and the images that floated in her head. She hoped that the blonde wasn't going to get beat up, sounds of grunts and scuffling being heard. As the noise gradually faded away she was able to reopen her eyes and take the hands off of her ears. Already she could feel the mate bond tugging on her insides, telling her to run after Rosalie.
She stood there for a while, battling the ball of mixed emotions she was feeling. At last she turned back to Aro when she felt her voice was steady and even. Raising her chin haughtily she asked, "What would you like me to do? I am at your service Aro."
At this the man laughed gleefully, his laughter ringing throughout the chamber and filling Alice's heart with heavy dread and sorrow.
