*Checks through my legal documents* Hmm, no I still do not own the rights to twilight.
AN: I couldn't wait for the four more reviews I asked for; perhaps I should accept I'll never get them
Ah well. Here's chapter 4.
Each time a sob overtook me I felt another wave of emotion, I felt emotionally exhausted. Just over a day ago I was reasonably happy, I had my sisters, my home and my freedom. I was determined and happy in the knowledge that I could make nice with my cousins the Cullens, the only thing that dampened it was that I had lost laurent; I lost a love before it had the chance to grow. I had been angry but I would have gotten over it, forgive and forget as they say.
Now I felt like a prisoner, the Volturi didn't need metal bars to keep me here, their powerful wardens would see to that. Here all I could do was wait. Wait until I was forced to watch my sworn relatives die by my accusation.
All I could do while I waited for that dreadful day was to constantly go over my thoughts and feelings. No distractions to keep my mind occupied and save my thoughts from wandering into the pain ready to consume me. So many different things I was feeling, unable to stop them from pulling me under.
I almost smiled as I thought of what Jasper would do if he could see me now, first I would feel his convincing false sheet of peace wrap around me before he'd say something poetic like "Sometimes we become angry to hide what we truly feel, because anger would be the easiest to act on." Yes Jasper would say something like that and in return I'd realise that my anger was just a cover. Like it is now.
Beyond the anger I could feel building I felt many things; Guilt was proberly the strongest, hate, love, sadness and self-pity. Everything mixed together, i even felt love because I could not help the edge of affection I felt for each Cullen as I thought about them.
But I would never feel Jasper wrap a blanket of peace around me again; Alice would never tell me that Kate was planning to steal my Gucci boots. Edward would never tell me that Tanya was upset and that perhaps I should go after her - her being upset because her advances on him were not working - again.
Emmett would never challenge us to arm wrestle again; Rosalie would never offer to tinker with our cars to make them faster, Esme would never fret around us slightly, Carlisle would never engage in a medical conversation with me again. They'd never survive the Volturi attack unless they flee but chances are that they'd just track them down. The only time I'll ever see them again is at their own execution and it's my fault.
Every time I let the guilt take a hold I would manage to forget that it's their fault for creating the child. I would think about their personalities and try to convince myself that they were innocent, but my eyes had not fooled me. They were guilty.
I sobbed harder, it was like a cycle, each time I thought about the Cullen's and their good aspects I would think about their child and it would hurt me again and again.
Seeing an immortal child brought back my own memories, ones I had been trying for centuries to suppress and discard however your mother's horrific and unexpected death isn't something you forget.
My vampire mother had been beautiful; she had had thick brown locks that fell to her shoulder. She had had a heart shaped face with straight features and sharp cheekbones. She had been middle aged when turned; she told us she had been in her late 30's before she became immortal, she had left behind two pre-teen sons from her human life as a result of a young marriage, she had to distance herself from her family once she realised what she had become.
I could never imagine the face of my mother covered in aging wrinkles as it would have been, her skin had been smooth giving her the appearance that she was a lot younger than her actual physical age, her figure perfect. Almost as if she had never bore two children.
My mother did the only thing she could when she was unable to interact with her children. She watched over them. Her youngest son had died young, one winter was especially harsh and she hadn't realised he had quietly slipped away during his cold sleep. Her eldest died when he was in his twenties, a victim of disease.
My mother told us about her human life and the period in her vampire life after Tanya demanded as to why she would take our humanity from us when we had been healthy and young humans. She told us of her two sons Viktor and Yurik, she said that when she came across each of us, she saw something in us that reminded her of her sons but insisted we weren't replacements for them.
I had thought our family had been complete, a mother and her three daughters. She apparently had not seen it that way and needed that boy, one who would eternally need her in a way that myself and my sisters didn't, we were too independant. We were so close to our mother, she was so protective of us. Each time a male vampire got eager when he came across a coven of four beautiful single female vampires mother would send them packing.
That was the hardest day of my existence, watching my mother die. The flames consuming her only partially dismembered body, her arms wrapped firmly around the dark haired toddler who pressed his face to her bosom, his face scrunching up as it slowly disintegrated to ash. My mother had tried to give us one last smile before she died, trying in vain not to scream as she burned.
How could I handle the task before me? How could I watch nine faces scrunch in pain as the fire turns them to ash? I couldn't take back what I had done and I knew it had to be done. An immortal child can't be left alive. The only comfort destroying the child and her family was knowing that perhaps I had saved her future victims, saved the lives of countless humans and the lives of their future descendants, surely that was worth more than nine immortal lives?
The only thing I could do was sob, I couldn't take back what I had done, it was justified. No matter how much I dislike the volturi. No, I don't dislike them, I loath them. But I can't ignore their rules. The day my mother died a part of me went with her, she had wronged us by doing something so selfish that it would only serve to take herself from her daughters. My mother had betrayed us in away, for that betrayal there is only one justice. Death.
I glanced at the clock on the mantle piece, I had been dry sobbing for almost the whole hour I had to change, I think a point of this time was so that I could calm myself down, instead I had only worked myself up. I climbed off the bed, leaving the almost crushed pillow on the wrinkled covers and walked towards the small closet.
I pulled the door back to the small cupboard, it wasn't a walk in like Alaina's but it held a long rail that was completely bursting with clothes, I could see the labels still hanging on all of them, their price tags however were neatly removed. Above this was a few shelves stacked with shoes and tops, I rummaged through the clothes, surprised to see formal gowns more glamorous than the one I was wearing, not that I'd wear one again while I was here.
Luckily I managed to dig out some long black jeans and a simple black cotton top; I was shocked to find such simple and causal clothing next to diamond encrusted silk gowns. I slipped out of my current dress and kicked it into the bottom of the closet, after dressing I selected a thin silver scarf and wrapped it around my neck to try and bring some colour to the bland and dark outfit; I quickly scalded a shelf to reach a pair of silver stilettos and hooked them on.
I made no attempt to straighten the sheets and the deformed pillow to which I clung onto when I was sobbing. I ran over to the desk grabbing the hair brush and pulling it through my straight silvery hair. Suddenly I heard footsteps down the corridor, light steps slapping at the thin carpet heading straight towards my room.
I opened the door almost immediately after the first light knock sounded, I was surprised to see Jane before me. Her hand at her side despite the fact that I was so quick I should have caught her hand mid air from the knock. Her hair was almost as short as mine but was a mousey brown and thinner than mine. Her angelic face was blank as she regarded me, I half expected her to smile at me immediately to throw me to the floor in pain.
"Come." She merely demanded before turning on her heel and walking off, I shut the door behind me not bothering to lock it. A lock can barely stop a human breaking in, let alone vampires, besides I had nothing of value in that room. I don't care if the Volturi's expensive gowns get stolen. I followed behind Jane, desperate to ask my questions.
"How long will this take?" I said rudely to her back, Jane didn't stop or torture me for using that tone on her. Not that her torture would stop me, in my eyes she was a child no matter how many centuries she's lived. I can handle pain; I've had to put up with Kate's ever powerful electric shocks for centuries.
"As long as it takes, Why are you going somewhere?" she sneered at me, her mocking clear.
She proberly knew from Alaina then that I didn't want to be here, I frowned as I thought of Alaina passing every little detail she spent with me to Aro with just a handshake.
"I have better places to be than here." I snarled back to her. There was only one place I truly wanted to be other than here. Home. But I'd rather be anywhere than with the Volturi.
"Back with your whore sisters? It's disgusting what you do with the humans, didn't your mother ever teach you not to play with your food?" she laughed in malice.
I froze; I couldn't stop the deep snarl that echoed in the narrow hallway, the sound was coloured by fury and rumbled dangerously. Anger coursed through me, I felt the adrenaline pump and the venom pool as I instinctually crouched down before leaping at her.
Before I could get within one inch of Jane's scrawny neck I was on the floor writhing in agony, my screams where mixed in with deep snarls. My body felt like it was on fire, strongly reminding me of the venom burn from centuries ago. My bones felt like they were being snapped and filled with burning venom, I thrashed on the floor in a desperate attempt to get rid of the pain.
Looking up Jane was smiling sweetly at me, her eyes seemed to gleam as she revealed in the pleasure of successfully pushing me to the edge. She enjoyed this, there was no denying it. My jaw was clenched as I tried to glare at her but couldn't when her smile widened, intensifying the pain. I couldn't pull myself through it, I couldn't make myself attack her, I could barely control my screams.
My fingers gripped into the carpet, easily pulling the thin material back making huge gaping holes in the floor as I dragged my hand back across it. My legs thrashed against the wall and floor making large dents as the wood underneath the carpet snapped like twigs.
"Enough!" I heard a deep voice command from somewhere behind me. Jane instantly broke her concentration to look at the person while my arched back sunk to the ground in the sudden relief. The pain was gone, as if it had never happened at all, my body was now blissfully free of any pain. I looked up again at Jane who was frowning deeply before I turned to the voice.
It was Santiago, his large form filling up the narrow space as he towered above us, he was glaring at Jane. I was thankful for his presence, who knows how long Jane would have carried on, not that he could actually stop her if she wanted to continue.
"You would stop my fun?" Jane questioned no longer frowning at him but smiling innocently. I wanted to wipe that smile off her face but her unfair advantage made me think that I would never get the chance to do so.
"You have too much of it." He replied coldly, it was obvious that Santiago did not care for Jane anymore than I did; perhaps she too had used her torturous gift on him at one point. His words however implied that Jane torturing me might not occur on this just this one time if this was her 'fun'.
"You can never have too much fun." She laughed ignoring his cold tone towards her. I couldn't help but scowl at her sick twisted little mind. A whole list of suitable profanities to yell at her ran through my mind but I doubt she'd take my more colourful insults well. Although i doubt they'd make her smile.
"Your cruel, you forget the urgency of the situation at hand." He glared at her, he pointed at me before adding "Besides, we need her. Your sick games aren't helping, neither is winding her up." Santiago quickly ducked down grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet in a quick motion that almost made me gasp.
Jane huffed and swiftly carried on walking, she was clearly sulking as Santiago pushed me along behind her. I was more content with staying closer to him than Jane. Out of everyone I had come into contact while here he had been the nicest and seemed to be the least likely to harm me.
After turning back several more corridors we suddenly came out into the reception area. The receptionist Rebecca was still there only now she was fretting around the small tables arranging and perfecting fresh vases of flowers, she seemed to be concentrating hard on what she was doing but I could tell she was tired after her long shift, she's been here all night.
She nodded at Jane and Santiago before returning to the flowers, only Santiago nodded back. Jane instead walked straight past the large gilded doors I had entered through only hours ago, she stopped by the wall and easily pushed against it to reveal an almost invisible door. Jane stepped through, not bothering to wait for us, Santiago pushed me through.
I was in one of the castle's turrets judging from the rounded room with it's walls made completely from stone, the room was cast in shadow as the sun had not risen so no light could pour through the windows a story above our heads. The dark however did not limit my vision and from looking around the room I immediately wanted to turn and run away.
The room was filled with several people all in cloaks ranging from dark grey to ash, every head turned towards us as we entered, I realised that all the guard were now assembled as Jane and Santiago took their places in the assembled guard formation. I recognised some of the guard who had come to destroy my mother from centuries before but now that they had seen me enter I apparently held no more interest for them as they looked away after a second.
I stood on the edge of the formation, not knowing what I should be doing, I wanted to run out of the room but since I was surrounded by professional guards, I had no chance. I hovered by the back wall trying to remain inconspicuous, my only hope was to keep quiet until the whole meeting was over and I could return to my room. Suddenly the door burst open again and I found myself completely distracted by it.
The thick wooden door slammed into the wall making me cringe at the slight vibrations of the ancient stone behind me, it had barely opened before Aro had slipped through the small gap. He was followed closely by Caius, Marcus and to my surprise Sulpicia and Athenodora.
Aro floated towards the centre of the room, his normally graceful steps seemed heavier than usual and quicker, I assumed this to be part of his switch where he changes drastically between his two states: The seemly calm but firm Volturi leader and the law enforcing, power hungry tyrant. I also noticed he had changed from his expensive clothes and into a simple black suit with a slim red scarf around his neck, his hair now hung limply by his face instead of being swept back for the ball.
Caius and Marcus were dressed similarly while the wives wore patterned summer dresses. Their expressions startled me; both of them had their arms linked together while they exchanged swift glances of confusion. I could easily tell that they had not been informed of what was going on or perhaps they had and did not know why they were being called to a briefing. The wives almost never leave the castle, in my whole lifetime I've been told they've only left it twice.
Every head was turned to Aro who stood perfectly motionless, his fingertips where firmly pressed together, his face seemed void of emotion. It reminded me strongly of Marcus. It was strange seeing Aro stand alone, none of the guards stood around him but in their formation. It surprised me that they trusted each other not to hurt Aro; even the girl almost glued to Aro was standing apart from him.
"Dear ones, I know it is unusual to have everyone assembled in this manner, it has been centuries since all of us have been required for such a task." He said calmly as his gaze flickered over each face, he started pacing along the stone floor, each length he walked taking almost half a second.
"What task is it you speak of? You did not inform me earlier." Caius spat harshly at his ancient brother, he was frowning but after what he said I half expected him to fold his arms and pout like a small human child. Aro stopped pacing to look straight at me, his deep milk burgundy eyes locked with my amber ones for a sixteenth of a second, the gaze however made me feel as if he was taking my thoughts again just by looking at me.
"There is an immortal child that needs attension." He replied darkly, his tone had twisted so suddenly that it now sounded menacing; I knew Aro had once studied immortal children here in the castle but by the sounds of it his experiments with them might have backfired for i would not expect him to hold such hatred for them. After all he was a collector, it wouldn't surprise me if he had some three year old's locked away somewhere.
As soon as he uttered the word's my ears buzzed with the loud hisses and growls that combined together and filled the air, I think almost everyone in the room had reacted to his words except for Marcus. I wondered if Aro dancing around singing 'It's raining men' while wearing his wife's make up and clothes would get any emotion out of Marcus, I doubt it would.
Every face around me was twisted into scowls, snarls and frowns. Immortal children had caused such devastation to the world; even on the earlier mission's just before Jane and Alec joined some of the Volturi members had been lost in fights with the protective covens.
"Master, I will deal with this threat." Jane voiced confidently from her place in the group, she smiled proudly, she knew she was deadly; she was a favourite of Aro's when it came to the more dangerous missions.
"Jane, this may be the first time where I feel you may be of no use to me or the mission." Aro replied carelessly, waving his hand as if he was dismissing her. Jane's face distorted into anger, had he ever denied her before? Would she be stupid enough to attack Aro in her rage?
I hoped so. I would love to see Jane being torn limb from limb.
However It seemed not, Jane took a deep breath before her face relaxed slightly into a frown. I could tell she was seething and when this meeting was over I was going to make sure to stay well out of her line of sight.
"We are up against something more difficult than ever before." He continued as he resumed slowly pacing again in front of the curious guard. Each pair of eyes was watching him closely, after all he was changeling their abilities.
"How so?" demanded Caius, if anyone was going to rush into a fight then it would be Caius, the tale of him and the werewolf came about because he rushed into it, he was a fool, had he waited until the right moment he would have had no difficulties with the beasts.
"This immortal child has been created by the people I had deemed to be friends." Aro continued, his word's did not give much information away and it's not like the guard cared wheather they had been his friends or not.
"We've all encountered some of our kind that prefer to live a more… unsatisfying diet." His eyes darted to me along with everyone else's, I locked my jaw. I wanted to scream at him that our diet was very satisfying, the bonds we create with others. How we have true family… my anger stopped there as I remembered it was my family who was about to be destroyed. Some bond.
"We've only come across two covens that live like this, Irina has come here to report the crime that her family committed." Aro mocked, I noticed a few of the guard smirk, I lifted my chin up, I refused to be ashamed of my lifestyle.
"The mind reader and his coven?" Caius guessed immediately, Jane openly hissed at the mention of Edward but was silenced with a glance from Aro. I remember Alice explaining to us what happened a few months ago after she, Edward and Bella had encountered the Volturi. Aro answered Caius with a nod, Caius snarled under his breath, his eyes blazed.
"I told you Aro! I knew we shouldn't have let them go, you are too trusting." Caius accused Aro who did not react to his brother's outrage.
"I put a lot of faith into Carlisle, it pains me that he would allow his coven to betray me so deeply." He paused, then looked at me. "Or that he would betray those he considers family." I knew he added the end part for my benefit only, I doubted that he cared I was betrayed, but he was acknowledging it.
Having Aro acknowledge that I was betrayed was surprising, but the only thing it brought me was a strong reminder of my pulsing anger and overwhelming sadness. I averted my eyes from Aro's so I stared at the stone floor. The betrayal hurt me so much but I still felt bad for betraying Carlisle in return.
"Master, why would this information make our task harder?" a female vampire asked, I looked over at her, she was tall and extremely beautiful with long mahogany hair, I looked closely at her eyes which were violet. But I could easily see the thin flawed blue film over her eyes; she was the first vampire I'd ever seen to wear contact lenses.
"I forget not all of you have met Carlisle or his family members." Aro gasped in slight shock, I honestly thought he'd shake his head then proceed to smack his pale forehead and shout 'I'm an idiot!' because he sounded so appalled.
"The Olympic coven is the largest coven apart from our own that we have come across in many years. There are eight members – Now nine – of the coven. There are some members who pose a greater threat to us and who are exceptionally more useful." Aro said thoughtfully. I knew of course to whom he was referring.
Alice, Edward and Jasper were very talented. I could easily see why Aro would want Alice; many covens would want her for their own. Edward's power wasn't very unique; Aro's power was so similar but with Edward, Aro would be able to keep tabs on everyone around him. Jasper I thought would not be of much use to Aro, Alec could deaden almost any sense and Jane can inflict pain. Besides it's not like the Volturi had emotions.
"Not more of your talent scouting I hope." exclaimed Caius casting glances at Jane and Alec, who both pretended not to notice.
"Alice is certainly useful, her foresight is nothing I've ever encountered before, with her at our side we could crush revolts before they even be finished planning. We need never be caught by surprise, we would have a greater advantage than we already do." Argued Aro to his brother. This didn't seem like a briefing to me at all, more like a squabble between two little children.
I could see Caius thinking about it, a part of me was thrilled at this new turn of events. At this point nothing would please me more than the knowledge that some could be spared. Even if it was only one person.
"Of course you remember Bella as well, so fascinating. I am curious as what she is capable of now, her human abilities were powerful already. If she could block all mental powers then, imagine what she could do now. It is a shame that she has already broken our laws." He said wistfully as he described Bella. I had known Bella was immune to Edward's talent but I had not known she was immune to far greater and far more devastating powers.
"She cannot be allowed to live then, if she has created the child then she must be destroyed no matter how powerful she may be." Caius commanded to his brother. His tone shocked me, everyone could hear the finality in it.
"She is the threat. She cancels out all our advantages." Came a deep musical voice. For a moment I could not place it, when I realised it was Marcus who had spoken I had to hold in a gasp, I had never heard him speak before, it was rather surprising. His tone sounded as bored as he looked, but he had made the connection Aro was hinting at.
There were quiet murmurs running through the guard, Jane was frowning deeply that I thought her face might set like it, and then rejoiced in the thought of her never been able to inflict her vicious smile onto others anymore. A few of the guard looked a little worried; with Bella's immunity they could not incapacitate her. They would be useless.
"She is young; her powers won't have developed past what she had as a human, besides we do not know the extent of her power. Her strength will most likely be limited to herself." Aro quickly dismissed Marcus's words, the guards seemed reassured.
"Then we shall proceed as normal?" Jane asked timidly, her eyebrows were knitted together in confusion. Aro had not actually told them to take any precautions.
Aro paused thoughtfully, planning out his answer. I felt sick, I did not want to hear the pains to kill my family, even if they were traitors.
"No, if some of then are prepared to step aside then we shall consider sparing their lives. I do not believe Carlisle would have done this himself." he said quietly. "However, if they should refuse to give up those responsible then take out the males first; they are the more experienced fighters."
"The child?" Santiago prompted from the back of the group. I shuddered, I did not look forward to the death of the girl, it would bring back harsh memories.
"Immediate death." Caius responded quickly, he glanced at Aro who nodded. There was no way the girl could live, no matter how powerful her 'mother' may be.
"Save Bella, Alice and Edward for last. Should they fight then restrain them. Chelsea will persuade them, it won't work on Bella but getting Edward to succumb will surely make her follow." Commanded Aro. Jane looked disgusted.
"She cannot live Aro!" Caius nearly shouted, he was seething that his demand that Bella be killed was being ignored and he was going to make sure Aro knew it.
"I am prepared to forgive her; she is instrumental in acquiring what will be beneficial for us. She is young, she can be moulded, her mate won't live without her. If we kill her then we lose the mind reader and possibly the psychic too. Anyway it is not certain that she created the child." Aro replied firmly, his eyes burned slightly. Aro had made up his mind.
Caius did not dare argue back, Aro's tone had been harsh, firm and final. When it got down to it Aro is the true leader, he put the Volturi together and Caius has no power useful to him, in my mind Caius was replaceable. It seemed Aro only humoured Caius's friendship with a supposed stake as a leader in his coven.
"We shall not act straight away this time, we have lost the element of surprise, we need time to plan further. You may go off and perform your various tasks now." He stepped to the side and gestured to the door, Caius was first to leave, then Marcus and the wives. Some of the guard filtered out as well, Santiago however appeared by my side.
"I'll take you back." He said simply and turned to leave, I went to follow him when I was intercepted by Aro. I felt the surprise on my face as he towered over me, had he always been so… tall? I had never been so close to Aro, his eyes were weren't as bright as I expected them to be, they were almost black yet they still retained their milky covering.
"Irina, Come, I'd like to talk to you." He stated waving a pale finger at me; he smiled at my hesitant expression then left with some guard following him.
I was frozen in place, too scared to move. I didn't want to follow Aro or talk to him; in fact it was rather daunting. However my decision to move was taken away from me when Demetri grabbed my stiff arm and dragged me forward, Felix then coming and dragging me by my free arm to speed me up.
Very quickly i felt the horror and dread overwhelmed me, but I knew that this time, I didn't have a choice. Then again, When did i ever?
AN: Wow Sorry i took so long in posting but life is catching up with me (Reviews help me write though hint hint) but I've got some good ideas for this story so bear with me.
Reviews are Love x
