Disclaimer: I Do not own Twilight or any of it's characters; the ones you don't recognize are mine.
Chapter 18:
The Deal
We pulled up to the long driveway as the sun crept up slowly through the trees. With every passing tree I felt a little piece of me die away and get left behind, but as we pulled up to the house and I saw the carnage there was nothing left of me. Bodies lined the front yard in pieces, blood was scattered everywhere, but there was no way to tell who it all came from and who the pieces belonged to. Blacked robed men formed an assembly line picking up body parts and handing them of to the next person in line, ending up in a massive bonfire that blazed almost 10 feet tall.
One of the men ran to the front of the car as we stopped and made the motion to Alice to roll down her window, "Aro is expecting you inside, is that the human with you?" he said puffing out his chest, making him more intimidating than he already was.
"Yes," She said and cut of the engine. She nodded to me, signaling to get out of the car; I exited as she did and followed her up the stairs and into living room.
From the carnage outside what I walked into wasn't what I was expecting. Emmett, Jasper and Rosalie all stood in the corner of the room, silent and alert. Esme and Carlisle sat on the couch opposite Aro and Jane had someone in a chair screaming as she giggled. As I scanned the room I noticed Jacob wasn't there, none of the wolves were.
Noticing my arrival Aro got up from his seat and walked over to Alice's and mine's position. "Ah, welcome," He said smiling a confidant smile.
"Aro," Alice said and took his hand. His face went blank for a moment as he closed his eyes, when they opened his expression was a little more concerned.
"I have a feeling Torrance will be just fine," He said looking over to me, "As will the rest of the dogs."
"Where are they?" I felt the anger rise up replacing the fear, but I had spoken out of turn.
"Not to worry my dear," He took my hand, though he knew it would do no good, "they are safely tucked away outside behind the house." I turned around impulsively to go and check on them when a strong arm grabbed me and pulled me back, "Sorry, my dear, but I need to talk to you before we proceed."
"Proceed?" I asked
"Yes, unfortunately one of them seemed too anxious to rip my head off when I mentioned your name, he will have to be dealt with."
"Jacob," I said without thinking, my heart was in my throat.
"Concern," he said pleased, "Interesting, he seemed to have the same reaction when he heard your name." He motioned and ushered me to the couch where I sat in between Carlisle and Esme. I watched Alice walk over to Jasper and grab his hand, she was nervous, an emotion that did not sit well with me. As Aro sat he folded his cloak in his lap, "Now that we have everyone," He paused looking around the room, "Well except for the mind reader," He said looking over to Carlisle.
"Edward," Carlisle clarified, "We haven't had contact with him since we saw you."
"Ah yes, Edward; the reason for all of this mess we find ourselves in… well we can continue without him," He snapped his fingers and I watched Jane pick up her latest victim and escort her over to us, "It seems Carlisle, you have more enemies since last we spoke."
When Jane's victim was finally in view I recognized who it was, it was hard to mistake the fiery red hair and slender frame, "Victoria," I chocked out. Her face was battered but healing, and sweat dripped off of her face in buckets, Jane must have been torturing for a while.
"Yes Victoria," He said with a smile that matched Jane's malicious one, "I always found it interesting how we still hold on to certain human emotions. Revenge being the most interesting of all." He snapped his fingers once more and Jane took Victoria's hand and placed it in Aro's, "So Edward killed your mate and now you want his as payment for your loss… interesting." He pulled his hand away and folded both of his hands in his lap.
"Aro, forgive me, but are you saying she's the one behind all of this, the newborns I mean?" I asked shakily.
"Yes, it was once practice to make dozens of newborns to defend or conquer a territory one claimed, in the end it only resulted in bloodshed and chaos. I am a little taken aback by the empath not picking up what was going on, with his history and all; but it's neither here nor there. Newborns are easily disposed of, as is there maker, my concern and reason for being here lies with you my dear." He said pointing at me.
"I know that we promised to turn her Aro, and I am also aware of law that we have broken bringing her into this mess," Carlisle said trying to defend me, "But as you can see, we have been a little preoccupied."
"I do see, and I must say old friend, you are not as sharp as you once were. When I knew you, even though your taste for violence was never too demanding, this issue would have been taken care of. Especially when it was happing so close to home, to your family." He made the last word sound sarcastic.
"That was a long time ago Aro," Carlisle said bitterly.
"So it seems. Still, we must address this rather auspicious situation in which we find ourselves. I refuse to wait much longer for your pet here to live up to her immense potential." I gulped when I finally realized what it was they were talking about, I was supposed to be a vampire already. Immediately my mind raced with the consequences of my changing; what will Charlie say, now knowing what it is I would become, what about Jacob? Could he still love me in my new form?
"For reasons said we have had to wait, also we have her parents to consider, she has asked to wait until they think she is off at college, to not arouse suspicion." Carlisle spoke in my behalf. Truth be told we never really did talk about such things, but it made perfect sense.
"Unacceptable, I care not for such things. Her parents will morn either way when she doesn't return, she needs to be changed at once." He said in a serious tone.
"No," I said sheepishly and timid.
"I'm sorry?" Aro said back seemingly more annoyed.
"I apologize for speaking so plainly, but I can't be changed right now. I need time, I need to put some of my affairs in order first," I ended stronger.
"You seem to be misunderstanding me Bella, this is not a question or a request. I demand you to be changed now, if you refuse consequences will have to be dolled out." He said back confused at my pervious statement.
"Aro, please," Carlisle said leaning forward.
"I'm afraid no amount of pleading will sway my decision. Bella will be changed by the end of the day; if not, she will have to be destroyed. Those are our laws Carlisle, you know this." He looked over to me he saw the worry in my eyes, "Such dismay, I thought this was what you wanted?"
"I'll do it, I'll change. I need to see Jacob first." I said looking down, there was no other way.
"Of course," He said and got up from his seat, "Jane, please escort Victoria outside. Deal with her accordingly." Jane picked up Victoria by the hair and dragged her to the door. Aro then placed his hand out in front of me and I grabbed it. He ushered me through the front door and down the front steps, as I hit the last one I heard a piercing scream and my eyes darted over to Jane. She was on top of Victoria and with one swift yank her head was detached and in Jane's hands. Jane threw it to a cloaked figure who threw it into the fire.
As we turned the corner of the house I felt my heart drop and fall to the floor. In front of me were three rows of black iron cages all containing growling and spitting wolves. Some cages had people, naked and unconscious, curled up in little balls beaten and bruised. Two or three cloaked figures were walking around the cages with long metal staffs, all of which had two metal tips and a line of blue electricity flowing between them, cattle prods. I watched in horror as one of the cloaked mean pushed the staff into the cage and zapped the wolf barring his teeth, the wolf froze and yelped. In an instant the wolf transformed into Sam and he too was lying in a curled ball.
I looked beside me at Aro whose smile faded when he saw my horror struck face. "Sorry you have to see this, but it's the only way we can contain the mutts." My face turned to anger, "Would you rather us kill them all."
"You're heartless, they were trying to help us," I said through gritted teeth as I watched another cloaked man poke another wolf, transforming it into Reese.
"We have had dealings with these beasts before, they're reckless and impulsive," He watched my eyes scan the cages, "The mouthy one you seem so concerned for is over there," He pointed to the end of the last row and I saw Jacob naked, also curled in a ball.
I ran to him as fast as my legs would carry me and threw myself onto the cage, "let him out of here, let them all out!" I screamed.
Aro walked slowly over to my side, "Sorry, he must remain in the cage until we figure out what to do with him."
I stuck my hand through the tiny holes and put my hand on his shoulder. I shook him wildly, "Wake up Jake, Please get up."
I felt him stir underneath my touch, "Bella," He said through exasperated breaths.
"It's me baby, it's me," I cried out.
"Bella no! Run!" His eyes shot open and looked at me then to Aro with a panicked expression.
"It's ok Jacob," I said as the tears ran down my face. I stood up and turned to Aro, "Let them go, you can change me right now, right here. Just let them go."
"What are you saying Bella?" Jacob said looking at me longingly.
"It's ok Jacob, it's me they really want."
"You really are in no place to try and barter with me. I'm hungry and tired of this whole situation." Aro said placing a light hand on his head.
"I've been thing about it, about what you do. You collect people with abilities, that's why you wanted Edward to join you, and the reason you didn't kill me when you had the perfect opportunity in Italy. You don't want to kill me, I'm immune to your powers, and Jane's powers. I intrigue you and you want me as a vampire, you want to know what will happen to me when I change." I said confidently.
"Very clever," Aro said back annoyed.
"So I'll let you change me, you can see what I become instead of killing me; but only if you let them go."
"Bella, no! You can't do this." Jacob tried to reach out of the cage and grab my hand.
I kneeled down to him and put my hand in his, "Make your choice, satisfy your curiosity and let them go, they are no danger to you; or kill me and lose whatever chance you had to see what I'll become."
"Interesting."
Thank you all for reading my story and sending me such awesome comments; please let me know what you think of this chapter. It absolutely brightens my day when I can read what you think about what I write. Also if you have time and are interested I have another story out called Mother Nature's Nemesis. It takes place before Edward meets Bella, he falls for an OC, but things get a little troublesome when Edward can't seem to take his eyes off of the new girl in school (Bella). Check it out and let me know what you think (I thought since this was so Jacob heavy, Edward needed his own story).