Chapter 12: Decisions

Aro's Point of View

How tedious it all was. And how completely unnecessary. If this was how my guard members were going to behave, I would need to put on a very good demonstration indeed.

My little Alice stood demurely in front of me. She had, after all, already seen how all of this was going to end. At least she found fighting at this point to be futile.

I frowned disapprovingly at the struggling, wild eyed vampire in front of me. 'Oh Bella dear, do calm down. I have no plans to harm your Edward. I am just so happy to have you all back with me.'

Ah, it finally seemed as though she was losing some of that newborn strength, Felix was now able to handle her on his own.

'Its so unfortunate you three decided to try to leave me. It really does cause me pain. And, of course, it must be even more unfortunate for all of you that you were caught.'

And then most disappointing of all was the third captive. I waved my hand at Demetri. 'Drop him.'

Demetri let the limp bundle in his arms fall to the ground. 'Release him, Alec.'

Alec frowned but immediately did as I commanded. I smiled, the corners of my mouth turning up slowly. There was something to be said for obedience of that sort. I was afraid my new acquisitions would never learn it.

Corin gasped as if emerging from deep underwater and blinked up at me. I was happy to see that his eyes contained more than a mere hint of fear.

I offered my hand to him. He paused for a moment, and stared up at me. I frowned. 'After all these countless centuries of loyalty Corin. You break my heart. Can't you even take my hand anymore?'

His eyes still looked wary, but he got on his knees before me and took my hand in his. I nodded. 'That's better. Ah. I see now.'

The ungrateful wretch had betrayed me, after all I had done for him. But there would be time for that later.

'You allowed yourself to be swayed by a pretty face. You're not the first to suffer that weakness, nor will you be the last. I see. So you thought you could escape with Bella and that we would take care of Edward for you. Then you could have the girl all to yourself. My misguided son, to have let her deceive you so. She never would have been with you.'

The figure at my feet wrenched his hand back and stared at me as if he'd just been slapped. 'That's not it at all! I never meant to be with her like that! You're twisting my thoughts!'

I sadly shook my head. 'You poor man. You don't need to lie to me, I see your true intentions.'

He twisted his head to look at Bella, who had stopped struggling to listen. 'Bella, those were never my intentions at all, he is twisting everything! I always meant for you to find a way to be with him, in the end. You have to believe me!'

Her eyes were wide but she nodded. 'I do believe you Corin.'

I clasped his forearm. 'What reason would I have for twisting your true thoughts? I am sorry to say that you are in enough trouble, even putting aside your reasons for running away with Bella.'

He pulled roughly out of my grasp and stared at me, his eyes blazing into mine.

I surveyed the turret room, looking at each of my guard in turn. It was a good thing I'd only invited my most loyal guard to this room. I was going to have to bring this to a head, and quickly, before anyone else got any delusions of heroic grandeur.

'You wound me, my boy, you really do. After betraying me and all the trust I put into you over all those long centuries, you allow yourself to be so easily swayed. Have you no love for me at all?'

His eyes lowered slowly. 'Things are different around here Aro, you no longer care for the people that you have sworn to protect. You care more for your power.'

The venom fairly spat from my voice. 'So that is it? Those are your true feelings for one such as I, who have sacrificed so many long years to keep our world a secret.'

I could hear him swallow thickly. 'You twist every word I say. I know what fate is to befall me. Be on with it, and quick.'

Now I let sorrow drip from my every word. 'It suffers me greatly, but I must agree with you. We all know the punishment for treason. And it's such a great shame.'

I addressed the whole room, my arms outstretched. 'You all know that you are here freely, of your own will. If you do not agree with our policies, then you are welcome to make your own way. All I ask of you is loyalty while you are with me, for we have such an important, crucial job.'

I had to hold back the smile that I felt creeping up on me. I could sense from the mood of the room that all of my guard backed me. But, I was still going to have to give them a good demonstration to deter any future disloyalty.

I turned my face into a mask of sorrow. 'I am afraid that I must sentence you to death, Corin.'

'No!' Bella screamed and lunged forward, though Felix kept his grip. 'You can't do this! You say that we are all here of our own free will, but there is proof right in front of you that Aro lies! Alice and I never wanted to join the Volturi but here we are! And he will never let us leave!'

I rolled my eyes. Bella was so very tiresome. I beckoned to Felix. He drug Bella along with him. I leaned in and spoke very close to his ear; I knew that only he and Bella could hear what I said. 'Felix, I think it is time our dear Bella learned the meaning of obedience.' She stopped struggling and listened in horror. 'Would you mind so much teaching her?'

He grinned and looked Bella over, and answered me in a deep, husky voice. 'No Aro, I wouldn't mind. It would be no trouble at all.' He closed his eyes and brought a handful of Bella's hair up to his nose and inhaled deeply.

Bella's eyes were wide with fear. Her mouth opened soundlessly as her lips formed the word no. Felix turned and pushed Bella in front of him, headed out of the room.

It was regrettable. But if the girl could not learn to obey me, then she would just have to start learning how to obey others first. She really gave me no choice in the matter.

I shifted my gaze back to the Irishman who still knelt on the floor in front of me. His eyes were following Bella and Felix from the room. I could practically feel the despair rolling in waves off of him.

At a slight nod from me, Demetri and Santiago came forward to each take an arm of Corin's.

They pulled him upright and Demetri grabbed his hair, forcing his face up to look at me.

I stepped forward and took his chin in my hand, searching deep within his eyes. At long last I let him go and stepped back to address all of my guard.

'As I said before, it is with great regret that I sentence Corin to death. But such is the price of disloyalty.'

A few members of the guard took tentative steps toward Corin, their eyes always on me. I grinned when I recognized the hunger in theirs.

I spoke in a soft, loving tone. 'Do you have anything to say, Corin? Will you atone for your actions, now at the end?'

How ironic this man's life had been. To be executed twice in one's lifetime was no small feat. Though I was quite sure the irony was not lost on him.

He met my eyes with his, one last time. He spoke in a soft, calm voice. 'I have nothing to atone for. I would ask one small favor of you, for all the centuries of loyal service that I have given.'

I nodded encouragingly. 'Do go on, what is it you would have of me for so many years of faithful service?'

A faint shadow of his former grin slipped back over his face. 'I would have my last view be of the open night sky, of the stars.'

The corners of my mouth slowly fell, though I was grinning on the inside. 'I am sorry, my dear boy, but I just can't grant your request. I don't really see what difference it could possibly make.'

All life bled from his face and he lowered his eyes. 'Then do it and be done with it all.'

Just as I was about to give the order to my guard to tear him apart, I felt a small hand grip my arm.

I gasped.

'They wouldn't dare.'

Caius was at my side in an instant. He had immediately recognized the seriousness of my shocked tone.

I took a moment to gain control over myself, then nodded down at little Alice. 'Thank you, my dear, for the warning.'

'Hold him.' I indicated my heard toward Corin and then motioned for Caius to move aside after me.

'Sweet Alice has just shared the most curious vision with me. I am not sure how they've kept it secret from us for as long as they have, but our old friends Stefan and Vladimir have planned quite the surprise.' Caius raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. 'It seems they are planning on attacking our city at dawn…with an army of newborns.'

Caius' eyes gleamed and he rubbed his hands together. 'Not very original, but I'll take any chance to finish them off that they provide us.'

I nodded. 'Too bad of the timing as dawn is only a short while off, I had wished to make a proper display of our turncoat here. Though given this news, that will have to wait.'

Caius nodded, in complete agreement with me. 'We can barely spare any of the guard to watch over him. We are going to need everyone to keep the newborns from disturbing the city or exposing themselves.'

I frowned. He was right, of course. 'Oh, I don't know, throw him in with Edward and Jasper. We can spare a few of the guard to stand watch over them. And after we dispose of this pitiful newborn army, then we will deal with them. All of them, I think. They are quickly outlasting their usefulness to me.'

Caius nodded again and I smiled. He was so much more agreeable when my decisions led to some sort of violent end. I glanced to my side quickly. Marcus had joined us at some point in our conversation, though I hadn't noticed him approach.

It was of no consequence, Marcus followed along with everything we decided.

'I do hope that Stefan and Vladimir don't change their minds about leading the newborn army themselves.' Caius greedily smacked his lips. 'That's tempting enough to make me want to go down there myself and see them finally finished off.'

'Perhaps we should. But like I said earlier, dawn is not far off, and I would prefer to meet the newborn army before they reach the city. We must leave at once. I will see our prisoners safely put away. Prepare the guard for battle.'