1The Twilight Saga and its characters are the property of Stephenie Meyer

14.

I spent the entire trip to Italy deciding what to say to the Volturi. The elders, Aro, Caius and Marcus were already familiar to me. Over the decades, Carlisle and I had many conversations about his time in Volterra. In his thoughts I could see the city, the tower, the names and faces of the guard. So, familiarity would be no trouble.

There was however, at least, one problem to consider. Aro was an old friend of Carlisle which meant he would not be easily swayed to end my life. But I was not discouraged. There was one way to make sure they would not refuse me. Surely, if they knew the pain I felt, if they felt it for themselves, they would grant me my request. Aro's abilities allowed him to see into the thoughts of both the present and the past. If I could persuade him to look into my mind, I was sure he would not be able to deny me.

The castle in which the Volturi resided, towered over Volterra. I entered the gothic tower to find myself inside of an office lobby. Interesting. The exterior obviously only served to improve the city's skyline. I was immediately intercepted by an Italian woman ... a human. Her olive complexion was common enough for the region, but inside this house of the dead it was almost a shocking sight. A lamb inside of the lion's den.

"Hello sir," she said. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No, I am an unexpected guest. I was hoping to speak with Aro."

"It is unusual for anyone to arrive unannounced," she replied sharply, her green eyes tight.

"Please tell him that Edward Cullen wishes to see him, and that I am part of Carlisle's coven."

She gestured for me to take a seat on the leather couch, sat down behind the wooden counter and began dialing the phone.

"Ma'am, it's Gianna. I have a visitor at the front. He says his name is Edward Cullen, and he wishes to speak with Aro."

A pause.

"Yes ma'am I explained that to him but he said to tell Aro he was in Carlisle Cullen's coven."

Now, a longer pause. Her eyes flickered to my face and then away again.

"Yes, Jane. Right away."

I cringed internally at the sound of her name. The stories of Jane's abilities always had the greatest impact on me. To hear of someone who could bring centuries old vampires to their knees with nothing more than her mind, was not something you could forget.

"They will see you immediately. Follow me."

She lead me through a long corridor with many doors. At the end of the hall there were large double doors, covered in gold paneling. They lead into an expansive room. The room was lit only by torch light, but that would not have bothered anyone as the only beings inside were vampires. At the head of the room, seated in three large wooden chairs, were Aro, Caius and Marcus. Behind them four cloaked figures stood guard. I recognized them, from my borrowed memories, as Felix, Demitri, Alec and Jane.

Aro's thoughts were curious, he longed for information of Carlisle and his clan of gold eyed misfits. Caius was not amused, he never liked the idea of our family, he thought it was unnatural and dangerous for us to live so differently. Marcus may not have even noticed I had entered the room as he didn't register my presence in his thoughts.

Aro called out to me from his throne. His voice was soft yet jubilant. "Welcome Edward! It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"The pleasure is mine," I replied, as I respectfully bowed my head. "I am incredibly thankful for you to agree to see me. I know it was ill-mannered of me to arrive without warning."

"Not at all, I only wish that my friend Carlisle were with you."

"Carlisle is well. Our family lives in America, and yes Caius we are content to continue to resist human blood."

Aro was instantly intrigued. His head inclined towards me, knowing that I had answered an unspoken question.

"Yes, Aro. Like you, I have a gift for hearing people's thoughts. However my skill is greatly overshadowed by yours."

A smile began to spread across his face, his imagination ran wild, and I saw myself in his mind as part of his guard. Charcoal gray cloak ... red eyes. I recoiled from the image.

"I'm afraid that my visit is not a social one," I continued. "I have come here because I am desperate for your mercy."

"Mercy? What have you done that requires our forgiveness?" Cauis's voice was sharp with disgust. His mind, anxious for any wrong doing which would allow him to kill me. Perhaps I would get what I wanted more easily than I thought.

"It is not your forgiveness that I seek. I have come here to ask you for death."

Marcus, who's interest I had not gained until now, finally turned his eyes towards me.

"Why would you ask for such a thing?" He could not comprehend anyone who would turn away from immortality.

"There was a woman that I loved. That I still love. Bella. She has died and do not wish to live another day without her."

Aro was appalled. His genuine emotion came as a shock to me. "Who killed your mate? Tell us the demons name, for it is he who shall die by our hands!"

I shook my head and my eyes sank to the ground. "She took her own life," I finally responded to his assumption. Confusion swept through all of their minds.

"Bella, is ... was, human. She jumped from a cliff."

"You are in love with a human?" Again, the revulsion seeped through Caius's words.

"Yes," I snapped at him, and then as calmly as I could manage I turned my focus back to Aro.

"Aro, Carlisle told me much of your gift. You need only touch my hand and you may see for yourself."

Aro waived me forward. I approached the trio without hesitation. There was no reason for me to fear any possible outcome. I was already asking for death. Behind them the large one, Felix, tensed as I came closer. He was ready to give me exactly what I wanted if I made even one wrong move, but he was of no concern to me. My eyes wavered to the smallest of the quartet. Jane. Despite my willingness to die I did not relish the idea of pain. Her torment was something I would rather avoid.

Aro closed his eyes as he took my hand in his. He bowed his head in complete concentration and it began. There it was, every second of my life for the past year and a half, played out in vivid pictures before me. I watched helplessly as it all registered in his mind. From the first day in class with Bella, the overwhelming call of her blood ... the very essence of my being transformed by the desperate way that I loved her. The way her life had been endangered, first by James and then by my own brother ... to the moment I left her alone, frozen in place in the woods. Then the phone call from Rosalie ... and the crushing grief that lead me to this moment.

He was drained by the end, but he had felt it all. He understood the way the scent of her blood affected me, he knew the intensity of the love I felt for her, and he understood now why I would beg for my own demise.

He nodded once in acknowledgment of what I wanted.

"Edward, it pains me to learn of your agony. I can see that you are quite resolved. If you will excuse us, it will take some time for me to properly convey to my brothers the depths of your despair. It is critical, that we put all matters to a vote. It has always been our way. I would not feel appropriate asking for their say until they were fully informed. Do you agree?"

I nodded.

"Then we shall return shortly."