Athalia Cullen

Beckoning

I quickly ran to the Hybrid ward at the far end of the castle, pulling open the heavy, wooden door to find Katrina crying. I was by her side immediately, holding her trembling, withered body.

"Make it stop" she stuttered between sobs,

"I'm sorry, I can't" I answered, holding her close to me and rocking her gently. The young girl had come to trust me over these last weeks. I smoothed her back her sweat filled, black hair, her dark eyes wondered down to her huge bulging stomach, she placed an olive skinned hand over it and started to sob, suddenly more frantically

"I hate this baby" she said, her teeth now clenched together, what could I say? She had every reason to hate the thing that was killing her. I hadn't been able to speak with Aro since he had made the first impregnation with Demetri's produce. Monique, the poor girl had died, she was only just coming of age when her life was stolen away by him, they had started hiding the produces away from me when I threw the remains of Demetri's in the river. He seemed pretty relieved when I did this, he had told me time and time again that he had no desire to see his child in someone other than the one he loved that was something that could always be appreciated with Demetri, his old fashioned views, but Felix on the other hand was furious that Aro hadn't asked him "I can do anything Edward Cullen can do" he would emphasize and wink at me whenever he made the statement. The fragile human let out another harsh scream,

"It's alright, everything is going to be ok" I lied, I bite my lip feeling immediately ashamed,

As I started to gather blankets, Riley walked through the door, "I'll watch her." he smiled,

I was so glad when Aro had allowed me to bring his body here, my family had foolishly not taken the ashes themselves, nor did I believe they had done with the red haired female's, perhaps my father had just forgotten the rules. You must scatter the ashes or at least keep them to prevent the immortal from returning. But I did not forget the rules and I had found this young man fascinating and had managed to convince Aro he would bring us great help. Of course for many months I was forced to stay with the remains and be sure they were not parted from each other, arm and all. Riley was a lot more frail than before but after a few years of good nourishment he would be back to his old self.

Katrina shivered under my cold arms, I helped her clamber back into her bed and pulled the blankets over her. I closed the door tightly behind me as I left her to sleep. I pressed my head against the door and tried to keep from crying.

"You really do care too much, my dear" I heard a familiar voice from behind, the voice that usually made me smile. Demetri wrapped his arms around my waist, making me feel immediately comforted.

"Or I have to care a little more, no one else seems to" I replied,

"Aro wont let anything happen to her, you know that"

"You're wrong about that one" I twisted around in his arms to face him, his beautiful face confused and maybe angry, I loved Demetri but one thing was certain about him, he didn't like to be wrong.

"He wont let anything happen to that thing inside her" I answered quietly, quiet enough so only the two of us could hear, he nodded then pulled me closer to him. He lifted me up and let me place my arms securely around his neck.. He leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips.

"I have to go, duty calls" he said after he slowly leaned away, I knew what this meant. They were here. I nodded and tried my best at a smile. He kissed my cheek quickly before disappearing. I thought through the possibilities, what would they do, if I was to just run in to the main hall, just storm in and demand I see them again, demand to be with my family. But of course that was no option for me, you can't leave the Volturi. Eleazer, the only who ever had, I envied him. He had left due his love for Carmen, Aro knew exactly where he was, but Marcus had insisted that he didn't take his actions further, he knew what is was like to lose your mate. I often thought that, that might have one of the reason why they had forbidden me to leave, he knew of Demetri's affections. I crept down the corridor. A sweet human scent met me as drew closer to the large doors, and it definitely wasn't Katrina. As I edge closer and closer to the main hall, I thought through the outcomes of what I was to see. My perfect statue of a father, standing proudly in the lead of my once prominent coven, with the she devil standing so innocently beside him, a shallow look upon her face, as per usual. Rose, beautiful Rose, standing magnificently next to her adorable new husband, Emmett. Perhaps the others too, the physic, Demetri had told me of, and maybe even the mood manipulator. Then there looking so poetically into space would be Edward, my Edward. His pale face with a look of constant sorrow, the face I left with him when I was forced to leave my coven. The door was open ever so slightly, but the perfect amount for someone to easily peer through. I looked in to see, not was I was expecting, not what I had left them with. There she was, she was beautiful. Her hands were so perfectly intertwined with his, her eyes a shinning citrine, and Edward's face was not full of sorrow, but of happiness, a happiness he gained whenever his eyes wondered over to the stunning woman that stand beside him. Then I saw what should have been the least surprising, a Hybrid, a pretty, adult Hybrid with her hand placed over Aro's. So, this was why he was taking the lives of the poor, local girls, to create something attractive! But it was something I noticed after that caused me the most pain, as I look closely at the Hybrid's face, I saw something, very clear. Something I wish I hadn't. She was Edward's! This sickening creature was Edward's daughter, I gasped loudly when I gained this realisation, a gasp that caused many in the room to look in my direction. My mind was telling me to back away from the door but I couldn't, I froze. To my luck no one seemed to see me, except one. He was staring straight at me his golden eyes burning into my mind, I tried to hide my thoughts like I used to but it was no use, he knew I was here and how I felt. His perfect face suddenly became stern, the sorrow I had left him with returned, he stared at me with what seemed to be guilt, he knew, he knew he had done wrong, he knew he would have hurt me, but he hadn't cared. Edward hesitated as he turn his head back around to face his perfect little family. Unable to keep myself together as I stared at his new beginning, his new life, his waking sun.

This room, my room as Caius insisted, although it held nothing for me, nothing but the many dresses he sent for me, a few pieces of furniture that could only be described as beautiful, but were too courted by their sick hands to be admired, it held no memories, nothing of my own, of course that had all been taken from me when I became part of their coven. Their coven for they saw me not as a guard, a guard is someone who guards, protects, I have no desire to protect any of them nor bow to their feet as their servant as the others so willingly do. It was not that I did not love any of them, for I did, Caius and Aro had become my fathers after my real one had so reluctantly given me up and I will always love them for that. And Demetri is my love, my only love he has given me everything I could have ever desired, but there was still that childish, selfish yearning I still had, to see them, all of them to be part of them again, but that was a foolish dream. This room was silent, I sat on the polished mahogany floor by the window, rain was falling gracefully onto the faded glass. I traced my finger along the pattern of droplets that had formed, the blurred windows usually held nothing but the baffled images of the outside world, but tonight there seemed more, the stars were shiny brightly and clearly, and the moon, looking most dazzling of all. I pulled my knees up to my chest, feeling the soft silky material of my dress, I hated to admit, but some of the dresses Caius sent were quite stunning, this dress in particular was most beautiful cream colour, the corset was surprisingly comfortable and in the centre of the corset was the most perfect stone, a tear shaped pearl that hung ever so neatly. I didn't come to attention when there was a small, almost silent knock at my door, I didn't answer I just stayed staring out of the window. "Athalia," Demetri said softly, I turned to see him standing at the door, looking surprisingly serious and hurt.

"What is it?" I asked immediately running into his arms.

"Aro wants to see you." he whispered,

Demetri took my hand and led me through the corridors and into the main hall, where Aro and Caius were sat patiently waiting for my arrival.

We entered and the room fell silent, they were all there now. Felix, Jane, Alec and Heidi all stood proudly behind their leaders and then Demetri grudgingly let go of my hand and went to join them. I stood uncomfortably in the centre of the room being ogled by my audience.

"Athalia." Aro finally smiled, "Now dear I want you to keep calm."

"Alright." I answered hesitantly, I started to worry, the last I had been called into the hall was to be told that Monique had died.

"You see, we have a proposition for you." He said, getting up for his chair to approach me,

"As you very well know, your previous coven has been causing quite a lot of bother lately"

"yes."

"With that in mind, I ask this of you."

I started to tremble, I knew what ever I was about to be ask of was not going to be pleasant.

I thrashed at Aro, screaming like I never had before. Felix had hold of me and Demetri tried to calm me down. After almost a day of being restricted to my room, I was finally calm, I had come to realise I was going to have to endure my task, it could not be prevented and I despised them for it!

Running from furious vampires and huge werewolves had become my life now. I was not yet prepared to enter back into my family, perhaps it was fear or nerves, whatever it was I had no desired to tempt it. I had taken only two lives whilst being in Forks, but as the media do it had all blown out of proportion and I'm assuming to my luck that's how my family and their allies had seen it. I stopped as I reached a small stream on the borders of Forks and La Push, I did wonder whether that ridiculous treaty was still in place. I sat down on the bank and dipped my feet into the cold refreshing water. This was perfect time to weigh up my options, on one hand I could return to the Volturi unsuccessful, leaving most of the family's life intact, but risking greatly the life of my father. And on the other hand I could go ahead with the plan, perhaps ruin all the lives of my family, steal away their most powerful and perhaps even cause another cause another war. To many that decision might seem simple, but to me it was the hardest decision I would ever have to make, I needed my father! His life was like air to me, knowing he was still on this earth was enough to keep me going. To know that he had been destroyed at my hand would be too much to bear!

I reached the house, it was early morning. There was no one around. The wolves were clearly all asleep where ever they were and the vampires seemed to all be out hunting. I decided it would be best to look over the new house arrangements and be comfortable with my surroundings before I decided to take the full plunge. I also admittedly wanted to see if I could find anything else out about this new woman Edward had obtained, I had seen her and from what Felix had told me she seemed rather pathetic, but I needed to make my own opinions. I entered the house as silently as I could, passing through the back door quite easily. The house was silent my assumptions had been right. Everything seemed the usual most of the sane thing they had had when I lived with them, though of course with a few new technical luxuries and the set out was a little different, but mostly the same. I admired over the books that filled the living room, some that even belonged to me, my copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula and many of my favourite classics. I traced my finger tips along the beautiful leather bounded books and smiled. Then I heard low, heavy breathing coming from behind me, I knew what it was, I could smell it. I started to turn slowly preparing myself to see one of the frightening werewolf my coven mates had warned me about, but as I turned I found that it was not that at all. There he was a young boy, not far out of his teens though had the height and masculinity of any man, again to my surprise he smiled at me. I returned the gesture but started to back away to the front door. The boy came after me as I ran through the forest, but did not phase or show any malicious intentions. I lost him as soon as I entered the forest, but I admired his determination, but couldn't hide my fear. Perhaps this was what these shape shifters did, put you into a full sense of security with their sweet smiles and boyish charms, then happily devoured you.

I tried to breathe easy as I walked through the forest, night had fallen and I knew their chase would still be on, but I had no desire to fight anymore. My heart felt as though it was being ripped out, I hadn't seen my Demetri in over a week and I was still worrying about the poor girl Katrina. I was weak with thirst, I had only killed one or two people whilst being here and that had not been enough. I stumbled to halt and tried to keep myself steady by holding on to a tree. I could hear the wolves behind their snarls in communication to each other and I could hear family beside. I took a finally breath in, I wondered what they would do, would the wolves be too ravenous with frustration to ask questions of who I was and just kill me on sight? Or would I be lucky enough for my father to stop them. These things I could not ponder now, they were close behind me I could almost feel the wolves breathe, this was it.