Chapter 16: Crime and Punishment

A/N: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. (In other words – I don't own it, I'm just playing). Please take the time to leave some words if you really loved it or really hated it! Thanks to my beta FE71SH for working the magic.

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We had mere minutes to work out the best way to protect ourselves. It wasn't nearly enough time. Almost instantly, we realised what we couldn't do. We couldn't run and we couldn't try to deny my existence this time—I couldn't be the unknown Brunette any longer. Even now, Edward's words to Carlisle and Alice were playing through my head. I didn't just fall in love with Bella. I fell in love with her around thirty years ago. The last time we were in this town, in fact.

According to Alice, the Volturi were moments away from reaching the Cullen's house, and not just the outer guard—the leaders and their wives were there too. I didn't know what it meant, but one look at Alice's face told me it wasn't good. At the forefront of my thoughts was the fact that we wouldn't have time to do anything more than fix the collateral damage of Aro reading of me in Carlisle's thoughts. We couldn't fix things so that our family were permanently out of danger, at least not without risking the exposure of my power to Aro and his cronies. The only option we could see to live peacefully after the Volturi was to destroy them, but we wouldn't be able to do that—not without sustaining damages of our own, which was a risk none of us were willing to accept.

"What can we do?" Edward asked no-one in particular. I could tell he was listening to the thoughts of both Alice and I and watching changes in outcomes as we quickly discussed the options. He held my hand tightly, silently reminding me that whatever else happened, we were in it together; he wasn't leaving and neither would he allow me to leave. He rubbed his thumb gently along the back of my hand to confirm the direction of my thoughts.

"You two know the most dangerous information," I whispered. "I can shield you when we get there, at least that will stop him from learning the full extent of my power."

Alice shook her head slowly, and from Edward's reaction, I knew that the outcome was not one we would want.

"I can show you if you like," Alice said. "The way I used to," she added in a quiet whisper, her face showing an earnest desire to get back to what we had. Despite the circumstances, it warmed me a little, knowing that I might have my best friend back.

I shook my head. I had seen the look on Edward's face before— when he thought I was dead after Cain shot me. I knew that Alice had witnessed either my death or the death of one of our family. I didn't need to see that again.

"What if…" Edward mused.

I saw Alice's eye light up, and she nodded. "It could work..."

"But it's too risky," Edward said. "I can't…" His eyes cut to me and I could see the things he couldn't articulate. He couldn't risk losing me again. Despite his concern though, the almost feverish excitement In Alice's eyes told me that maybe, just maybe, his plan would work. I just needed to find out what it was.

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I clung tightly to Edward's side, desperate to get as many touches in as possible before we arrived to face our doom. The plan was set. I just needed to gather the strength to complete my part of it—to remove all memories of me as soon as they were formed. Self-doubt bubbled away in my chest. I wasn't sure of my ability to control my power enough. The drain I would experience would be inextricable, but I reminded myself that if I were successful, the results would be worth it. At least it would mean that Aro would never know the potential of my talent and would never truly covert me for his coven.

We entered without knocking, and my eyes immediately searched the room for the greatest threats. I passed over the bored, listless one and the blonde with the too-keen eye. I knew exactly what Aro looked like from Alice's visions and Edward's memories, but nothing could prepare me for the palpable malice I could feel rolling off him. Every nuance he made echoed his threat, which stood in direct contrast to his looks. His skin looked paper-thin, as if a stiff wind might send his features crumbling like aging shale. In other circumstances, I might have doubted the threat he posed. Even with the knowledge I had, he looked so frail. What risk was there that he would actually cause us harm? His eyes answered my unasked question; he was a formidable threat, if only for the loyalty of those that surrounded them.

As agreed earlier, I immediately pushed my shield out as far as I could and began reading the memories of all the guards. As my own insurance policy, I began searching for any little thing I could use to my advantage and tried to replicate the memories into my own psyche. I was glad of my near unlimited capacity for thought because I was drawing heavily on it.

Aro began to move toward Edward, but I stepped forward to draw his attention to me instead. I pulled my shield close again as I took another fateful step with my left hand practically glued to Edward's. I wordlessly closed the gap with Aro and offered him my right hand. A surprised murmur run through the assembled guard, but a single gesture stilled and silenced them.

As soon as our hands touched, his eyes narrowed. I held my shield as firmly around my mind as I could. He looked into my eyes and cocked his head in confusion. I felt his mind working the edges of my shield like fingers, testing for weaknesses. I felt probed and violated as he tried to work his way into my mind. As his talent continued to search for vulnerability, his eyes focused sharply on me as if attempting to bore a hole directly into my thoughts.

Then his eyes flickered to Edward momentarily. At the same time, Edward's fingers closed a little tighter around my hand; it was the agreed signal. Aro was going to move on to Edward to get the truth if I didn't satisfy him somehow. I wouldn't be able to shield Edward if that happened, it would be too dangerous for everyone. It would be admitting that we had something to hide.

I closed my eyes and pushed my shield toward Aro, feeling him the instant his mind penetrated my thoughts. I could feel his presence on and around everything that had ever happened to me. Every memory of Edward and I together became tainted with his filth. As he read he probed deeper I closed my eyes to stop myself from snapping my shield around his invasion.

I grew angrier with each passing fraction of a second. My memories responded to my frustration, fuelling me and pushing me toward revenge. In front of me was a source of terror that had torn my family apart for over a year. His ideals may once have been worth something, but over time, they had become corrupted with power. He was no longer a benevolent leader but a wicked dictator, and his time was over.

I no longer wanted to simply escape the encounter intact. Instead, I burned to have revenge for all the terrible acts I found in his memories. I wanted him to pay for what he wanted to do to us, for what he had done to so many others. All for his own personal gain. All for power.

There was one memory that played strongly in my mind, the one event that changed everything for Aro—the first time his cruel calculation destroyed something beautiful—and I had the potential to change it all again. I stole the memory from Aro, securing it deep in my own mind, before taking the most dangerous step possible.

Without thinking—and with Edward's voice screaming, "No!" somewhere behind me—I felt myself tumbling, falling through the expanse of time, falling back through Aro's memories. I ran through them swiftly, seeking the one I had seen which was the best chance we had for survival.

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I had no clue where I was. I had no clue really when I was. All I knew was it was decorated in new and gleaming marble. It was opulent and spacious, full of light. I tried to place the architecture, but I had studied that discipline so little that it was meaningless to me. All I knew was it was reminiscent of Ben Hur and Julius Caesar would not have been out of place. In front of me was a low pool, baths of some description and the walls around me arched up and around to a form a high, wide dome.

I heard quiet, but panicked, breaths coming from across the room. I followed the sound with my eyes and saw Aro leaning against the cool marble. His elegant clothing spoke of the money the Volturi already surrounded themselves with, even so long ago. He was younger, his skin less chalky, his face more handsome. His eyes were black and full of sorrow as he said what looked like a silent prayer to himself. I moved closer and strained to make out the words, and eventually I picked up the odd one carrying on his breath. "Please", "necessarily", and "unavoidable" were repeated regularly throughout his speech.

I knew this was the right memory. This was the moment he steeled himself up enough to do the unspeakable—murder his sister. I looked around quickly, trying to get my bearings in the unfamiliar place. I tried to remember the way from the glance I had at the memory before I shifted. It was only a vague shadow of the knowledge I needed to save my family, but I hoped it would be enough.

I ran through the twisted corridors that led away from the domed room. The corridors I wanted all lead to one place, to one person—to Didyme. I followed the landmarks I had seen in the memory, trying to force my feet to precisely follow his footsteps. I breathed a sigh of relief when I turned into a corridor which ended in a small room. I recognised it from Aro's memory, the room where his innocence lost the battle with his desire for power.

I was shocked by the overwhelming feeling of joy that washed over me as I stepped into the room. I could tell it was an artificial emotion, but it was contagious. I studied the vampire who was radiating the emotion. She shared Aro's long dark hair and thin features, but hers were more feminine and pleasant. A long white dress fell plainly from her shoulders, but she didn't need adornments . I knew at once I had the right person, and that Aro had committed true, cold-blooded murder. No one would be able to maintain the rage required for a crime of passion around the utter happiness filling the room. As a defence mechanism, it should have protected her from all threats, but nothing would be able to stop a cold and calculating, power-hungry Aro.

I didn't know what my next step would be, but I acted on instinct. I walked closer to the young vampire. She appeared to be uncertain about something. I wished I had Edward's talent so that I could know what was playing on her mind. If I could be sure it was concern for what her brother was about to do, I would be able to work it to my advantage. I decided to take the risk.

I placed my hands on either side of her face, and concentrated on showing her Aro's memory of what was about to happen. Her eyes searched the room rapidly, not trusting the sudden images forming in her mind.

"Who's there," she hissed softly, the sound barely escaping from between her teeth.

I couldn't reply, so I showed her a memory that I hoped would help her to understand. She obviously knew about talents, so I hoped it wouldn't be too big a stretch for her to understand mine.

~ 0 ~

"Alice, how much do you know about my gift?"

"Just that it's like mine, but probably more accurate considering you see the past which can't change." She laughed her tinkling laugh.

"Well, it can and it can't."

"And here I thought Edward and I had the corner on talking in riddles."

"I changed two things yesterday. I caused them to happen yesterday but they have been the way they are now for years."

Alice's face twisted in concentration as she tried to work out my logic. "Like?"

"Well, last night I shifted into Edward's past. A couple of times but once in particular... he was at the hospital... dying." The word choked past my lips, the sight of Edward dying in hospital stealing my voice. "Carlisle gave him some pain relief and walked past him onto the next patient, leaving him to die."

"But Carlisle saved him."

I sighed. "It's so much easier to show it like I can with Edward, rather than telling you about it."

"Why don't you try showing me?"

"I don't know if that's..." I knew I was going to question whether I was able to show her or not.

"I think whatever you are thinking will work," Alice said, before cocking her head to the side, "but I can't see anything past you showing me the vision."

"That's because you'll have one doozy of a decision to make," I muttered. Then I continued, "I don't know how to do it properly, I haven't tried it out really."

"Give it a try," she said, "I know you'd never hurt me."

~ 0 ~

"Who are you?" Didyme asked.

Another memory; Edward saying my name.

"Bella?" she whispered.

A memory of my human driver's permit.

"Born, and re-born, so far in the future…" she mused. "But why are you here?" Her voice remained as quiet as her first hissed word.

I showed her Aro's memory again, and in her eyes, I saw her acceptance of the truth as I presented it. I showed her an image of Marcus from our house, bored and detached as if the life had been sucked out of him. I now realised his detachment was a result of the death of the beautiful and peaceful vampire before me. I showed her images of Edward telling me that he left for my benefit. Of me telling Edward I had left him for the same reason. I inundated her with images designed to show her that she needed to go, to run far away and stay away from Marcus for his own good, for hers, and ultimately for my family's. Finally, I showed her a place and a date to meet me. I hoped she trusted me, and her words after I had finished seemed to confirm she did. I had no doubt she had already suspected Aro of plotting something.

"But how do I get away? He's got guards…they'll be able to track me," she whispered urgently, so quietly I almost couldn't hear her.

I showed her the images from Aro's memory. He remembered killing her, and I owned that memory now. I could use it however I liked. I showed her how I had taken Edward's memories, and given them back. She seemed to understand the concept, but I had to be certain that she understood that in order to save her life—and possibly the lives of my family—she needed to run. She needed to stay hidden away. I showed her a place where she could hide, an island off the coast of Rio—Isle Esme. I knew the Volturi knew of it, but they gave it a wide berth as they still harboured enough respect for Carlisle to leave him in peace during his visits there. That and there were no local inhabitants to feed upon. She would be safe there.

Safe but hungry. I briefly considered the issue that would cause for Didyme, but wondered whether she would be willing to try another way of life. I knew I had mere seconds to show her the alternative, so I quickly flickered through a number of my hunting trips, showing her it was possible to live another way. A look that seemed to be a mixture of revulsion and curiosity passed across her face.I showed her my memory of the ride from Port Angeles with Edward so many years ago.

"I can't be sure, of course, but I'd compare it to living on tofu and soy milk; we call ourselves vegetarians, our little inside joke. It doesn't completely satiate the hunger—or rather thirst. But it keeps us strong enough to resist. Most of the time."

She stared at the empty space in front of her, before her eyes flicked to the door. I had heard the footsteps echoing behind me too. It was time. I couldn't show her anything more to convince her to run, and stay away.

I turned to greet the unwelcome intruder. Aro's face was set into a calm mask, but I could see the hint of terror and sadness behind his crimson eyes over what he was planning to do. He wanted it because he knew Marcus and Didyme would leave otherwise, but even he was afraid of the lengths he was prepared to go. At least, he used to be.

His eyes quickly followed the path to where Didyme stood. I stepped away from Didyme and stripped away Aro's memory of seeing her in the room. In the brief instant that he was unaware of her presence, I called up the memory of the nurse's station after blood-typing, of Edward's words as he smelled the blood from Lee Stephen's wound. "Trust me—go."

Didyme ran for the door and as she did, I offered up one last memory for her to take with her. A note with Edward's elegant script, 'Be safe'.

I had to trust that she knew secret ways out, and that she would be able to avoid being intercepted along the way. I hoped that if she was caught, her talent would ensure her survival. But I knew it was out of my hands now. I had no way of controlling what became of her next, but I had secured her escape from a cold-blooded murderer—from her own brother.

I continued to strip Aro's memory as he stared around the empty room. Once enough time had passed that I could replace his memory with the one I had obtained earlier, I pushed it into his mind, replacing it as his own. He blinked once, then again, before looking at his hands and fleeing from the room.

"Marcus!" he cried as he ran—I was relieved when I realised his path took him in the opposite direction of Didyme's escape path. "Marcus, the Romanians…they have destroyed our precious Didyme! They have destroyed her, and stolen her ashes."

I felt revulsion over his lies seep into every part of my body.

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I shifted back to my body to find Aro's eyes boring into mine. He shook his head in shock. "No," he whispered. "You can't know about that. No one knows about that."

He leapt for me, his hands outstretched for me, reaching for my throat. Even as he began to move, I felt Edward pull on my hand, tugging me backwards. Edward roared with anger as he positioned himself as my protector. Aro hissed in response, looking quickly to a small blonde girl nearby him. Her eyes turned to Edward, and then she cocked her head and smiled.

Edward stiffened suddenly, his whole body even more rigid than usual. I looked around briefly, uncertain what was happening. I put my hand onto his shoulder and he whimpered softly. He locked his jaw tightly, as if trying to stop himself from saying something he would regret. I couldn't see his face or what was causing his strange reaction.

Jane turned her smile on me. Edward slumped to the floor as she did. I bent down to see if he was all right. As I did, the look on Jane's face grew frustrated and she narrowed her eyes. Then she seemed to get bored with me.

Jane turned to look at Alice, just as Edward uttered a pained, "No". The blood-curdling scream that escaped from the little pixie's lips—and the shudder that ran through Edward at the sound—made it evident that whatever the blonde was doing, it was causing my family pain.

"No!" I growled and threw my shield out around me as far and fast as it would go. I wanted to stop the small girl from hurting my family.

"Stop," Edward whispered, grabbing my waist as I began to step toward the blonde. No doubt he could see the rage in my eyes, and read the thoughts of murder on my mind. "It does us no good to attack the Volturi. They are not the enemy." I could see his bigger concern easily in his eyes—they were too powerful.

"You're right," I said, my voice echoing throughout the room as I spoke clearly to ensure everyone heard. "They aren't." I levelled my finger at Aro. "He is."

Aro stared at me murderously for a brief moment, before laughing lightly. "You seem to be mistaken," he said, his voice dangerously calm, "I am merely the spokesperson for the group. We are an idea, an ideal if you will. We exist to uphold the laws, and punish transgressors."

"And do we deserve to be punished?" I asked. "What is our crime?"

He laughed again, before shaking his head and smiling indulgently. "I had not said I was punishing you. Although it seems you have a guilty conscious. Perhaps there are deeds you have performed which are worthy of punishment?"

It was my turn to laugh. "You are accusing me, the one who has seen your darkest memories, of a harbouring a guilty conscious."

His smile slipped a little, before he caught it and it froze in place—as cold and dreadful as the rest of him.

"What did Didyme do that deserved punishment?" I broke free of Edward and advanced on Aro a little.

I watched as his eyes flicked sideways to Marcus. I knew I wasn't the only one who had seen the tiny movement. I could feel Marcus' eyes burning into me after I'd mentioned Didyme's name. He was instantly more animated than I had seen him in any of the guard's memories.

"Was wanting to break free and live in peace with Marcus a crime?" I asked.

Aro shook his head as his eyes darted from left to right. I knew he was going to be at his most dangerous now—a cornered animal.

"Then tell me," I demanded. "What crime did Didyme commit that warranted her murder?"

"Murder?" Marcus croaked. I thought he was going to write off my accusations as mere fantasy, but instead his eyes shifted to Aro and locked on him.

"Murder?" Aro choked out before laughing softly again. I was sure everyone in the room could tell that his laughter was off.

"You murdered her. Your own sister."

I heard Marcus's strangled cry as he stood and closed in on Aro, towering over him. "Murder!" he practically shouted.

Edward urgently grabbed my hand and pulled me back, the ranks of the Volturi were broken as if they sensed dissention amongst their leaders.

"Shield them all from her," Edward hissed quietly in my ear, pointing out a timid-looking woman hiding at the back of the fray. I did as he asked, but I wasn't sure how long I would be able to hold up. I was already beginning to feel lethargic, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep my shield so scattered for too long.

I concentrated with all of my effort to block the others from the talent of the vampire Edward had pointed out—leaving her the only one in the room not under my shield. The harder I concentrated, the more I felt myself spinning out of control, my shield strained from being twisted and manipulated so much in such a short space of time.

I gasped once as I felt myself falling back through time once again—only this time I had no idea of my destination.

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A/N:- Sorry for the delay on this chapter—all the usual suspects are to blame, life, love and a touch of writers block. I will work as hard as I can to get the next one out as quickly as possible.

Thank you for sticking with me & supporting me.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a happy new year.