Chapter 23
"Are you certain this is what you saw?"
"Yes I am." Her voice quaked with fear, clasping her hands tightly in front of her, head bowed in respect. "I would not have come here had I thought it was a threat to our kind."
A heaving sigh escaped his lips as Aro looked toward his brothers, Marcus and Caius, the co-leaders of the Volturi. Caius thirsted to go after the Cullen's, wanting to make sure Bella Swan had lived up to her end of the bargain when they decided not to end Edward's life. It was Caius who begged Aro to give him permission to travel to Forks, but instead Aro opted for a more polite gesture, sending Bella a beautiful necklace as a wedding gift. Of course, Aro immediately changed tactics when Irina came to him from the Denali Coven from Alaska, the cousins of the Cullen's, and informed him something incredibly disturbing.
Somehow, Bella Swan and Edward had conceived a child together.
At first, Aro did not believe Irina and had Jane torture her for her seditious claims, demanding to know the real reasoning of her visit to Volterra. Irina was steadfast, her golden eyes pleading with them to listen to her, to believe she was telling the truth. Irina had caught Edward and Bella walking toward a cottage deep in the woods not far from the Cullen residence and Bella had been carrying a baby in her arms. The more Irina spied on them, the more she came to find out that Bella had conceived the child before Edward turned her immortal on their honeymoon.
"If what Irina speaks is true, Aro, you know what that means." Marcus stated, holding up his hand before Caius could speak, his face skeletal like always devoid of emotion.
"Unfortunately, yes I do." Aro sounded saddened, heaving another sigh as Felix tossed Irina to the ground before him on her knees. "You have one last chance to redeem this and admit you are lying. Because if we do venture to the Cullen's and find out that this was all a hoax, you my dear will die very slowly and painfully." He promised in that same sweet voice, watching Irina's eyes widen slightly.
"She's telling the truth." Caius stood up and walked over, helping Irina to her feet. "I can feel it, Aro, right down to her bones. She's telling us the truth about those retched Cullen's. They've created a monster to try to overtake us!"
Aro merely looked away, hating the fact that Caius actually made sense, but something inside of him still hesitated. "Irina Denali, do you swear oath on the Volturi's honor that you are telling us the truth?" Aro knew if she wasn't, Irina would crack here and now, but she still wouldn't budge or change her story.
"Yes, I would not have come here otherwise." Irina whispered, lowering her gaze away from Aro's, and gasped when he snatched her hand in his own.
Aro's power was immaculate; he could read every thought she ever had with one bare touch, her eyes showing him all that had happened. "I see." He murmured almost thoughtfully, releasing her hand a few short minutes later, not taking his eyes from her. "You are here for a very selfish reason, Irina, not just for the 'good' of our kind." He informed her coolly, folding his arms in front of his chest. "We have asked you why you've gone to such lengths to come here and tell us about the Cullen's creation. Do you deny you're here for revenge?"
"No." Irina knew she couldn't lie and Aro had her, swallowing hard. "But…That's only part of the reason, you must believe me! I do not wish for the Cullen's to gain complete control over our kind and that's exactly what they're doing! You know as well as I do that an Immortal Child is forbidden to our kind because of the danger they hold!"
"She has several good points, Aro." Marcus couldn't deny it, staring straight ahead. "As the leaders of our kind, we should investigate at the very least. If all is well, it will be just a simple visit."
Aro contemplated that, his eyes never leaving Irina, arching a slow eyebrow. "Very well." He finally caved, sitting back on his throat with nimble fingers stroking the arms of his chair. "On one condition."
"Which is?" Caius demanded irritably, glad Marcus finally sided with him about this matter.
"We're bringing our star witness with us and she's going to announce in front of the Cullen's what exactly she saw and what she's accusing them of." Aro watched Irina's face, arching an eyebrow when she stood up, squaring her shoulders.
"I will do whatever you want, Aro."
Aro nodded once and stood up as well. "I hope you realize that Laurent's death is not worth your own." He then walked out of the room, leaving Irina with that disturbing thought.
Blood red eyes stared out into the deep woods as Jane, Alec, Demitri and Felix contemplated where to look next. Jane wanted Bella Swan and she would have her, having been sent secretively by Caius. Of course, when they invaded the Swan residence, all they found was two meddlesome humans. The house smelled awful, like a thousand wet dogs, though they didn't think anything of it…until now.
"There are other species among us." Jane said softly, though there was only danger lurking beneath the softness. "I wonder what else the Cullen's have hidden from us."
"There is one way to find out, sister." Alec stated, all of them wearing black cloaks with hoods on. "We must pay them a visit."
"Not yet." Jane turned to face her brother, holding her and up when Felix went to speak, shaking her head. "I've contacted Caius and he's informed me the rest are on their way here. We have to wait now."
"Do they know we attacked the Swan residence?" Demitri demanded, knowing if Aro found out, they would all be in trouble. "Jane…"
"I do not know nor care." Jane smiled coldly, placing a hand on Demitri's shoulder, knowing he was worried about Aro's repercussions. "I'm only waiting out of respect to the Volturi, nothing more. If I had it my way, the Cullen's would have been wiped away years ago."
Alec chuckled at his sister's hatred toward the Cullen's, knowing she despised any vampire that didn't embrace their nature. Drinking human blood was the only way to go, yet they lived off of animals and it sickened her. Alec didn't care either way, though he would follow his sister anywhere, inhaling the air as the wind picked up slightly. The Volturi would arrive momentarily, though a sweet scent filled Alec's nostrils, along with the rest of them.
Human blood.
"Do you smell that?" Felix growled, his eyes swimming with hunger, licking his lips keenly. "I think dinner has arrived for us."
"No."
Alec looked over at his sister, raising a slow eyebrow. "What is it, sister?" He asked, walking toward her slowly, watching her stare straight ahead as a branch cracked from a distance.
"If we harm anymore humans right now, Aro will grow suspicious and we cannot have that." Jane simply replied, turning abruptly and headed in the opposite direction of the delectable smell. "Besides, we already ate earlier."
Alec knew Jane was hiding something else, but didn't say a word, simply following suit with a grumbling Felix and silent Demitri in tow.
Waiting was one of the hardest things Jacob ever had to do, knowing the Cullen's were doing everything in their power to retrieve Selene. This was killing him though, feeling every ounce of pain she was currently going through. Whoever this bloodsucker was, Jacob was going to rip him to shreds, growling from low in his throat. Riana still didn't know the truth about her brother and Jacob knew Paul was trying to protect her by keeping it hidden. She was going to find out sooner or later because Jacob planned on destroying Luke as soon as he was found.
A twig snapping from a distance caught Jacob's interest, his dark eyes surveying the night air, smelling bloodsuckers in the air. It wasn't the Cullen's, someone else was here and it was probably who attacked Riana and Paul at Charlie's. Squaring his shoulders, Jacob moved in the direction toward the woods and scowled when a cold hand landed on his broad shoulder, his head slowly turning to stare at Edward Cullen.
"Don't do anything rash yet, Jacob." Edward quietly said, moving past Jacob, closing his eyes to hear the thoughts of whoever it was. "It's Riana."
"How do you…" Jacob's words faltered when Riana came out of the woods, having escaped from the Cullen house in a fit of tears, looking extremely weak.
He immediately ran to her side just as Riana dropped to her knees in front of him, wrapping his arms protectively around her. Riana clung to him for dear life, sobbing out Selene's name repeatedly, and Jacob's heart instantly shattered in his chest. He lifted her chin with his strong hand and wiped her tears away, his head snapping up just as Paul came barreling out of the woods.
Paul growled and stalked over to Jacob when Edward immediately stepped in his path, folding his arms in front of his chest. "What did you say to her?" Edward demanded, keeping his voice quiet because he didn't want to wake his daughter. Bella was of course still up, they never slept. "Bella, go back inside."
"No." Bella was defiant as always and walked over to where Jacob held a sobbing Riana in his arms, sighing. "Let me take her inside, Jake." She whispered, causing Jacob to reluctantly hand over Riana, not believing how strong Bella was.
"Thanks Bells."
"You liar! You're a liar!" Riana kept shouting in between fits of sobs, burying her face in her hands, shaking her head. "It's not true…It's NOT true!"
Both Jacob and Edward stared at Paul with narrowed eyes, having a sinking feeling they knew what he'd told Riana. "Have you lost your damn mind? Riana didn't need to know about her brother yet, you idiot!" Jacob growled, shoving Paul further away from the cottage.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? That's my imprint and she deserved to know the truth!" Paul didn't regret telling Riana about Luke being a bloodsucker, though he hated seeing the tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm not keeping anything from her and either should any of you!"
"Now is NOT the time…"
"Stop." Edward demanded, his eyes moving toward the woods, a scent surrounding him. "Both of you come with me, there's something in the woods."
"I'm staying here with Riana." Paul went toward the cottage, knowing Edward wouldn't stop him. "Bella, I need to see her." He pleaded when he saw her standing in the doorway of the cottage, her arms folded in front of her chest defiantly.
"Cool off first and let her rest a little."
Edward and Jacob headed into the woods while Bella dealt with Paul, golden eyes shining through the darkness. He had perfect vision, moving branches out of the way, the smell of blood growing heavier. Something wasn't right, this blood smelled familiar and Edward looked back at Jacob because he knew the man could smell it too. They didn't speak, though Edward could hear Jacob's thoughts, heaving a sigh.
Selene, please tell me you're here. Please tell me you're not dead.
"She's not." Edward assured him, causing Jacob to growl because he hated when Edward read his mind. "It's her, I can smell her."
Jacob's heart hammered in his chest and immediately took off running through the woods, stopping short when he heard a soft cry. "Selene." He whispered and immediately calmed himself down because Jacob didn't want to phase yet. Edward was right beside him as they continued racing through the woods at top speed, nearing the strong scent.
"Let go of me!" Selene demanded, crying out when Luke backhanded her across the face, sending her sprawling to the ground. "You have no idea what you're doing!"
"I love you so fucking much and you don't even care!" Luke shouted, burying his hand in her beautiful brown locks, her smell intoxicating him. "I want to change you and you refuse to let me so we can be together!"
"I'll never be yours!" Selene shouted, spitting blood right in his face, knowing that was probably a really bad move on her part. "I hate you, Luke!"
Luke had decided to bring Selene back to Forks to find Riana because he wanted to see his sister again. He wasn't thinking clearly and Selene knew it, trying to take advantage at every turn. She was shocked when Luke demanded that Riana see their wedding, actually thinking she would marry him willingly. Selene was fighting him tooth and nail every step of the way, but with Luke being a vampire, he was incredibly strong.
"And I love you, you'll get used to us being together, Selene. I simply know it and Riana will be thrilled." He grinned from ear to ear, licking the stream of blood that came from her mouth, her cheek already heavily bruised. "Why do you make me hurt you like this?"
"We both know you enjoy doing it, don't even try convincing me you love me because it will never work!" Selene struggled against him again and closed her eyes when the rage in his own flared, waiting for another striking blow.
It never came.
Luke suddenly flew through the air and collided with a tree, the velocity causing it to crack right down the middle. Selene blinked and watched as Edward Cullen attacked Luke, not realizing how close they'd been to Forks. Roaring in outrage, Luke fought back, knowing he couldn't lose Selene now, not when he was so close to having her completely.
Selene was so enthralled in watching Edward and Luke fighting that she didn't realize something else creeping up behind her…until something wet nudged her arm. Selene let out a scream and jumped, her wide jade eyes nearly shooting out of their sockets at the sight of the gigantic russet colored wolf in front of her, feeling as though her heart might stop from shock. Then she stared in the dark eyes of the wolf and the realization crashed over her like a ton of bricks, knowing exactly who it was.
"Jake…"
The wolf nodded its head once and nuzzled her neck before licking the wound on her face. Selene reached out to touch him with a trembling hand and watched as the wolf jumped over her to join in the fight. Luke was going to die and that just broke Selene's heart even more, watching as he was beginning to lose the fight. Edward suddenly caught Luke from behind while Jacob bit his stomach, causing Luke to howl out in pain.
"Stop please! Please stop both of you!" Selene shouted loudly, stumbling toward them and watched as Jacob suddenly phased in front of her, causing her eyes to widen even more.
He was stark naked in front of her and immediately pulled the shorts from the cord around his ankle he carried, pulling them on. Edward had a tight hold on Luke just as Jasper arrived, Edward having sent a message to Alice and hoped she heard it. Jasper had the ability to control emotions and he currently calmed Luke down, knowing they had to keep him alive to find out exactly why he'd taken Selene hostage.
"Back to the house." Jasper ordered, nodding at Edward as Luke slowly sagged, keeping his eyes locked on the newborn vampire. "We have bigger problems at hand."
Edward nodded once, reading Jasper's thoughts and immediately headed in the direction of the house, leaving Jacob alone with Selene.
Selene burst into tears as Jacob immediately went to her, his arms wrapping around her body, clinging to him for dear life. "I love you so much!" She kissed him like it was the last time and Jacob couldn't help kissing her back, their tongues instantly entwining together. "I love you, take me Jacob!"
Jacob blinked as she began undoing his cargo pants, dark eyes widening. "Your condition…" He groaned when she began kissing down his chest, both of them falling to the ground in a heap with her straddling his waist.
"Forget my condition. I want you now." She growled, having taken her clothes off and kissed him hungrily, gasping when he suddenly filled her. "Oh Jake…"
Selene had vowed if she ever got away from Luke, she would give herself completely Jacob as soon as she saw him again, and that was happening right in the middle of the woods.
Nothing else mattered at that moment, not even as the Volturi neared.