Author's Note: I do not own Twilight. Twilight and all of the characters are the creation of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.
Two updates in one day! You lucky little boogers!
You can tell it's going to be a rough chapter with a title like this... Let it begin.
Chapter 23: Volturi
-oOo-
Our plane was a little late arriving into Rome, and we got there at about five a.m. their time. We had to factor in getting our bags, rental car, and then getting to Volterra. We entered the city at almost seven-thirty.
It was a rainy day, and when we entered the city, we were met by three black cloaked figures. They said the Volturi, whose names I found out were Aro, Caius, and Marcus, were "preoccupied" today, so we would be meeting with them at nine a.m. sharp tomorrow. I was relieved with the delay yet uneasy with it at the same time. We were taken to a small hotel within the town and got a room with only one bedroom. Carlisle, Esme, Alice, and Jasper said we only needed one bedroom because I was the only one who slept.
We spent the day inside because as soon as we got to our hotel room, it started pouring. Being cooped up inside made me slightly antsy and anxious. I spent time around everyone else. Alice and I sat down to watch a movie on pay per view, but by looking at her eyes, I could tell that she wasn't focused. Carlisle and Jasper spent most, if not all of the day at the small table talking at vampire speed. When I looked at them, I could see their lips move slightly but no sound could be heard, to my human ears at least.
"Still nothing," Alice said out loud at about five in the evening. I sat at the little table as Carlisle and Jasper had relocated to standing by the windows. Esme had ordered room service (in fluent Italian, I might add) moments before, and I was chiding down on dinner. The food was delicious, but I always prefer Esme's cooking.
"Alice, dear, please take a break," Jasper asked.
"Jasper, I don't want to," she replied.
"But Alice-"
"NO!" she shouted. "I can't take a break! Don't you see that? I will not take a break until I see something! I will not rest!"
I stared down at my food as my vision began to fill with tears. I hated to see people fight, and when it had to do with me, it especially upset me.
In a second, Alice had wrapped me up into her arms and we were sitting on the couch.
"Don't get upset," Alice said, rubbing my hair. "Jasper, I'm sorry I snapped."
I got out of Alice's arms. "I'm going to go lay down."
"Alex, I-" Alice began, but I couldn't hear her finish as I shut the door.
I just laid on the bed for a while, staring at the ceiling. What would happen to everyone? I don't think I could live with myself if anyone was killed. They would keep telling me that it isn't my fault, don't blame yourself, there's nothing we can do. I can't lie to myself and say I believe. No matter what they say, there will always be a pang of guilt in the back of my mind, haunting me.
It's all your fault. It's all your fault.
I should have never ran away from Port Townsend. My fate has been set, and I'll be damned if I try to interfere with destiny. But is this fear, this torture, even destiny? Will we all overcome this?
It's all your fault, my mind says.
The tears start to spill over. I have no other options to listen to my mind. It is my fault. The people who I care about most are in grave danger.
Who was I kidding? Someone like me doesn't deserve such an amazing, unique, and special family. Now fate is making me pay for ever believing I could. Knowing my luck, I'd be stuck in that god forsaken town, not going to college and getting a small job somewhere, barely making ends meet. That's what has happened to almost everyone else who left the foster home. Only one other girl that I knew of got a scholarship and got out while she could. No one else had that much luck.
Alice, Esme, Carlisle, or Jasper never came into the room to talk to me. I wasn't surprised.
-oOo-
Nine a.m. approached with lightning-fast speeds. Waking up early the next morning, I couldn't stay away from everyone. Exactly the opposite of yesterday, when I stayed in the bedroom like a loner.
Alice and Jasper were not allowed to come with Carlisle, Esme, and I to meet the Volturi. As we meet three of the cloaked Volturi members in a small alley, I said my tear-filled goodbyes to Alice and Jasper.
"We will be right outside, waiting," Alice whispered in my ear as I hugged her. "Stay strong, Alex."
I looked up at Jasper. He had an expression that I could not read. I took a deep breath and hugged him. He gently hugged me back.
Esme and Carlisle hugged Alice and Jasper, whispering something in their ears at vampire speed.
After a few seconds, Esme grabbed my hand and Carlisle wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Time to go," one of the cloaks murmured. The voice sounded like Jane, but I could not see the face. The voice, however, sent chills down my spine.
We had to climb through a grate and hole in the brick wall. Carlisle went down first of the three of us, after the cloaks, and he caught me when I jumped down. We wandered down a dark hallway, and Carlisle held my hand the entire time to guide me. After the long passageway was an elevator. The elevator led to a modern lobby, complete with a receptionist. I looked closely at her and... she was human! What would a human be doing as a receptionist for powerful vampires?
The cloaks led us down another hallway and we stopped at a set of double doors. I swallowed the lump that was building in my throat.
This was it. I had a feeling that my fate lied just beyond these doors.
Two of the cloaks opened the large doors, and it seemed to open up into a throne room. There were three thrones in the back of the room, and three males sat in them. The first man, or should I say vampire, in the middle had long jet-black hair and milky red eyes. Of course, he was pale. The man to his right also had long hair but it was more of a dark brown. His eyes were also red and his skin was pale. The vampire to the left of the one in the middle looked very different from the others. He did have red eyes and pale skin, but his hair was to his shoulders and silvery-white.
As soon as Esme, Carlisle, and I walked into the room, Esme and Carlisle were snatched and pulled to the side of the room. Two other men wearing cloaks with the hoods down were holding Carlisle and Esme captive, leaving me standing towards the middle of the room. Alone.
"Carlisle, my dear old friend!" the middle vampire said, standing up from his chair.
"Aro," Carlisle replied flatly.
Aro looked at Esme. "Esme, lovely to see you again. You look well."
Esme didn't respond.
Aro turned and then looked at me. "You must be Alex," he said with a smile that sent a shiver through me. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
He started to walk towards me, and I slightly stepped back, only two find two male cloaks behind me. I couldn't move anywhere.
Aro walked towards me again.
"Now, now, you are not leaving yet, are you?" he asked. "I would hate for you to leave so soon without hearing what I have to say."
He turned away and walked over to Carlisle and Esme.
"Carlisle, my dear friend," Aro said with a sigh. "I am afraid you have broken one of our very important laws. This, however, is not the first time this has happened. It pains me to say this, but something must be done..."
"They didn't tell me they were vampires!" I blurted out, surprised that I could find my voice.
Aro's head whipped around and he stared at me.
"Oh they did not, you say?" he questioned as he walked back over to me. "If Carlisle and Esme did not tell you, then who did?"
I swallowed. I couldn't find my voice again.
"Hmm, I guess I will have to find out for myself then?"
He smiled. "Give me your hand."
I just stared at him. What did he want with my hand? Well, maybe he had some sort of special power...
I looked over at Carlisle and Esme. Carlisle nodded, and I guess he was saying that I should give Aro my hand.
I slowly extended my hand out towards him and he quickly grabbed a hold of it.
In that very second, I felt vulnerable. Exposed.
Aro closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Yes, yes, very interesting my dear. There are a lot of thoughts swarming around in that little head of yours," he said.
What did he mean? Could he read thoughts like Edward?
"Yes, I can read every thought you have ever had with a simple touch," he told me. "That is fascinating, is it not? It is much better than the powers Adrienne and Nathaniel had, right?"
I tensed. Why must he bring that up? He's using these things against me.
"What was it like, Alex my dear, to spend time with Nathaniel? Was it... lonely? Devastating? Painful?" he sneered.
I looked down at my feet as my heart started to beat faster.
"When you were held hostage, were you losing hope? Afraid that those 'evil' vampires weren't coming back for you?"
I could hear Esme growl. It was a menacing sound that was so unlike her. I looked over at her and I know she could see the tears that were streaming down my face. She looked... hurt and scared.
"Then you were back with your family, safe and sound in Forks. But who showed up? Your precious Parker, and he was a vampire! Oh, the horror! Then, the car accident-"
"Stop!" I shouted. "Please stop!"
Aro looked back at Jane and raised his eyebrow.
"No!" Esme shouted.
In a second, I was burning. My whole body felt like it was on fire. I crumpled to the ground with a scream.
I was able to open my eyes and see that Esme managed to break out of the grasp of the vampire that was holding her. She ran over to me and flung herself on top of me.
The burning suddenly stopped as Esme started screaming. Now Jane was torturing her. I looked over at Carlisle as the tears flew faster down my cheeks. His eyes were wide with fear but he could not stop. The vampire holding him was much stronger.
I put my arms around Esme, who was screaming even louder and shaking viciously.
"Please stop! Don't hurt her! Hurt me instead!" I pleaded as I looked up at Aro.
"Jane, enough," Aro said calmly.
"Yes, master," she replied.
Esme was breathing heavily as she weakly sat up, my arms still around her. The vampire that was holding her before came and yanked her off of the ground, wrapping his arm around her throat.
"It is very interesting how you would rather be hurt then let one of your vampire family members, who can take the pain better, be hurt," Aro said with a chuckle.
"I'd do anything for my family," I said through gritted teeth.
"That is interesting, to say the least. It is also a shame, because I have made a decision that I am sure Marcus and Caius will agree with," he said.
Were Marcus and Caius the other two men in the chairs? Oh no.
"It pains me to say this, because Carlisle has been a dear friend of mine for quite some time. However, Carlisle and Esme Cullen, you have been sentenced to execution. In two days, on Saturday the 28th, the deed will be done. Two infractions of the law will have punishments," he stated.
The wind whooshed out of my lungs. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening.
One of the cloaks picked me up off of the ground.
Aro smiled at me. "You may visit on Saturday, as a final goodbye."
"Please don't do this," I begged. "They don't deserve to die. If anyone should be killed, it should be me!"
"Tsk, tsk, that simply will not do. They have broken the law, and they must suffer the consequences," Aro said.
My cheeks were soaked with tears by now. I looked over at Carlisle and Esme. Esme looked like she would be crying if she could.
So did Carlisle.
The cloaked vampire started to pull me towards the door.
"Please!" I begged one more time. "Don't do this!"
I looked over at Carlisle and Esme one more time.
We love you, Esme mouthed.
"Happy Thanksgiving!" Aro shouted as the large throne room doors slammed shut. The cloaked vampire escorted me back the way we came.
Alice and Jasper were waiting in the same alleyway. By the look on Alice's face, I could tell she knew what had happened.
The cloaked vampire pushed me forward and quickly went away.
I ran and collapsed into Alice's arms.
-oOo-
Carlisle and Esme have been sentenced to execution. Could this be the tragic death of the great parents? Stay tuned to this story to find out.
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