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.
Sorry that this chapter is short and it took me a while to update. I'm having a little bit of trouble getting what I want to happen to fit in the story and make sense...

Chapter 24: Plan
-oOo-

I sat on the couch of the hotel room, staring out into space. After the tears passed, I was silent. I was too stunned to speak.
I looked over at the clock and it was ten o' clock at night on Friday. Alice and Jasper were taking turns going hunting on the outskirts of Volterra. Jasper had gone first so he could have more control to watch me by himself when Alice went out.
I was curled up into a ball, with a blanket around me that had been placed there moments before by Jasper.
"Things will get better," Jasper said quietly as he sat down in the armchair closest to the door of the hotel room.
Carlisle and Esme were scheduled to be executed tomorrow, and Jasper said things will get better? As much as I wanted to march into that throne room and save the day, I knew it was unlikely.
"I wish I could read your exact thoughts, but I can sense your mood. You're feeling doubtful," he said.
You've got that right, Jazz.
I rested my chin on my kneecaps.
Jasper chuckled. "It seems that you agree with me now."
The door slowly unlocked, and Alice moved inside.
Jasper walked over to her and placed a kiss on her lips. I looked away.
Alice walked over and sat next to me, wrapping her arm around my blanketed shoulders.
"Alex, did you talk at all while I was gone?" Alice asked me.
I didn't answer her.
"She didn't," Jasper said. "I could only sense how she was feeling."
I looked away from them.
"Alex, please talk," she pleaded. "You're really scaring me."
Alice's cell phone started ringing from where it sat on the coffee table. She picked it up and flipped it open.
"Hello?... Hey, Rose..." Alice said. She turned and looked at me. "No, she's still not talking... Well... I don't know... This isn't... Okay, you can try... I'll put it on speaker..."
Alice pressed a button and sat her phone down on the table once more.
"Alex?" Rosalie said, her voice drifting out of the phone. "Are you there?"
I ran my hand through my hair, not answering her.
"Alex, please talk! You can't do this to us! We can't lose you too!" she shouted.
I closed my eyes.
"Alex?" Nessie said, her angelic voice ringing in my eardrums. "Why won't you talk? Will you talk to me?"
I couldn't hold it in anymore. After hearing Nessie's voice, the built-up tears meandered down my face and my body shook with silent sobs.
"Well, Nessie, you got some emotion out of her," Alice said with a sigh.
"Hi Alex," Nessie said sweetly.
"Hi Nessie," I replied quietly.
"It's good to hear your voice again," Rosalie said.
"It's good to hear yours, too," I said truthfully.
"Are you... okay?" Rosalie asked.
"No," I said flatly. "I'm honestly not."
"Hey, Edward, Bella, Parker, and I are joining this convo," Emmett bellowed through the phone.
"Hi guys," I said. I received a chorus of hellos in reply.
"Ok guys, time to talk serious," Edward said.
"I don't know how the Volturi are doing it, but I still can't see their plans," Alice said.
"Do you think the Volturi are using hybrids in their planning process?" I asked.
"Dirty, but effective," Emmett commented.
"I doubt they would be using the dogs, so that leaves hybrids as the only explanation that we can figure with our limited knowledge," Rosalie said.
"Don't call Jacob a dog, Aunt Rose!" Nessie cried.
"Sorry, dear," Rosalie replied.
"So, I'm guessing by dogs, you mean shapeshifters?" I questioned.
"Yes," Alice said, placing her hand on my arm.
"So... What are we going to do?" Bella asked quietly. She had not spoken yet, so I had almost forgotten she was there. That made me think of Parker as well. Was he going to speak?
"I don't know enough about these Volturi figures. All I know is that they have created laws that us vampires must follow," Parker said. There was my answer. Ugh, I shuddered at the mention of their name. The only ones of them that I knew the names of was Aro, Jane, and that man Alec.
"The Volturi are the largest and most powerful vampire coven in the world," Edward said. "Aro, the leader, can read every thought you have had by a simple touch. Marcus, who is the brown-haired vampire, Alex, can evaluate relationships. That leaves Caius, the silvery-blonde haired vampire. He doesn't have powers.
"Along with the three leaders, the Volturi has an immensely powerful guard that protects them. You know of Jane-"
I could hear Rosalie growl.
"Anyway," Edward continued, "Jane has the power to give her victim the illusion of a burning pain. The person who is affected isn't really being burnt, it just feels like it.
"Now, the other most powerful member of their guard is her twin Alec-"
"Whoa, I hate to interrupt you, but Alec and Jane are twins?" I asked.
"Yes. Two vampires with two unique and incredibly strong powers," Edward said. "Now, Alec has an extremely strong power. He has the power to cut off all the senses. The victim cannot hear, cannot see, cannot smell, cannot feel... As they say, it is good... negotiating tool.
"Demetri is also a member of the guard, and he is a tracker. He can pick up a scent and follow it all over the planet. He is probably the most powerful tracker alive. Felix works with him often, but he does not have a special ability. Heidi is what the Volturi call their "bait" because she brings back the humans for the Volturi to... feed off of."
I shuddered. I couldn't imagine the scene when the Volturi fed off of those innocent humans.
"Chelsea is a very powerful member. She has the ability to manipulate relationships. Her mate is Afton, who is also in the guard," Edward said. "Reneta has the same power as Bella, which is a protective mental shield. However, Reneta's shield is not as strong as Bella's. There are many other members of the guard, but they do not have special powers like some others do."
"So, when you are a vampire, you might not have a special gift?" I asked.
"That is correct," Edward replied.
"So... I guess you, Bella, Alice, and Jasper got lucky," I said with a small smile.
Edward chuckled. "I guess you could say that. These gifts can be a blessing and a curse."
"Now, back to business, I assume," Parker said. "These Volturi members sound pretty powerful."
"They are," Rosalie stated.
"It would be a suicide attempt to try and fight them," Emmett sighed.
"There must be something we can do!" I shouted.
"That is what we are trying to figure out," Alice said, rubbing her temples.
"Haven't you... negotiated with them before?" I asked.
"Yes, but..." Alice trailed off.
"But what?" I asked.
"I have nothing to show them to get them to listen," she said.
"Aren't Alex's memories enough?" Bella asked. "Aro can see them."
"He knows Esme and Carlisle didn't tell me they were vampires," I said. "He doesn't care. He is punishing them for keeping me human while I knew."
"Can they do that?" Bella questioned quietly.
"I'm afraid they can," Edward said.
Suddenly, a light bulb went off in my head. Why didn't I think of this before?
"I have an idea, Alice," I said, "and I think it might just work."

-oOo-

Sorry for the cliffhanger! All things need to happen for a reason. If I do not update this story soon, have a very safe and happy holiday season with your family! Open lots of presents and eat lots of cookies for me!
Please read and review!

Happy holidays!
~R. C. Cullen 888