Chapter 5
REMEMBERING
DISCLAIMER: IF I OWNED TWILIGHT, I WOULD NOT BE WRITING FANFICTION FOR IT.
Marcus POV
"If that is the last that we hear of the Cullen boy then I swear I will eat repulsive human 'food' for an entire week!" Caius declares. As much as I believe him to be right, I half wish that Edward-as Aro has been telling me his name is for the past two hours-does not come back just so I can watch Caius try to choke back the "repulsive human food". Now that would be worth seeing I think with a smirk. "I mean," continues Caius, "Did you see the scowl on his face when we told him, correction Aro told him, that we would not grant him his death wish, it was priceless!" At this point I cannot help but grin and exclaim "Oh Caius I do believe that Cullen- I mean Edward (I correct myself as Aro shots me a warning glare) could at this stage, after displaying such prowess, give you lessons in the art of scowling." I have then the satisfaction of watching Caius display his skill at his most, shall I say, favoured art form as he gives me his-in his opinion-his most terrifying scowl.
"Now, now you two, save you're bickering for later please; we have more pressing matters to deal with." Aro stated, silencing both Caius and I with a reprimanding tone. "Should we have perhaps informed Edward that his mate is still alive?" Sighing and rubbing my temples, I stand whilst questioning myself internally why my brothers never listen to me. "Edward Cullen has yet to meet his mate, as far as I am concerned he does not currently have one, all he has which is even remotely anything to do with matters of the heart is an infatuation. Moreover, this bond quite clearly tells me that his "love interest" if one can even dare call said person that, is alive and well. Should we have told him, perhaps but what good would it have done? Brother," I say turning to Aro, "you looked into his mind, and you yourself said that Edward was convinced that this girl, this Bella, was dead. Do you really believe that Edward Cullen would have listened to us?" I conclude with a sigh. Aro nodded your right Marcus, as always you are right, I just hope that everything works out correctly."
Bella POV
We began the steep climb, and the road grew congested. As we wound higher, the cars became too close together for Alice to weave insanely between them anymore. We slowed to a crawl behind a little tan Peugeot. Nervously I begin to drum my fingers on the dashboard, leaning forward in my seat, almost as though I was able to make the traffic move.
"Come on," Alice groaned. "We don't have time for this.
"Alice," I moaned. The clock on the dash seemed to be speeding up. At this stage, my vision has gone almost completely hazy and black spots are appearing in front of my eyes. All I want to do is leap out of the car and run, even with my human pace I am sure that we would progress faster, but then I remember my ingrained clumsiness. Now is not the time to be stupid or rash, now I need to save Him.
"It's the only way in," she tried soothe me. But her voice was too strained to comfort. No, no I think Alice cannot be worried, if Alice is feeling pressured then what hope do we have really of saving Him.
The cars continued to edge forward, one car length at a time. The sun beamed down brilliantly, seeming already overhead. The cheery atmosphere was most definitely at odds with the tension in the car. I glared at the sun, how it could be so bright and create so much joy when He could be about to die at any moment?
The cars crept one by one toward the city. As we got closer, I could see cars parked by the side of the road with people getting out to walk the rest of the way. At first I thought it was just impatience – something I could easily understand. But then we came around a switchback, and I could see the filled parking lot outside the city wall, the crowds of people walking through the gates. No one was being allowed to drive through.
"Alice," I whispered urgently.
"I know," she said. Her face was chiselled from ice.
Now that I was looking, and we were crawling slowly enough to see, I could tell that it was very windy. The people crowding toward the gate gripped their hats and tugged their hair out of their faces. Their clothes billowed around them. I also noticed that the color red was everywhere. Red shirts, red hats, red flags dripping like long ribbons beside the gate, whipping in the wind–as I watched, the brilliant crimson scarf one woman had tied around her hair was caught in a sudden gust. It twisted up into the air above her, writhing like it was alive. She reached for it, jumping in the air, but it continued to flutter higher, a patch of bloody color against the dull, ancient walls.
"Bella." Alice spoke quickly in a fierce, low voice. "I can't see what the guard here will decide now – if this doesn't work, you're going to have to go in alone. You're going to have to run. Just keep asking for the Palazzo dei Priori, and running in the direction they tell you. Don't get lost."
"Palazzo dei Priori, Palazzo dei Priori," I repeated the name over and over again, trying to get it down. I cannot make any mistakes, although I cannot run at the same speed as Alice, I can at least save my love, save my Edward by doing what I can.
"Or 'the clock tower,' if they speak English. I'll go around and try to find a secluded spot somewhere behind the city where I can go over the wall."
I nodded. "Palazzo dei Priori." I cannot forget this name, I must remember.
"Edward will be under the clock tower, to the north of the square. There's a narrow alleyway on the right, and he'll be in the shadow there. You have to get his attention before he can move into the sun."
I nodded furiously.
Alice was near the front of the line. A man in a navy blue uniform was directing the flow of traffic, turning the cars away from the full lot. They U-turned and headed back to find a place beside the road. Then it was Alice's turn.
The uniformed man motioned lazily, not paying attention. Alice accelerated, edging around him and heading for the gate. He shouted something at us, but held his ground, waving frantically to keep the next car from following our bad example.
The man at the gate wore a matching uniform. As we approached him, the throngs of tourists passed, crowding the sidewalks, staring curiously at the pushy, flashy Porsche.
The guard stepped into the middle of the street. Alice angled the car carefully before she came to a full stop. The sun beat against my window, and she was in shadow. She swiftly reached behind the seat and grabbed something from her bag.
The guard came around the car with an irritated expression, and tapped on her window angrily.
She rolled the window down halfway, and I watched him do a double take when he saw the face behind the dark glass. Typical vampires, they really do have a gift for dazzling humans I cannot help myself from thinking. No I mentally scream at myself. Edward needs you. Once he is safe, then I go over this particular adventure with a cynical eye.
"I'm sorry, only tour buses allowed in the city today, miss," he said in English, with a heavy accent. He was apologetic, now, as if he wished he had better news for the strikingly beautiful woman.
"It's a private tour," Alice said, flashing an alluring smile. She reached her hand out of the window, into the sunlight. I froze, until I realized she was wearing an elbow-length, tan glove. She took his hand, still raised from tapping her window, and pulled it into the car. She put something into his palm, and folded his fingers around it. Talk about bribery! It always works like a charm, especially when it comes from a stunningly beautiful vampire
His face was dazed as he retrieved his hand and stared at the thick roll of money he now held. The outside bill was a thousand dollar bill.
"Is this a joke?" he mumbled.
Alice's smile was blinding. "Only if you think it's funny."
He looked at her, his eyes staring wide. I glanced nervously at the clock on the dash. If Edward stuck to his plan, we had only five minutes left. We needed to hurry; for time was most certainly not our friend.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: HEY EVERYONE GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. JUST INCASE THERE IS ANY CONFUSION:
Directly from New Moon
"Spoken words"
Narration.
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