All characters are the property of Stephenie Meyer. All original characters and storylines belong to me, myself and I. But I gets all the credit. Me is cash only. Myself takes the blame.
This chapter is being posted in honor of the public release of "Twilight, Eclipse" tonight at midnight! ENJOY THE SHOW!
I need to give you an extra A/N for this chapter. You see, it was originally over 8,000 words, but Irishgirl pointed out that there's a lot of serious discussion going on, and to keep everything in one chapter might feel overwhelming. She suggested that I cut this chapter in half and move the other "big discussion" into 19. After bouncing it around, and already wandering under a cloud of being "too heavy with details" and "to cerebral", I thought it would be a good idea take this advice. So chapter 19 will be coming soon, and the chapter I've been working on (formerly known as 19) will be chapter 20 instead.
Check out my blog for updates: gkkstitch-gkkmouse(dot)blogspot(dot)com
Chapter 18: to cross the River Styx
Alec couldn't believe the words that were coming out of Aro's mouth. He had to be misunderstanding his master. They all had the right to their anger, but it sounded like Aro was demanding that this butcher join the Volturi to make amends for the damage he had inflicted on the Guard. His sister was merely damage to the Guard?
He grief overwhelmed him again. No, Jane was more than merely collateral damage. She was more than his sister. She was his friend and his protector. She had always used herself to shield him from harm: first from their abusive father, then from the cruel hands of the church, and finally from the rage of the mob on their way to the pyre, until at last she delivered him into this eternal life with her, with Aro.
Alec focused on the room again, quelling the pain of his loss.
Carlisle was defending the assassin. Alec looked between him and Aro watching their verbal debate bounce back and forth and grow more heated. Rolle's words joined the conflict and a smug expression slid over Aro's face. What had Rolle said? What did it mean?
Why did Aro look pleased? Why did Rolle looked resigned? Were the Cullen's eyes filled with... sorrow?
None of the Cullens had time to see the message from Alice that had suddenly appeared on their phones.
In a snap, the meaning was clear to him. Rolle had just agreed to join the Volturi. Alec's murderous sneer was the only sign of the rage and betrayal that raced across his body as his mind exploded in resentment. He jumped at Rolle in a bitter tantrum, refusing to let his sister's murderer slide effortlessly into her seat.
The sudden motion drew Rolle's eyes up as Alec leapt into the air. "No!" he barked, throwing himself in front of Bella. Her concentration broke and her shield fell. A torrent of input hit Rolle and Edward's minds and it was instantly obvious that Alec's attack was meant for Rolle.
The silent attack was over before it began. Marcus' hand snapped out like a viper, catching Alec in midair by his foot, and threw him down to the ground. Edward had not heard Alec's thoughts. Rolle had not sensed his intentions. Bella's shield had prevented anyone from any forewarning of Alec's state of mind. Only Marcus was unaffected. He had seen the snapping red around Alec expand like a fireball. He was the only one prepared to react.
Marcus held Alec down by his throat and Alec's eyes were surprised to see malevolence in Marcus' normally expressionless face.
"You will not disobey us," he said in a low and dangerous voice. Marcus lifted Alec by the neck and set him on his feet, summoning Chelsea with his eyes to take the youth away. Marcus met her eyes as he said, "See to it." It was understood that she would use her unique gift to control Alec's loyalty and obedience.
Aro watched the scene with a new sense of pride in his brother.
Outside of Bella's shield, Rolle was overwhelmed with Edward's protective anxiety over Bella. Despite the fact that he could see she was all right, he needed her physically close and Rolle passed Bella into her husband's protective arms. He positioned himself in front of all four of the Cullens like a bodyguard.
"Are you all right?" Edward said softly, his voice was tight with worry. Bella nodded wordlessly. Edward's hands pulled her close even as they smoothed over her body searching for any injury.
Esme wrapped her arms around both of them. Edward wasn't the only one who needed to be calmed with physical contact. Carlisle moved closer as well, putting one hand low on his wife's back, and the other on Bella's shoulder. Esme raised her eyes to his in silent communication.
When Marcus turned back and saw Aro's open approval, he bowed his head and resumed his position at Aro's side. As he turned and faced the others, he realized Rolle was staring at him.
Marcus didn't know why the intense look on Rolle's face felt like a question, but he felt the need to explain. "Aro gave his word that no one would be hurt."
Rolle blinked but his peculiar expression did not change.
"Thank you, Marcus." Carlisle's voice was low and thick as he looked between Marcus and Rolle.
"Yes, thank you, Marcus," Aro repeated, scanning the faces of the Cullens. "Bella, if you would be so kind, could you please shield Rolle again," he said without explanation.
Bella looked questioningly to Edward, but did not shield Rolle until Edward nodded, trusting that he would know if Aro's intentions were safe for all of them.
Aro continued. "While I appreciate your position on this matter, Carlisle, it seems more information is required now."
"What do you mean?" Esme said, shaking her head. "Haven't we all been through enough?"
"He means that we've learned something new about Rolle's gift," Edward said as he met Carlisle's questioning gaze.
"What?" Bella asked, leaning back from Edward to see his face.
Aro moved to stand beside Carlisle as he appraised Rolle again. "While I don't agree with the Romanian's methods," he began earnestly, "I do understand the need to learn as much as we can about Rolle's abilities, if only for his own edification so he can begin to learn why control will be so important."
"What did you see?" Carlisle asked, looking between Aro and Edward.
Aro frowned as he openly evaluated Rolle's cautious and confused expression. The rumbling was still present, though low and distant. He paused, not knowing if what he wanted to say would be a catalyst to upsetting Rolle further, and with so few of his Guard left he realized there was only one person in the room who could answer Carlisle's question without further inciting the unstable assassin.
Edward waited to see if Aro would answer Carlisle, but instead Aro directed his thoughts to Edward. Rolle will take this better from someone he knows and trusts.
Sighing, he looked at Carlisle and said, "Rolle doesn't seem to have his own free will." His voice was almost apologetic as he said to his friend, "Because you have no control over your mind, you cannot distinguish between your own will and that of the people around you."
The concept was almost too big to understand and the room was silent as they all considered different implications of this problem. Esme thought of Carlisle, and Rolle's attempt to kill himself moments ago during his despair. Edward thought of murderers, and their violently flailing rage. Carlisle thought of the desperation of the families of patients, and the lengths they would go to in order to save the lives of their loved ones. Bella considered the humans they interacted with on a daily basis and their wildly fluctuating drives: family, work, status, the need to impress others... She could easily recall that time from her own mortal life. Half the time, people didn't even know why they did what they did, reacting on pure emotional responses that often made them act irrationally.
Rolle stood in the midst of the silence questioning everything he had ever done, every reason and every motivation. "But... But I- I was in the ocean when I came to your house, knowing I needed to protect your Bella. Was that... What was that, then?"
The ever-present rumble increased with his agitation.
"I think it was real," Aro said quickly to placate the boy. "That was you. I won't be evasive with you, but we need to know for sure. I'd like to ask you one more question, if I may. I want to know more about the night you first met Bella." He looked quickly at Edward and held up his hand.
Edward came forward and put his hand in Aro's as Rolle thought about that night. Aro winced instantly at the fragments of Rolle's mind, releasing Edward's hand as if he'd been burnt. Bella took a long slow breath and brought Rolle and Edward into her shield again.
Esme went to Rolle's side and took his hand in both of hers, smiling encouragement to help him. "You played for us that night. All of us."
Rolle blinked and nodded slowly as a faint smile played across his lips. "Bella wanted a CD so she could hear the songs again." His voice was soft and unsure.
As Esme and Rolle spoke, Edward nodded to Aro. The elder placed his hand on Edward's arm again, hearing the entire evening play out in a moment, and knew his suspicions were correct. Rolle could find peace and express his own free will when he was around the Cullens. The decisions he had made about manipulating Marcus into bringing him here to Italy had been all his own and not influenced by anyone else. The songs Rolle had created and sung that night were more proof that the only goal Carlisle's coven had was to live quietly with their mates, dabbling in the human world to keep their humanity.
Edward felt enormous relief as he heard Aro's assessment. More importantly, Edward heard Aro sorting options in his head of how to keep Rolle alive and useful. Aro did not let go of Edward's arm, wanting to know his reactions to this new tactic, and did not try to obscure his thoughts as he began to envision Edward and Bella's part in keeping Rolle's skill viable.
I won't lie to you, my friend. He is far too valuable to destroy now that we are weakened, but he's no good to me if I can't use his skills. You say you understand and value the role of the Volturi, then you will help me convince him that it will be his duty to help us keep the peace in times of need.
But he can't remain in Italy, Edward insisted. He would need to be kept within a shield all the time.
What makes you think he could be kept contained anywhere else? Aro said. Your Bella can't keep him shielded all the time. She's too young and is still learning to control her own gift.
If he comes back with us, he wouldn't need to be kept within a shield all the time," Edward pointed out.
Carlisle and Bella watched the unspoken debate going on between Edward and Aro, uncomfortable with being left out, but also afraid of Rolle's reactions if he were aware of the nature of their conversation. When Aro's expression turned dark, Bella looked worriedly at Carlisle, who cautioned her to remain silent with a subtle shake of his head.
You know he's calm and safe with us, Edward pressed. If Rolle stayed with us, I will be able to hear the minds of anyone that comes near him that could trigger his loss of will, and Bella would only have to shield him from that influence when necessary.
Aro's eyes lit up with the possibility. Which means you would both need to come with him when I needed him. The implications were clear. All three of them would be, by default, Volturi in practice if not by name.
This time it was Edward's expression that tensed with his immediate refusal.
Aro's expression changed to a sneer. Hypocrisy suits you too well, my young friend. Your stubbornness and double standards, where your wife is concerned, will be your ultimate destruction. Do not presume my favor is indefinite, and do not abuse my good will.
The muscles in Edward's jaw tensed and he felt Bella's mind touch his as she realized his anger. Don't let him get to you, Edward. Whatever he's thinking, just let it go for now until we can all talk.
As Bella's words appeared in Edward's mind, a snide smile appeared on Aro's face. Beautiful, talented and intelligent.
Edward looked at Carlisle, meeting his eyes and hearing his unspoken questions and worries. He looked at his wife and his eyes softened at her trusting and loving expression, almost fidgeting in her need to touch him.
He sighed heavily through his nose, forcing himself to be calm. I won't answer for them, Edward thought at last. "We'll discuss it."
"Of course," Aro readily agreed. "I'll take you to the library."
The sudden turn of circumstances gave way to a new feeling of dread in Edward.
~•~
When they were finally alone in the nearly silent castle, each of them collapsed into the desperate arms of their mates, holding each other and whispering words of love and relief. Rolle's gaze swung like a pendulum from the floor to the frightened couples as he skirted silently along the wall and out of their way. As much as he wanted to disappear into the ocean for the rest of time, he needed the answers that Carlisle seemed to have. He couldn't stop himself from looking at them, basking in their nearness and their love for each other.
A sob caught in Carlisle's throat as he crushed Esme to his chest. "What were you thinking?" he whispered in torment.
"I wasn't thinking," Esme apologized. "I just couldn't let him kill himself."
He held her face in his hands as he pressed his forehead to hers. "I'd be lost without you." She knew this, but he felt compelled to say the words, knowing she had been dealing with the same fears about him of late.
"I know. I'm sorry." She kissed him, wrapping him in her arms a moment before she remembered the others. "I have to call and let them know we're okay for now."
"Alice will know," Carlisle said.
"I know," Esme fussed, dialing the phone, "but it's not the same as hearing our voices."
As Esme called home, Bella smoothed her hands over Edward's neck, kneading the back of his neck to ease the tension there. She grew more and more anxious by the dark look his eyes. "What did he say?"
He sighed and pulled her to him, putting his hand on the back of her head to tuck her against his chest. He pressed his lips to the top of her head and whispered, "Come to me," in her hair. Bella held him tight as she pressed her shield back to give him access to her thoughts. He moaned quietly and the tension from his expression slackened.
I'm here, she assured him. I'm always here. She felt him nod.
Edward let himself sink into her overwhelming relief that they were all safe. If he concentrated all his awareness on her, he could almost pretend that her thoughts were his own—almost. He wished he could simply crawl into her mind and live there in peace. Could there be a bubble of safety for immortals? Today, more than any other in the history of their kind, proved that immortality was almost as fragile as humanity. Nothing was truly permanent. The shiver ran through him and his arms tightened around Bella.
As Carlisle and Esme's relief tickled around the edges of his mind, he let his focus include them as well, listening as Esme spoke on the phone and promised Rose they would all be home soon. From the calm sanctuary of Bella's arms, Edward spent the next ten minutes telling them everything he and Aro and heard. He explained how Aro had learned earlier how easily Rolle was swayed and noticed it immediately when Rolle stood up to Carlisle, firmly demonstrating his own will.
Rolle listened to all of this as if they were talking about someone else. His face was passive though his mind was racing, torn between guilt and anger and self-loathing. He remained across the room from them, feeling separated from them. He would not let himself think of Rachel and what his lack of self-will meant between them. He remembered the teen arguing with his mother, the couple making out in the row behind him, and Rachel's sidelong glances. He had been angry at Marcus for implying Rachel was merely a meal... or had he? Was it the arguing teenager? And his sudden inexplicable need to connect with someone—was his feelings reciprocal, or were they merely hers? How could he know? Rolle tried to focus on what Edward was saying, wanting to ignore the anxiety he was already battling.
"He feels that allowing us to leave and letting Rolle survive will send the wrong message to the remaining Guard," Edward said.
"So he needs to find a reason to express his control of his new weapon," Esme sneered. She looked across the room at Rolle, conveying with her expression that she was sorry it had come to this.
Carlisle shook his head. "Aro is far more practical than that, I'm afraid. He's absolutely right. He needs Rolle now. Before, he had time to possibly ease Rolle into the ranks, but now they are weak. If there was another war in the south, or if a coven took it upon themselves to create forbidden children, or if the werewolves attack from Siberia, there would be no one strong enough or organized enough to stop it."
"But in order for Rolle to have his own will," Edward said at last, "he would need to be in the company of a vampire who is a shield."
Everyone looked at Bella, but it was Rolle who reacted.
"No! No, I... I can't... I'll withdraw my offer! I can't let you!" His tone was feverish with anxiety.
Carlisle held up his hand. "Rolle, please, trust me, I would never agree to anything that would put Edward or Bella at risk."
Rolle's face crumpled. He hung his head, shaking it from side to side. "No, you wouldn't," he choked. "That's my job." His brittle voice failed as he spoke, the words nothing more than bubbles of sound as the truth of the danger he put them all in consumed him.
Edward went to Rolle and put his hands on his shoulders and gave him a gentle shake. "You had no idea it would turn out this way, and I understand why you did all of this. For that alone, I will always be grateful to you. You've always been a friend to me, but as a friend, I have to say... I've wanted to knock your head off a few times today."
Rolle's watery chuckle was the desired effect and Edward pulled him into an embrace. Edward gave Rolle a moment to compose himself. "Please don't help me anymore," Edward said, making Rolle laugh again.
"I'm so sorry," Rolle said. "I've just made everything worse."
"No," Carlisle assured him gently. "Not worse. Perhaps a little more complicated, but not worse."
Rolle shook his head, not believing Carlisle. "You're just being kind."
"I'm not lying to you, Rolle," Carlisle maintained. "Until I walked into that chamber, I had no idea that Caius had so much animosity towards us. To accuse me of leaving my position at the hospital so I could use a teaching position to search for gifted humans, to indoctrinate them as vampires into our lifestyle? He blatantly accused us of intending to build an army."
"Of all the preposterous..." Esme trailed off, fuming.
"I'm glad we at least brought the argument to them, instead of being blindsided with it," Carlisle agreed. "I am surprised, however, that Aro allowed all of this to escalate simply because Bella joined our family."
"If anyone is to blame," Esme said, "it's Aro."
"No," Rolle said. When all four of them looked at him surprise, Rolle backpedaled. "Well, maybe, but he only wanted your family looked into, not acted against. He was less concerned about Caius, after the fact, than he was Demetri. "
"What?" Edward asked, surprised. "How do you know that?" At Rolle's wry expression, Edward rephrased his question. "Why would he be less concerned about a vampire as powerful as Caius, than Demetri."
Rolle shrugged apologetically. "Because Caius' only power was as an orator. When he spoke, he was a great debater: logical, vicious and passionate. Demetri acted on what Caius had been talking about. Aro has always known he could control Caius, but Demetri acted on his own, uncontrolled and unguided. It's not the first time there's been a grab for power here, but it was the first time it was one of the Guard."
The four Cullens stared at Rolle in shock, both because of his lucid statement and what he knew about the Volturi.
Their frank appraisal of him, made Rolle retreat a step. "What?"
Carlisle took a deep breath and shook his head as if to clear it. "Rolle, we really need to sit down and talk about your abilities."
Rolle's head bowed as if he'd done something wrong. Some part of him knew this was the crux of the problem. He put them all in danger because he did not understand his own weaknesses and shortcomings, nor did he fully understand the consequences. Talking about it, though, made it worse because he had to take ownership of it, even though he didn't understand any of it, or even what 'it' was.
Carlisle motioned Rolle to join them around one of the ancient study tables. As Rolle sat beside Carlisle, Edward held a chair out for Bella and stood behind her with his hand resting on the back of her neck.
Carlisle regarded Rolle a moment noting the slump of his shoulders and lowered eyes. For a moment, he felt as though he were catching sight of himself in a mirror, but pushed the thought aside in order to help Rolle understand himself. The irony was not lost on Carlisle, when he had been feeling just as dejected and directionless as this man did. Some things could be fixed, though, and he knew he could help Rolle see that.
"I know you've never been told this," Carlisle began, "because of the circumstances of your change. When we are changed, we are essentially frozen in the state we existed as mortals." Carlisle paused to watch Rolle's reaction. "Rolle," he began again, gently, "you were trapped in your grief after Gillian died."
Rolle looked up, his eyes wide and as he considered Carlisle's words his eyes went unfocused, panting almost in fright as realization overwhelmed him. The rumble became more prominent.
"I can't hear him," Edward said quickly. "Carlisle?"
Bella jumped up and knelt beside Rolle taking his face in her hands, ignoring Edward's frantically grasping hands behind her. "Look at me! Look at me!" she insisted, pulling Rolle's face around to face hers. "Stop!"
Rolle froze in her hands, looking back at her. She could see he was filled with panic. "Tell me what you're thinking." When he didn't answer, she pressed him again. "Rolle, tell me." She saw his wild panic change into fear and regret. It was his regret that drove it home to her. "What happened after Gillian died?" she asked quietly.
Rolle looked at her, his eyes sliding away to Carlisle's, then back to Bella. "I hunted for the man who killed her," he said in a brittle voice.
Bella blinked in confusion. She knew this part of the story. He had killed Gillian's murder.
"I..." Rolle stopped and swallowed hard. "I-I hunted him... for a long time. I didn't eat. Didn't sleep. I... did..." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Months. I did... things..." He stopped again, and simply added, "Bad," as a way of summing up everything he could not say.
He looked sidelong at Carlisle, "I was frozen that way?"
"Oh, Rolle," Carlisle sighed.
"No," Esme answered firmly. "That's not what Carlisle means." She stood up and sat on the arm of Rolle's chair, putting her arm over his shoulder. "You had a nervous breakdown, that's all. That's what Carlisle means, dear. Losing Gillian like that broke you, and you were frozen in that broken state. Not bad. You could never be bad. You have to trust me. I know."
Rolle looked up at her, and Esme added, "I know because that's how I was when I was changed. I was broken just like that."
Bella reached out and took Esme's hand, squeezing it.
"You said you know why Gillian isn't here," Rolle said. "I didn't get last rites... when I... died?" he added, unsure what to call it now. "So I didn't go to hell?"
Carlisle shook his head. "I'm sure it feels like hell to you, but no, this isn't hell." He wasn't sure he could convince Rolle, but there were other things to teach him that were more important. "I think Marcus was right about your abilities. I think you had an inherent ability to find people, but you only discovered it yourself in the worst possible way. Changing you during that time has probably made your own thoughts and your gift indistinguishable from each other, but we won't know that for sure until we can see if you have the power to control it."
"Do you think I can?" Rolle asked hopefully.
"I honestly don't know. I'm sorry." Carlisle felt himself settle back into the role of doctor, helping a patient deal with bad news.
Esme watched her husband. His compassion for others was unchanged, despite his own doubts. He was a natural healer, be it body or soul that needed care. He could not fight his nature, and watching him with Rolle now made her realize that part of the problem was that Carlisle had been denying himself this outlet. He was, however, oblivious to his wife's silent scrutiny as he focused only on Rolle.
"Right now, it appears that you can't distinguish what you know from what you 'absorb' from others when you are tracking them, but that could be simply that you didn't know you had to look for a difference. You said you were able to find people you've never met before?"
Rolle nodded. "There were others. I never met them, but I found them."
Carlisle nodded, thinking. "We'll just have to have a bit of patience then. Over time, and with practice, maybe we'll begin to unravel that. Now as to your other power."
Rolle looked uncomfortable again, knowing he had put his friends through pain.
"Can you tell me what you know?" Carlisle inquired. "You said it was like waves?"
Rolle nodded slowly with a shrug. "There are times I can see it. Like during the rain in the hurricane?" he said, looking at Edward. "And today, as the dust came down."
"Do you have any control over it?" Carlisle asked, moving to the edge of his seat and resting his elbows on his knees.
"If I can see it, I guess."
"What do you mean?"
"It bounces off the walls, and the waves collide with each other. If I move, they move. Sometimes I can move to a place where the bounces hit others and they just cancel each other."
Edward folded his arms over his chest. "Remind me to pull out some books about the physics of sound when we get home."
Carlisle ignored him. "Can you make it start or stop?"
Rolle became skittish and nervous, looking at all of them, but never meeting their eyes. "I guess. I don't know."
"Rolle," Bella said, putting her hand on the back of his.
Rolle looked at her chin.
"We're not mad at you," she assured him.
"Not at the moment," Edward teased, making Bella and Esme glare over their shoulders at him. "Joke!"
Bella rolled her eyes and sighed, turning back to Rolle. "You used it to fight Demetri, didn't you?"
"Yes. I didn't want to kill him, but I didn't have time. You guys were on the ridge, and Marcus was going to the house."
Bella recalled the moment when they looked over the cliff's edge and saw Rolle hit Demetri in the chest, sending a cloud of dust into the rain-soaked sky. They lost sight of him when suddenly Alice had a vision of Rolle attacking Carlisle in front of Marcus. Edward was the only one who saw what Alice did, and they raced back to the house.
"Emmett was unconscious," Carlisle reminded him. "Was that you? Did you do that to him?"
Rolle nodded. "To keep him out of the fight, so he wouldn't get hurt worse. I needed to scare you enough to fool Marcus, but I knew Emmett wouldn't stop."
"And you did that to him? Do you know how?" Carlisle asked, with a glimpse of excitement like his old self when discovering something new and hid his disappointment when Rolle shook his head.
Edward heard Carlisle's mind spinning away at this new problem and felt a knot of tension ease concerning his father. To see him curious about something new and challenging was a monumental shift that was heartening to see.
"Rolle," Edward said, to get his attention. His tone wasn't joking when he asked, "When you broke away from Vladimir...?" he asked, trailing off without really asking his question in order to assess Rolle's willingness to talk about his encounter with the Romanians.
"That's never happened again since that day," Rolle offered easily. "It's never been so focused like that."
"You mean that it affected only his arm?" Carlisle wanted to know. Rolle nodded. "Maybe that was just a glimpse into the level of control over your power that you're capable of then."
Rolle shrugged, simply saying, "Okay," because it felt like he had to respond.
They fell silent as they considered what they had learned, wondering about the implications and the scope of the task that Aro was probably going to force on them.
Almost on cue, Rolle responded to the direction of their thoughts. "I can't to drag you into this."
"I don't think that's a decision you'll have any control over," Edward said. "Aro thinks you're too unstable to exist, but he also needs your abilities more than he did before."
"What do you mean?"
"He may need you to help keep the peace and keep the secret of our existence," Carlisle answered.
"But only in extreme situations," Edward added. "He knows it's not safe for you to remain here, and he's always trusted Carlisle, so he may let you stay with us if we can keep you safe from others."
Rolle looked at each of them in turn, surprised. "You can do that?"
Bella laughed. "Rolle, you always find us when you're really upset. I think you need to be around us to help you find your way back to being calm."
Rolle absorbed this information and a wry smile tugged at his lips. "You mean, it's not just because I like you guys?"
The tension in the room broke a little more and everyone chuckled.
"It might be enough that you stay with us," Edward said. "Between myself and Alice, we should be able to know who may have strong enough thoughts that could influence you, and Bella could shield you from them while they are near."
"I'm more than a little surprised Aro is willing to consider this," Esme opined. "He seems to enjoy control too much to allow it."
Rolle shrugged lightly. "He's just scared."
Everyone looked at him again, surprised by his remark.
Rolle looked startled back at them. "What? Why do you keep looking at me like that?"
"Aro is afraid?" Bella asked in disbelief.
"He's not afraid of us, he's just afraid of what could be lost," Rolle explained.
"What would be lost?" Carlisle asked.
Rolle looked surprised that Carlisle asked. "Him. Himself. His knowledge. Everything." As the silence stretched on, he added, "He's been alive for three thousand years. He's brilliant, reads everything, and if that wasn't enough, he can learn everything anyone he touches has ever learned." Rolle looked at Esme. "Think about it... three thousand years... and even if he only fed once a day, that's over a million people, not counting those he intentionally touches just to know what they know." Rolle ran his hand over the top of his head. "He's like a living version of the Library of Alexandria, but older. I think it's just convenient for him now to keep the Guard for his own protection as well as keeping the law." Lost in his thoughts now, Rolle added, "I guess, in a way, keeping the secret helps keep him safe, too."
"Hmm." Carlisle put his fingers to his lips in thought. "I think Aro would be better served having you with us for many reasons." Rolle's expression was curious. "I don't think he would appreciate you sharing your insights about his motivations."
Rolle's curious expression gave way to caution. "I won't say anything," he said earnestly.
Carlisle patted Rolle's knee. "This is your life, Rolle, so it's up to you what you want to do."
"But it's not," he pointed out, looking apologetically at his friends. "Not if Edward and Bella are dragged into the deal with me."
"I don't think there's a choice," Edward said. "He doesn't want to destroy you, but he can't let you go without some vow of obligation on your part."
"But that's exactly why I came here!" Rolle cried as he rose from his seat, agitated again. "To keep all of this away from you, from Bella."
"No." Bella stood and followed him. "That wasn't why you came here, Rolle." She grabbed his arm and turned him to face her. "You came here because Caius was a threat, and now he's not." Rolle listened, but his expression was dark with doubt. "You've been alone too long."
Rolle thought about Rachel and a twinge of guilt made him pull his arm free from Bella's hand. Even though he knew that Edward could not hear his thoughts all the time, he knew by Edward's expression that this was not one of those times. He turned away from the question in Edward's eyes.
"I'll speak with Aro about your concerns," Carlisle offered.
Carlisle opened the library door, but did not go outside. A moment later Felix was there, guardedly asking him if he needed anything.
"Can you please take me to speak with Aro?" Carlisle said.
Felix regarded him and his suspicion gave way to simple caution before he relaxed. "Of course," he said with a nod. When Carlisle stood beside him in the door, Felix said, "Thank you."
Carlisle stopped short. "What for?"
Felix glanced at Rolle and met Carlisle's eyes. "For showing respect for our protocols, even now."
Carlisle looked back into the library, sharing a silent exchange with each of them, before looking back at Felix. "We are your guests, despite circumstances."
Felix nodded once, but his appreciation was sincere. "Follow me."
Edward continued to listen to Felix's thoughts long after the door closed. The guard was nervous, but respected the fact that Carlisle at least pretended that he was still a guest here instead of the conquering victors. The real question was, would Aro feel the same appreciation?
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A/N: Love and thanks to my beloved and loving peanut gallery: Irishgirl, Songster and Emmanuelle Nathan. Thanks to Nikki Pattinson over at Twilighted for her super-awesome posting of my chapters.
to cross the River Styx
The Myth of Orpheus
http:/www(dot)renaissanceastrology(dot)com/orpheushymns(dot)htm