Chapter 17
Disclaimer: Twilight and its characters belong to Stephanie Meyer
AN (1): Comment about PM. Please be assured that this story will be completed.I will not leave these boys hanging and have plans to commence a new story as soon as this is complete.
AN (2): To my wonderful friend sandraj60 who broke 6 months of writers block with one comment. For her ongoing support and friendship I have started a sequel to Recrortus, which I plan to start posting either just before or just after Jealousy ends.
AN (3): Biggest hugs and thanks to the ladies from C2C, for your continued support and love.
AN (4): Please note that this chapter has been neither pre-read or beta'd, so all poor grammar is my own.
AN (5): Warning - This chapter contains violence.
As they sat quietly Edward began to feel a sensation that was familiar and unusual.
It was as if he had an itch in his mind. A crawling, tingling sensation, that seemed to shift the moment he tried to focus on it. He sat for a few moments engrossed in the feeling before he touched on it directly and felt its malevolence. He sharply withdrew his minds wanderings cursing his stupidity for not instantly recognising both what he was hearing and what it meant.
At that moment all he thought of was grabbing Carlisle and running, but knew that if he could hear them it was too late.
They needed to wait, wait for Eleazar to get back, wait for the Volturi to arrive, wait for the judgement and their fate.
They needed to wait!
Lifting his head, he spoke clearly so both the vampire sitting beside him and human opposite could hear.
"Our visitors have arrived."
~*.*~
Carlisle had never had a recollection of waking up from sleep, his only real memory of ever regaining consciousness was at his turning and in that case it was more of a shift from mind ripping pain to endless want that could only be satiated by blood and death.
At this time and moment, he emerged from a place that was soft and warm, a dreamlike state within which he felt safe and loved. Lifting his head from its cradle within Edwards arms his body felt heavy, his mind vague and blurry.
The arms around him tightened as Edward felt Carlisle trying to shake the side effects of transitions, he needed Carlisle 'compus mentus' but did not wish to rush his mate as he knew from experience the disorientation could make the sensations worse.
"Hey there!" he breathes quietly to Carlisle, "take it gently, love!"
Edward kissed Carlisle gently, all the while aware of the approaching danger. The Volturi appeared to have paused on the outskirts of town waiting, Edward was sure, for the two scouts that were silently infiltrating the University campus.
Noting Edwards focus distracted away from him, Carlisle tried to regroup. Sitting up completely he let his thoughts flow back to recent events, there were a number of gaps, but he was able to get the general idea. He had gone mad, Edward had brought him back in the only way that would work.
The one thing he noticed the most about his new position, was that his emotions were dulled. They had not been replaced, or removed but supressed in such a way that he could not engage them directly. It was like he was watching a play, the emotions were there, but he could only experience them vicariously.
"It will all come back to you," Edward promised, having easily picked up Carlisle's thoughts.
Carlisle recalled being able to keep Edward from his mind and out of curiosity tried to repeat the feat. Looking up at Edward, the mind reader shook his head gently. No words needed to be said, the change in their relationship had altered a number of things, including his ability to hide from his mate.
Returning to his state of introspection, Carlisle delved deeper into his recent memories, aware that Edward was monitoring his progress. As Carlisle worked though the last couple of months, he touched the memory of a young man that sent a sharp sensation through his mind and body. Edward tightened his arms around Carlisle at the recalled image of William Pearson.
"Shhh…!" he soothed. Edward watched Carlisle trying to grab the memory to better see it, understand it, and saw the memory slide out of Carlisle's grasp, who was unable to shake the feeling of being a third party in his own mind.
Carlisle struggled to capture the memories, looking up and staring at the Maestro, who had remained standing in a corner of the room, attempting to force his mind to break into the memory. A memory that held an emotional violence that resided deep within him, in a place that he was aware of, but could not access.
Edward observed the struggle. Unlike Carlisle, Edward could see the memories and burning emotions that were linked to them. He could hear, and almost feel, the jealousy and rage that only hours ago drove Carlisle to perform the most heinous of acts with no control or remorse. Once they had survived the approaching doom Edward, hopefully with Eleazar's help, could help Carlisle with his jealous rage and the inevitable self-vilification that Carlisle would experience once the suppressed memories and attached emotions re-emerged.
Gently taking Carlisle's face in his hands Edward murmured, "Once we have left here, you have my word that we will focus on your needs in this matter. We will get thought this together, I promise." He kissed Carlisle softly on the lips, pouring all his care and love for his subservient mate into the contact.
Carlisle sighed, tension that he was unaware of seeped from his body at Edwards tender touch. "Alright!" he whispered.
Throughout the interaction Edward kept a part of his thoughts focussed on the intruders whilst also trying to capture the unique non-thoughts of Eleazar as he was desperate for the elder's return.
As much as he hated to, Edward needed to get Carlisle on his feet. Tightening his arms for a moment he then shifted his body, lifting Carlisle up into a firm embrace while assessing his mates ability to stand upright. Wobbling a bit Carlisle grabbed Edward tight around the neck, Edward ran his hand up and down Carlisle's back making soothing sounds until Carlisle became surefooted allowing Edward to pull away so they stood facing each other with their hands joined.
"Okay?" Edward checks. At Carlisle's nod Edward stepped away from his mate, breaking the physical connection.
Carlisle watched as Edward waved the Maestro closer and spoke to update them of the situation.
"Aro and the guard are on their way in now, thankfully he has brought neither Jane or Alec," Carlisle raised an eyebrow at Edwards absolute on this matter, Edward turned "trust me, I would know those two minds anywhere."
He continued, "the bad thing is that I have not heard from Eleazar, it looks like the Volturi will arrive before he does. We have to stall Aro until then, but just let me emphasise, nothing can be gained by refusing Aro's touch. If you do, you will get hurt." This was directed more at the Maestro than Carlisle, as he would still have absolute control of his mate for a while.
The Maestro nodded unconvinced at Edward and wished wholeheartedly that Eleazar would make a speedy return. The Volturi agent knew that any possibility of hope for his survival rested with the elder vampire. Edward wanted to reassure the old man that it would be alright, but he was not confident that it would be. In fact he suspected the old man had outlived his usefulness to the Volturi and was selfish enough to admit he needed the Maestro to make up for the damage he did, even if it meant falling on his sword to save them.
~*.*~
Edward turned a beat before the classroom door opened. Aro was proceeded by Felix and Demintri and followed by Renata and Chelsea. Upon entering the room Renata moved close to Aro while the other three circled Edward, Carlisle and the Maestro.
Aro walked up to the trio, stopping just outside of arms reach, all the while taking in the three beings. Carlisle shifted slightly, indicating his anxiety at the current situation. Edward tried to resist the urge to comfort Carlisle, while he knew that it would be hard to hide the shift in relationship from Aro, he did not wish to embarrass his increasingly aware mate.
Aro opened his mouth to speak when a soft noise announced Eleazar's arrival. Aro turned his head slightly "Eleazar, My friend! Please join us! I am interested to hear how you happened to be here, or more curiously how you managed to precede us."
Walking up to stand beside the ruler, Eleazar simply smiled "As always Aro, I am a true believer of the law and after you departed from my house, I felt that I could assist in resolving this matter and took the advantage of my watercraft to arrive promptly."
Aro grimaced, making no other comment. Edward picked up Aro's irritation at Eleazar's comment as well as faint traces of discomfort at the thought of travelling on a small boat. Edward suppressed the need to chuckle and shared a fleeting glance with Eleazar at the overwhelming disgust that most vampires held of water travel.
Edward watched as Aro's focus moved from Eleazar, back to the trio in front of him. Edward could see Aro considering his approach and the decision to deal with the side issue before moving onto his main concern.
"My dear Nuncio, I am interested to hear your report of events." Edward felt the Maestro tense as Aro held out his hand. Unable to refuse, the old man stepped past Edward and Carlisle to stand in front of his master. Aro grasped his servants' hand and focussed on the images streaming from the old man. Edward could see the vampire pull the Maestro's thoughts apart, focusing on the events of the last few months and then drilling down to the last twenty four hours.
Releasing the old man's hand Aro scanned to room, his vision landing on the piano that only hours before acted as William Pearson's operating table for Carlisle's ghoulish procedure. Edward watched as Aro mused on what he had witnessed, turning his head to Eleazar. "The young man will recover?"
"Yes Aro," Eleazar confirmed. Anticipating the vampire leaders next question Eleazar added, "I waited before I left the young man, he has no recollection of recent events and the medical staff are treating for idiopathic anaemia."
Aro hummed in acknowledgement, clearly not wishing to make any comment as to the boys situation. Aro turned to Chelsea, indicating that she should guard the Maestro, choosing to deal with the old man after more pressing issues had been resolved.
Ignoring Edward, Aro addressed Carlisle. "Carlisle, my dear one, despite the resulting consequences I am incredibly proud of the fact that you have embraced your vampire side, protecting and defending your mate. Going even as far as hurting him in order to protect him, it is truly a vampire effort matched by few in Volterra."
Carlisle remained passive, staring at Aro throughout the vampires backhanded praise. Aro noticed this passivity which was extreme even for his mellow friend. He had clear immutable evidence as to the emergence of Carlisle's viciously possessive nature, why was he disappointing his audience now.
"My dear Carlisle, it is most unlike you to remain quiet in matters regarding your mate. However as inspirational that is, I need you to move away from Edward, while I determine what will happen from now." Aro made a gesture to Chelsea and Demetri to move forward and separate the pair.
It wasn't a specific movement that made Aro and his guard pause, but the potential for one. A slight shift in the air foreshadowing Edward moving his arm to protect Carlisle who would turn into Edwards embrace.
Aro gasped, he could not believe his eyes, he honestly never thought Edward would have it in him to challenge Carlisle for the leadership of the coven, let alone be successful.
"Well, well, well! This is interesting, you both have had an fascinating time haven't you. And all of this over a human child."
At this Edward committed to his movement, placing himself firmly between Carlisle and the ancient. There was no way that the Volturi was going near Carlisle, not without Edwards say.
Aro paused, he had planned to "interview" Carlisle first, allowing him to self-incriminate before getting confirmation from Edward. However the latest revelation significantly altered his plan. He knew that the recent transition of dominance between them would have effected Carlisles thought patterns making it difficult for Aro to interpret his thoughts.
Edward watched Aro's as the ancient pondered his current dilemma, but refused to separate from Carlisle, even to plead their case with Aro.
Seeing his young friends dilemma Eleazar stepped forward. "Aro, might it help if I stand with Carlisle, while you and Edward "talk"."
Edward gave Eleazar a relieved glance while Aro stiffened, but them relaxed and gave Eleazar a firm nod. Eleazar moved forward to stand beside Carlisle, one hand resting lightly on the others arm.
Once satisfied that Carlisle was settled with Eleazar, Edward stepped forward and grasped Aro's waiting hand.
As always, making a connection with Aro disorientated Edward. Edwards experience was unique, even to Aro himself. The young mind reader was instantly bombarded with a flood of information and thought, hearing his own thoughts as they are torn from his mind and then receiving them again layered with Aro's analysis and critique. He sometimes felt he had been duplicated, then edited and critiqued, before being returned, making it difficult to reconcile the differing versions of himself.
In the second it took Edward to settle, Aro had started invading his mind. As was his want, Aro established a conversation with Edward through their connection. Edwards suspected the other enjoyed the unique link that the two had and quite enjoyed being able to converse with Edward in a way he could with no other; human or vampire.
"Well I must congratulate you my child." Aro started smugly. "Congratulate you on handling yourself as a true vampire, both yourself and Carlisle have come unto your own. I had no idea that my agent could trigger such a fascinating result."
Edward huffed quietly, he refused to react to Aro's gloating, as if the state of his and Carlisle's relationship was to be manipulated for the elders enjoyment. There was nothing gained for the Volturi leader in this situation, other than to confirm that, no matter its form, Edward and Carlisle's bond would always be there.
As the story of their immediate past flowed between the two Edward began to sense a change in Aro's mind. Aro seemed to relish a reality with Edward as the dominate mate, allowing the pair to exist indefinitely in the current form. A scenario that Edward would accept…for now!
But Edward knew from experience that nothing from the Volturi leader came for free. Aro was known for issuing a pardon only after an object lesson had been made. Aro was heading towards something and it was unlikely that that something was going to be anything but traumatic.
Aro had moved to the summation part of his sentencing. "I must admit I had fully planned to remove you and allow Carlisle to finally meet the fate he had written for himself by again going against Volterra. While I am loath to destroy any vampire, I must be assured that your new bond is complete."
Edward had to resist the crushing urge to tear himself away from Aro, but forced himself to remain still waiting to face their sentence.
Aro sensed Edwards discomfort and tightened his grip. "You are young and have been forced into an action that vampires centuries older than yourself have not had to perform. As such you are probably not aware of the requirement to seal the new bond, that is the feeding of your new subservient mate from kill you have made yourself."
Aro paused. "The problem that we have here is that there is no precedence for the use of animal blood in the transfer and we cannot be assured that it would ensure the durability of the bond as is required in this case. That is to ensuring that your dominance over Carlisle is absolute."
As Edward processed Aro's ultimatum he began to feel nauseatingly ill.
He must make the kill himself…
Aro will not allow animal blood to be used…
At that moment all thought in Edwards mind stopped. His eyes snapped up to meet Aro's who, using the void of thought that was Edwards shocked brain, sent a strong image and three words.
"Carlisle or Him?"
Seeing the horror and hesitation in Edwards eyes Aro broke their physical connection, but keeping eye contact declared.
"I believe Robert Louis Stevenson said it best, when he said, 'sooner or later everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.' As the new head of your coven, this is your decision and your responsibility. But be assured, should you wish to refuse, I will be willing to accept your coven mate as collateral damage."
Eleazar tightened his grip on Carlisle as the other tried to approach Aro. Edward looked to Carlisle and Eleazar, both of whom have concluded what Aro has requested of him. Edward turned to the Maestro still held firmly by Chelsea, completely clueless as to what is about to occur.
Edward looked back at Aro and nodded, there was no choice. On the young vampires agreement, Aro turned to the old man, who suddenly seemed to understand what was happening. His thoughts flickered between fear and panic which became resignation upon Aro's words.
"My dear Nuncio, I have known you since you were a child. You are one of my children, my servant. You have served me faithfully for many decades. We agreed that this would be your most challenging task and I assured you that this would be your last. I would allow you to retire and give you the separation from the Volturi that you have craved for years."
Edward did not think about the act, to do so would have made him unable. Drawing on the horrid memories from his time away from Carlisle, his movement was like a snakes, quick and just as deadly. Wrapping his hand around the old man's face he created a perfect seal around the Maestro's mouth and nose. The moment before the old man expired, when Edward could be assured that he was no longer aware, the vampire pierced the Maestro's throat and gulped three long draws of blood. At which point the elderly man was deceased.
Laying the body on the ground, his mind screaming in pain, Edward swiftly moved to Carlisle. Rather than sit with his mate and allow Carlisle feed from Edward's chest or arm, which would place them both at a position of weakness with the Volturi guard surrounding them. Edward grabbed the back of Carlisle's head and regurgitating the still warm human blood kissed Carlisle deeply and transferred the fluid to his mate, thus sealing the new bond.
Carlisle melted into the embrace, greedily taking the blood, liking the inside of Edwards mouth and sucking the last of the life juices from his tongue. Despite this demonstrated relish Edward could hear the "true" Carlisle screaming in sync with Edward's own pain.
Soon neither of the couple could support the other and they fell to their knees, holding each other tightly. Edward knew that there had been no point pleading for the old man's life, he was dead from the moment he called Italy for assistance. Everyone in the room knew that including, in some small way, the Maestro.
Nevertheless, after being forced to murder someone who, despite his faults, was still an innocent, Edward wished it was he who had died!
But he knew Aro would never allow that, so Edward had had to do whatever was necessary to keep Carlisle with him forever.