A/N: Thank you to BreeTanner308 and r kelsey, you two are absolutely amazing. I don't know what I would do without you. This story would undoubtedly be long since buried without your support. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter with lots of food and candy.
Warnings: Torture and implied rape
{Year Two}
I watched in fear as they were brought before us, their eyes wild and fearful, reminding me so much of me when they took me. Their bodies shook as they pleaded for their lives, and I almost wanted to tell them to hush, to not give in to their sadistic joy. Almost. I knew the consequences for doing that and I didn't plan on meeting their wrath again. I had learned my lesson after my first mission, the anger of Alec and Jane was far worse than my pride.
Turning away, I moved to the far end of the clearing, scenting the air for any stragglers. I was sure that there were no others but I couldn't make myself watch them kill them. I couldn't bear to watch them taunt and torture them until they got their answers only to throw them into the burning flames. It was too painful, too reminiscent of my own walk into hell.
Their cries were cut off before the sickly sweet scent reached my nose a little stronger, a fresh kill. The purple smoke that billowed up brighter and more haunting only proved my theory. The last of their renegade coven was gone, destroyed by only four Volturi. It was sad how breakable they were, how untrained. They were sheep led to slaughter, a deep well of sadness welling up in me, something I was still not use to. I missed my hardness, missed not caring about the fate of randoms, but ever since my induction I had found my sympathy had grown rapidly.
"What do you think, Bree?" Jane snickered, her eyes light and her smile genuine, she only ever looked like that when she was allowed to destroy.
"I think we may have an uprising on our hands," I responded, my voice detached, I would not allow her to see the sickness that welled within me.
"Hmm, I wouldn't be surprised," she commented, her cool eyes sweeping over me, as one of her eyebrows rows into her hairline. "By the way, why are you all the way over here?"
Fear seeped through me, the look that graced her features sending my anxiety to new heights; I could not handle another round. I didn't want to face her wrath, to watch as she laughed above me, loving the way my body twisted to her will. I had learned long ago that using my power against her, as sporadic as it was, would equal me weeks of pain. I was in a pecking order and until a new elite joined the ranks, I was at the lowest.
"I was only checking to make sure none of them had gotten away," I said evenly having long ago improved my lying abilities; however I doubted they would work in this instance.
"Well aren't you just the good little pet," she cooed, her cloak billowing out around her as a north wind blew, an imaginative chill working its way up my spine.
I didn't answer, choosing instead to remain silent. If she was going to punish me I would rather not drag it out. I knew from experience that the longer I protested and made up excuses the longer my suffering would be.
To my surprise she turned around, lifting her hood over her head as she signaled for Felix and a new guard to follow her. They would need to finish destroying all evidence of the battle, and quickly. Even now dawn was slowly breaking the horizon and soon hikers would be making their way towards us. If they were lucky we would be gone by the time they got close, if we were lucky, they wouldn't be.
Turning my back I set about setting small fires to whatever spots of venom littered the ground and trees. The sweet aroma was slowly dying down, the huge fires now just small smoldering embers when I had finally returned to the others. It was early morning and we were due back in just a few short hours. We would have to leave now, without a meal. Disappointment flooded me, the burning in my throat irritating, but I wouldn't risk their wrath.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Jane said, her voice quiet, distracting me from my thoughts, watching as she stood before the dim glow that lit up her face in an eerie shadow.
Screaming in pain, I fell to the ground, clutching to the dirt as the flames seemed to burst within me, melting and singing me away. Pain rocketed through me, twisting me until I was nothing, until the burn turned me into dust. And yet, even though I was sure that this time the agony would kill me, the burn just continued. No one rose to help me, both guards watching, silent.
Hatred raced through me, anger at the entire coven appearing before running away like the coward it was. I could focus on nothing, nothing but the growing flames that seemed to burn me from the inside out.
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I stood towards the back, watching silently as they laid the evidence out before our masters. Their simpering smiles and sweet words made me sick, didn't they have a backbone? My answer was quickly answered when one of the disgusting vermin kissed the top of Caius's hand, who looked about as thrilled as I did.
"Interesting," Aro cooed, his grotesque hands ran gently over the discarded remains of one of the victims, his eyes lit with lust. "You believe it is an uprising?"
"Yes, Aro," Jane intoned as she stood from her bowed position, her wispy blonde hair framing her face in a childlike fashion. It disgusted me.
"Hmm…how amusing," he chuckled as he stepped off the dais; his black robes billowed out around him as he circled. "How much of a threat to they appear to be?"
"They are of little consequence, hardly lasted more than a few moments," she said, a small smile forming as she turned to her brother and giggled. "But, I do have good news, my lord."
"Oh really? Do tell?"
"Yes, you see, it seems this group was but a faction of a larger, better formed mass. I do believe my lord, that under this evidence, we must investigate some of the more renegade covens. "
"Oh, what gleeful news. It wouldn't perchance lead us to a certain coven in America, would it my dear?" his voice had taken on a silken singing quality, my stomach turned; I knew where this was going.
"Unfortunately no, but it may have led us to some of the rebels from the last stand off. Perhaps they will lead us to them," Jane replied as a look of disgruntled passion crossed her young face, malice lining her cruel mouth.
"Perhaps, they are so very good at hiding all traces," Aro returned to his brothers as they spoke to lowly for me to hear.
I shuffled, narrowing my eyes at the guards lining the doors as they chuckled to themselves, their massive hands wringing together. They were hungry, all of them were, revenge heavy on their minds. They wanted the Cullens, wanted the purple smoke lining the sky as they through the members on the towering tier. I had yet to understand what they had done to warrant such hatred, but I knew that whatever it was, the Volturi would find away to kill them.
"Pet, come here please," Aro called as I jumped, fear raced through me as I felt myself move forward. Would he touch me?
I had yet to experience Aro's power firsthand, any secrets I still had tucked firmly in the back of my head. If this was it, if he searched me, I would fight him with all I had. I would not allow this monster to win.
"I do believe its time you proved yourself, my dear," his voice was oil as it slid over my skin, dripping over and covering me.
I felt the brush of his fingers before I could pull back, blind panic washing through me as I tried to close my mind down to his invasion. Like a sledgehammer he destroyed all my walls, pain lashing through me as I cried out, gripping his wrist to steady myself. Images of my past played out before me, memories that I had long since forgotten.
A dirty girl sat alone on a street, her oily hair covering the bruise that lined the side of her face. She was thin, her bones sticking out at odd angles and her clothes filled with holes. Her brown eyes were dilated, a small moan falling past her parched lips. Red dots lined the corner of her elbow, red angry lines that oozed and pulsed as she stood, heaving against the side of the building. A man came then, his bald head gleaming in the night sky, the tattoos covering his neck causing my skin to grow chilled. Fear shot through me when the girl turned and I saw her face, the girl was me. I cried out as he took her roughly by the arm, dragging her further down the alley.
Crying out I struggled against Aro, my voice weak with unshed tears as two guards held me still, the manic light in my master's eyes chilling me.
Riley stood in the house, his eyes grim and fevered as he pulled Diego to his side, laughing at us newbies. I glimpsed myself then, young and frightened as I hid beside Fred. The others stood to the sides, their eyes watching the tall boy with disgust, their actions jerky and hungry. Riley said something, causing a murmur to work itself through the crowd as the group rushed out; the wind picking up as my hair blew passed me. I stood back, watching as Riley turned, his nasally voice haunting me. The Diego of my memory smiled softly my way before turning and disappearing down the long hallway. The memory me did nothing, hanging back until everyone was gone, the now me reached for him with no hope of ever grasping what used to be mine.
A calm wave washed through me then, the memories flying by like a movie I had no real connection with. I needed to breath, needed to gain some control. Glancing up I watched Aro's face twist and contort in sadistic ecstasy, his teeth gnashing every time he ran across a particularly cruel moment.
Shaking myself, I relaxed my tense muscles, breathing evenly as I steadied my fraying nerves. I had to concentrate, had to focus. I would not betray the Cullens. Closing my eyes I embraced the memories as the fear and disgust that came with them slid off my skin. I focused only on the images, preparing myself for the very moment I would need to beat my master. His power was infallible; mine unstoppable.
I saw myself crouching in the woods as the battle raged on, the old me searching on the outskirts what I knew now wasn't there. The old me was frantic, the red of my eyes now black, pupils dilated. I winced at every crashing body as the old me ran never once realizing how close I had been to death. And then he appeared.
Tall and god like, his eyes as bright as the unforgiving sun, the leader of the Cullens stood before, a mask of bitter rage and sympathy. The two emotions should not have worked together, but they did.
Taking a silent breath I watched the memory slow down, time now running as it should rather than in fast forward. Seeking outside of myself I felt Aro, felt the lust as it spread through him like wildfire. And then the images blurred.
I twisted and pulled, extracting and replacing in a split second, meticulous in what I chose to show and leave out. The woman they so hated for her mortality suddenly had reddish gold eyes, her skin slightly paler and luminescent. Bruises formed under her eyes where once before she was left unblemished. And the wild wavy hair suddenly became sleek and shiny. She was awe inspiring, such a hauntingly beautiful face that even Aro paused the memory to examine her every feature.
Stumbling back I fell hard, cracking the priceless tile floor as a startling snarl shook me. My eyes widened as my breathing increased, the look in Aro's eyes suddenly more than I could handle. Hatred traced his hard mouth as his eyes gleamed with uncontrollable greed.
"You said she was human!" he shouted, the bass bouncing off the walls and sending me into a panic, his eyes twisting on Jane.
Jane stepped back, her hard features suddenly terrified and her eyes wide as she darted between me and Aro. Alec held her hand as he stood slightly in front of her, enough for protection, but not enough to threaten his master's position.
"Wh…who…my…, lord?" she questioned, a strain that I had never heard before trembling through her, her dark red eyes darting.
"Isabella!" he shouted as he strode from his dais, rippling anger flowing through him as his once graceful stride turned fitful and jerky.
"She is, my lord! The last time I laid eyes on her she was mortal!" Jane cried her voice pleading as she dropped to her master's feet, groveling before him.
"Lies! I saw through her eyes," he growled as he pointed at me, I scooted farther back, I didn't want to face his wrath. "Her eyes were blood red and she was lovelier than ever before. How do you explain that?"
"I swear, my lord, those are lies. She must be using her power!"
"Are you saying she is more powerful than your master? Than the master of all vampires?" his voice had dropped to but a whisper, but suddenly it seemed all the more chilling, all the more wicked.
"N…no..!"
"Then you lied to me! You are worthless!" he cried as he kicked her, her head jerked back as she slid across the floor, her body bouncing off the wall, she did not try to get up.
"I apologize, my lord, I was misled. Please forgive me!" she begged from her slumped position, I had never seen anything so pitiful.
"Alec."
"Yes, my lord," Alec stepped forward, his eyes glancing at his sister before he turned to his master fully, a shutter working its way up his arms.
"Take your sister to the dungeons," Aro sneered, his cape billowing behind him as he stalked back to where his brothers and mate stood. "Make sure she learns there are repercussions for her actions."
Alec bowed, his eyes wide and mouth grim as he stood back, flicking his wrist for the guards to follow. Demetri grabbed Jane by the shoulders, leading her along as she stumbled, her eyes unseeing. I felt a prick of guilt at the fear that flew across her visage but squashed it down quickly. She would have gladly let the Cullen's suffer far worse fates than what she would experience. This would child's play compared to what the yellow-eyes would suffer if they were ever captured.
The hall echoed as the rest filed out leaving me on the floor unmoving and holding my breath. Anxiety and anticipation flooded through me as the pain of Aro's invasion settled over me. I felt violated, stripped bare and laid out for all to see. I had no secrets but the Cullens and even those were only being held tentatively by a false dream. I knew this was just a break, a momentary time for planning, in the long run my intervention would mean nothing.
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Striding down the long corridors I tried unsuccessfully to block out the screams that echoed back to me. I knew that Alec was taking it easy on her, if it had been anyone but she to be punished their voices would have already given out. Aro would never know the difference, Alec would make sure all guards were silenced and I would take it to the grave.
Skittering around a corner I pulled my hood quickly over my head, glancing behind me as the torches brought the shadows to life. If I was caught, if anyone ever found me, I would be faced with the same punishment as Jane. The Volturi did not take kindly to deception of any sort. Very few were allowed where I was planning on exploring, only the most loyal and highest ranked were permitted into the depths of the Volturi fortress. But I knew that with the outer walls so thick and escape tunnels so well guarded that this would be my only chance. I had to find a way out.
The stone walls were ancient, brown moss growing in the seams and disappearing into corners that not even my eyesight could penetrate. The walls gleamed in the firelight, a cold chill overcoming the air as I dipped further down into the castle's depths. I was walking into the very center of Hell and somewhere down here the Devil himself lurked. I only hoped that I was walking with angels tonight.
Ancient oak doors with bars on the windows gleamed mincingly as long ago signs of torture were forever written in the grains. Long claw marks marked the metal bars and with a quick glance inside, I could easily see decades old blood dried on the walls. The black stains chilled me because beside them gleamed the iridescent remains of a long ago immortal's death. The charred remains in the corner evidence enough to their end. I quickly turned away.
The halls were long and winding and I held my breath at every bend, adrenaline rushing through me as I tried to steady my bearings. And as the pit became closer and closer the corridors became darker and darker. Torches that had once been every few feet became significantly less, sometimes leaving only one per hall. Sticking to the walls I drug my hand along the chilled stones, tremors rocking me as I tried to ignore their feel.
I squinted my eyes as I checked every corner, imagining beings that weren't there ready to lunge for me, to alert the others to my presence within their territory. I could only hope that with Jane's punishment everyone would be too preoccupied to be wondering these halls absently.
Stumbling I caught myself as I felt the empty space that suddenly appeared beneath my hand. It only stretched a couple feet across at most, a tight squeeze for anyone. Sniffing the air I gasped as the scent of the city air hit me full force, the stagnant scent of decaying flesh and rotting wood blowing away as I purified my lungs with this new wonder. I was like a dying person in the desert who stumbled upon an oasis, soaking anything and everything in, knowing that soon good fortune would turn away.
Glancing once more behind me I struck out, feeling my way along the uneven ground. There was no light here, the blackness all consuming as I went by touch and scent alone. The silence was deafening as the stillness rang shrilly in my ears.
It was a long never-ending path that twisted and turned leaving me more confused than what I had been before. Just when I thought there was no hope, when I would have would turned back and searched for another way I stumbled across the perfect spot. The door was old, the wood holding on only by tiny splinters spliced with the grains of rotting planks. The door knob was rusted and deformed, obviously use to the rough treatment of vampires long ago.
Taking a hold of the ancient thing I opened it, wincing at the high pitched groan as it moved, a tingle working its way over me as I halted all movement. Standing still for what seemed like forever, I sighed in relief when no footsteps followed my trek. And without a backward glance I stepped into the darkness, running on blind hope and unwarranted faith.
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The air was cool against my face, the first sight of the outside world without guards bringing me such joy that I was momentarily frozen in place. The lights of Volterra glittered before me, the winding roads lit with moving cars as they twisted about the ancient courtyards. It was picturesque, beautiful housed in mystery and intrigue. It was the picture of freedom, and nothing had ever tasted sweeter.
"Not yet, little one," a voice said from behind, and I wheeled about, a hiss in my throat as I glanced for my escapes, noting several.
Felix stepped from the shadows, his hulking figure encompassing my visage as I shrank back, terror working through me. If a guard knew, everyone in the castle did as well, I would be caught, I had no chance. I would be drug back and tortured, kept to the end of my sanity as they reamed whatever they could from me. I didn't think I could hold out long.
"Soon, I promise, but not now," he stood beside me and touched my shoulder gently, not reacting when I flinched from his touch, baring my teeth.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Felix," I growled, my eyes darting as I assessed the situation, judging how much he suspected.
He shook his head and turned his back to me, going a different way than the one I had gone, leaving me to stand on the edge of my freedom, looking upon its glory. Suddenly I felt defeated, uncontrollable grief washing through me as I stumbled backwards, holding my fist to my mouth to stifle my sobs.
"You're not ready for what you need to do," I glanced at him as he stood several feet above me, looking out towards the city. "You need to be in control, and when that day comes, you will get out."
He glanced at me then, his dark red eyes calculating as he took me in, a swift intelligent glance before once more turning to the city below.
"No knows about that corridor anymore, it has been forgotten through history, use it to your advantage, it may be your only hope."
"Why are you doing this?" I asked him as I turned, accepting my fate knowing that tonight I would be returning to Hell.
"Not all of us have allegiance to our masters, some of us are prisoners too," he responded, his tone so quiet that it sounded like the breeze soft and subtle, filled with emotion.
"Will you come with me?" I asked.
"No. I hold no love for your Cullens nor any other vampire besides those that reside within these walls. These are my people, little one, no matter what they are. I know evil when I see it, but that doesn't change who, when the final end begins, I will be standing beside. This only changes which side you will find yourself on."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me; you are a soldier like myself."
"I'm no soldier."
"No? You fight for your Cullens even so deep within enemy lines. You have kept quiet in times when much stronger vampires have fallen. Face it, little one; you are a soldier in a war that will decide the fate of our world. Soon the hierarchy will be tested and it will come down to the soldiers with the most skill, most loyalty. Stay until you are ready, heading out early will only mean the end to what you're trying to accomplish. Whether you like this place or not, whether you agree with the methods or not, you will come out stronger, or not at all."
I glanced away, knowing deep down that he was right. My powers were mediocre and unreliable at best, I needed more time. I just wasn't so sure I was strong enough to endure it further like he seemed so sure of. I only hoped for everyone's sake that I had it in me to do what must be done.
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I stepped out of the alcove, glancing around before rushing behind the next bend. If I was to be caught then I would make sure it was as far away from the escape route as I could possibly make it. If I had to suffer for my trespassing I would handle it, but if they ever found that little space the entire plan would be ruined. I would have no chance of escaping ever again.
Turning the next bend I breathed a sigh of relief when the halls began to lighten, the glowing flames becoming more frequent. I was almost out, soon I would hide this memory away with the rest that I held so tightly to, making sure that not even Aro could find it if he went looking. It was now my most guarded secret, the Cullens' secret paling in comparison.
Turning the last corner I tried to scream as a hand wrapped around my mouth, jerking me swiftly into a hard body. A huge cape billowed around me as I tried to struggle, dark hair falling in my face. His breath chilled me, his arousal causing my chest to heave. Dry sobs fell passed my closed lips as I tried to get away from his rough hands and roaming hips.
"Shhh, pet, do not struggle. I know your pain, I share it. Come with me; let me lessen your burden. I can help you. Shhh, child, I will make it all go away," he whispered as he pulled me away from the open room, back into the depths of Hell.
I guess not even with the help of the Heavens, could you always escape Satan's talons.
A/N: Thanks for reading! R&R, Ja!