I've got a plan for these two. A good plan. At least, I think it's a good plan. We'll see. Thanks for sticking with me on this one. Too many plot bunnies, not enough hours in the day…I tell ya! I do apologize for the sporadic updates for Angels and Monsters. Not enough time in the day and too many ideas floating around in my head. Ya know?
My goal is to have this completed by January 31st, 2015. I have planned two more chapters, plus an epilogue. We're getting close to the end. Anyhow, without further ado…the battle.
Chapter Twenty-Three
EPOV
I hung out less than a mile from James' hidey-hole. I felt somewhat better, having seen and been with my angel. Having her arms wrapped around me and the memory of her sweet pussy milking me, it brought me a great deal of solace. But, my heart constricted at the idea of sending her back there. The damage to her body was horrific. What she had to endure by the hand of her sadistic, evil sire made my stomach churn. I couldn't imagine the agony she felt. Her back was charred black from the fires he lit on her. Her pale skin was marred with the scars of metal chain links and she was so weak when Emmett carried her to me. I wanted to wrap her in my arms, running far, far away.
That was not feasible. We needed her to ensure our victory. Only twenty-four hours away from her and then our lives would finally begin. I could show Bella the world. Make love to her for days on end. Give her the life she desired and the happiness she deserved after a half-century of sadness.
You have to walk before you can run, Edward. Let's get past this thing with James.
Once she fed, the physical reminders of her injuries disappeared, but I was terrified that the emotional anguish would remain. She was so broken when Jasper showed her how she was turned and to be back in the clutches of that same monster…
I never wanted to kill someone so badly. James was mine. He was going to pay for what he did to my mate. My Bella. He would feel every ounce of agony she felt by my hand.
And more…
Ed! The Sicko Psycho sent me on an errand, Emmett thought to me. I saw my best friend approach my new home away from home atop a nearby warehouse. His eyes were a deep crimson and wary, angry and just plain tired. "James figured out that it was the Cullen's that tattled on him to the Volturi. Where are they? I have to deliver a message."
I groaned, not wanting to leave. They had moved to an older townhouse that Carlisle owned from when his last time in Chicago, roughly 1945-ish. It was just a place to clean up, change clothes and keep our belongings. We didn't stay there for long, but it was home base. "Let me text them," I said, sending a message to all of my new family. A few moments later, my phone vibrated. "Come on. We're meeting them at Carlisle's townhouse." We took off, running toward the University of Chicago campus. Finding Carlisle's townhouse, I used my key and let myself in. Esme and Rose were already there. In a blonde blur, Rose jumped into Emmett's arms, her arms and legs wrapped around him tightly.
I wished Bella was with me so she could block out the perverse thoughts going through both Emmett and Rose's minds. They had a plan to destroy some cabin in the north woods of Wisconsin with their reunion once this ordeal was finished. She was whimpering, begging Emmett to not go back.
"Rosie, I can't stay," Emmett said breathlessly, peeling his mate from his arms. "I'm here to deliver a message." Rose scowled before stomping away from him.
"We knew this was coming," Carlisle sighed, walking through the door, looking disheveled and bedraggled. His shirt was torn and his pants were wet from the knee down.
"What happened to you?" Esme asked, her eyes wide.
"A newborn decided to attack me and Eleazar, unprovoked," Carlisle replied. "She was a vicious little thing who wouldn't stay down and she had talons." He plucked at his ruined shirt, wrinkling his nose. "Eleazar was meeting up with Carmen and coming back here. I'm going to change." He dashed up the stairs just as Eleazar, Carmen, Kate, Garrett and Irina walked through the door. Jasper came from the back, his eyes hollow and black.
I know the feeling, Jasper, I grumbled.
"We're all here," Emmett said.
"Not yet," Carlisle responded, wearing a pair of jeans and a black sweater. "We have four more on the way."
"But, the family is all here," Rose said, gesturing to the living room full of vampires. She was still huffing, having her own temper tantrum.
The doorbell rang. Carlisle opened the door and four cloaked figures stood on the doorstep. He gestured for them to enter. It seemed like they floated into the living room. Their movements barely detectable under their robes. "Thank you for coming," he said quietly. "I knew you were close by. I smelled your scents as I was passing the one of the hotels."
"Aro demanded we stay in case things did not improve," said the tallest member of the cloaked vamps. "If anything, things have gotten worse."
"Before we continue, let's make some introductions," Carlisle said, turning to us. "This is Felix, Demitri, Jane and Alec from the Volturi." They all bowed. Felix was the tall vampire who spoke initially. His brown hair was cropped short and his eyes were shrewd and dark, barely any red mixed in his eyes. Next to him stood Demitri. He was a few inches shorter with longer black hair, tied into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. His skin was pale, but he must have had a darker complexion when he was human, probably coming from the Greek Isles. Both Demitri and Felix were huge and muscular, physically imposing and menacing looking. Their air made them seem powerful and their mere presence indicated foreboding.
The other two were smaller. Alec was about Jasper's height with short reddish hair. His face was chubby, but his body gangly and slim, making him look like a very young. He couldn't have been more than sixteen years old, in the eyes of a human. His eyes were glowing with hatred and his lips were pulled into a permanent sneer. Next to him was a girl, no more than fourteen or fifteen years old. Her blonde hair was twisted into a formal updo and her face held disinterest. How were these two a part of the Volturi? They looked like children.
"How have things gotten worse?" Esme asked, moving to stand next to her husband. He wrapped his arm around her waist, kissing her temple.
"There is a newborn. Her name is Tanya," Jane said, her voice sounding like tinkling bells and sounding as bored as she looked. "She is feeding without care, bringing attention to herself. Her kills are being strewn about in the papers, newscasts and online. James, we believe, created her and they both need to die." A hateful smirk spread over Jane's features for a moment before her impassive, indifferent mask reappeared.
"Is that the only outcome?" Carlisle asked, hating that any sentient being had to die.
"Yes," Jane spat, narrowing her eyes at Carlisle.
"Emmett, what's the message?" Rose asked, her fingers threaded through his.
"Just as Alice said. Tomorrow night, at midnight, in Grant Park," Emmett answered, his brows furrowed. "But, I think James is hiding something. He…he's planning something, but I don't know what."
"I wouldn't put it past him," Demitri said, his voice raspy and heavily accented. "He's a tracker like me, but he uses his gift to track humans to…"
"We know what he's capable of," Jasper growled, interrupting Demitri as he spoke.
"Peace, Jasper," Eleazar warned. "What is the plan, then?"
"You meet them at midnight at this Grant Park," Felix replied.
"Will you be there?" Kate asked. "We don't know how many newborns they have created and if we can end them without assistance."
"We will be nearby," Alec replied, his voice filled with venom. "We do not want to interfere unless absolutely necessary." Jasper growled lowly. Jane scowled at him, her eyes narrowed at Jasper who fell to floor, screaming in agony.
"Jane, that is not necessary," Carlisle snapped. "His mate is one of the vampires who is being held captive."
Jane stopped whatever it was and Jasper got up, visibly shaken. I walked over to him. She has a talent similar to Bella's. It's the allusion of pain. I could never die from it, but it knocks you on your ass, he explained, looking at Jane cautiously. I nodded.
"You have a way to reach us, Carlisle," Demitri said. "Like Alec said, we will be nearby. We hope that this comes to an end. Being in the states is so tiring. Your humans do not have the rich blood of Europe. So boring and cumbersome to find decent food."
"We will be in touch," Felix replied blandly, walking to the door. They disappeared, leaving confusion in their wake.
We all stood in the family room of the townhouse, stock still. No one was even breathing. We didn't move for nearly fifteen minutes when Rose snarled angrily. "Those fuckers! They aren't even going to help us? They are leading us to be slaughtered!"
"Rosalie," Carlisle said gently.
"What?! I do not want to die. I may not have been given the choice to live like this but for the first time in nearly eighty years, I'm fucking happy. I don't want to die, be seriously maimed or attacked by this psychopath with his delusions of grandeur!" Rose snapped.
"Remember what Alice said," I murmured.
"She didn't say much," Rose growled. "You probably saw it all, telepath."
"Fine, I did," I snarled back. "The Volturi will be there. And not just those four. There will be more. I don't know who they are, but I saw at least eight other vampires besides the group that's in this room and the four that just left."
"Were they wearing robes?" Eleazar asked.
"Three of them were wearing black robes while the rest were that charcoal grey color," I replied.
"I can't believe it," Eleazar breathed.
"Believe what?" Emmett asked. "I'm confused."
"Aro, Caius and Marcus. They're here," Eleazar explained, his golden eyes wide with shock.
"Is this a good thing or bad thing?" I questioned, just as lost as Emmett.
"We don't know," Carlisle answered, his brow furrowed. "Let's proceed with caution. For now, spread out and hunt. We need to be at our strongest. Carnivores, if you can. Emmett, you have to go back and not let them know that the Volturi are here."
"How? I'm like an open fucking book," Emmett frowned.
"You've fooled them so far. Keep it up," Garrett said, patting Emmett's arm. Rose dragged Emmett out of the house and they ran off to say goodbye. "Should we train some more or just get fed?"
"Feed. Meet back here at ten tomorrow night. I'm hoping to have some reinforcements and we need to plan," Carlisle said. Everyone took off, trusting in what Carlisle had said. Esme and Carlisle remained as I was rooted in my spot, my mind reeling. Edward, you look lost, son.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "It's just that I had her in my arms tonight…" I told Carlisle about what had happened and Emmett's unexpected gift. Esme cooed in sympathy. "Do you think that he's going to do something to Bella? Because of what Emmett did?"
"I don't know, Edward," Carlisle said. Esme enfolded me into a hug, but it wasn't her arms that I desired. I wanted my mate. I wanted my angel and proof that she was going to be okay. "I think that James smelled your scent on Bella and he knew that it was time to act. It was his impetus to forcing his hand."
"I can't live without her," I whispered, clinging to Esme. She whimpered and I knew I was holding her too tightly. I released her, sitting down in a seat on the opposite side of the room. Thrusting my hands in my hair, I mumbled, "Sorry."
"It's okay, Edward," she said softly, removing my hands from my hair. She brushed my hair back, gently kissing my forehead. It made me miss my mother. "You must be all out of sorts."
"There's something else bothering you," Carlisle said, sitting down on the couch. "Tell me…"
"I can't hear her," I choked out. "I hear all of these mental voices, but Bella's is usually the loudest and clearest. Since she's been with James, I've tried to send her messages, telling her that I was nearby. I haven't heard her voice or Alice's either."
"Can you feel her?" Esme asked.
"Yes. I know she's…" I trailed off. My heart was still intact. I didn't have the emptiness in my chest when we were too far apart or if she were gone. Though, she wasn't okay. She was in the clutches of monster. But he hadn't killed her. "I just can't hear her."
"I don't know what to say to make it better, Edward," Carlisle said, getting up from his seat and rubbing my back. "You can still feel her, which is a good thing." He looked at me, his eyes dimming in anger. "When was the last time you fed?"
"I took Bella to eat when I saw her, but I didn't hunt myself. I was more concerned about her," I mumbled, feeling a chastised child.
"Come on, Edward. You need to feed and we need you at your strongest. You have your newborn strength, but you've been trained. You are our best bet for winning this battle," Esme said, holding out her hand. I nodded, taking her hand and the three of us went outside. Carlisle locked the door and we took off, running to hunt until we were slushy with blood. However, once I was done, I was going to go back to my perch and try to hear my angel. I had to hear her voice once more before I saw her with James on the battlefield.
xx A&M xx
BPOV
Emmett is taking too long to get back, Alice thought to me. James is already on edge and if Emmett is not back in the next ten minutes…Wait…never mind. We were on the couch, our hands in the metal cuffs. James was determined to keep an 'eye' on us. Emmett strolled in five minutes later, his mind so sad at leaving Rosalie and angry at the situation he was in. He hated being away from his mate, but abhorred pretending he was allied to James, Victoria, Laurent and Victoria even more. I was about to ask Emmett, mentally, if he was okay when James opened his ugly mouth.
"Where were you?" James snarled. "You were to deliver a message. Not have tea with them." He punched Emmett in the face, causing him to fly through the wall and into the kitchen. James growled, pinching his nose. Emmett got up from the rubble, covered in dust and pieces of drywall. "We need to make sure that the fucking Cullen's and Isabella's mate do not survive this. How did they take the message, Emmett?"
"They took it fine. They'll be there," Emmett said, glaring at James.
"Good," James said. "How many newborns do we have?"
"Roughly thirty," Victoria answered, sitting down on the couch and idly toying with her fiery hair. "There have been ten that have been destroyed because they went a little…" She made the crazy gesture next to her temple. "Five more were destroyed by the Cullen's. Around four more should be ready to go by tomorrow night, if they're not blood thirsty lunatics."
"Meddling assholes," James snapped. He turned to Alice, pulling her up out of her seat by her hair. "Do you see anything now? Do we fucking win?"
"I still don't know," Alice whimpered, kicking her feet, which were a foot off the ground. Alice was showing me our assured win, but it was wavering with some more injuries, including a death on our side.
James tossed her away and he glared at me, his eyes black with hatred. His mind was swirling of what he was going to do with me if he won. Despite his abhorrence of my mere presence, I was his prize and he had every intention of fucking every hole. Then, he thought of what would happen if he lost. My body would torn apart and burnt to a crisp, Edward watching as the fire was lit. "I thought I told you to get rid of her," James sneered, his eyes narrowed at me.
"She's a good fighter, boss," Emmett responded. "She's kicked my ass."
"Will you fight for me, my pet?" James asked, cupping my face with his hand. His fingers roughly caressed my lips and he pressed his entire body against me.
"No," I said flatly, pushing him off and shielding my body as close as I could. James backhanded me and I acted like I was in pain, but his hand never touched me, just my shield. "Hitting me won't make me fight for you, James."
"Do you want to know what I'm going to do, Isabella?" he asked, his eyes crazed. "How I'm going to end your family?" He described, in great detail every vile thing he was going to do or his newborns were going to do to Carlisle, Esme and the rest of my family. Victoria, Laurent and Tanya also joined in. I just sat impassively, ignoring their words and praying that they wouldn't happen. I couldn't let them happen. If I was on that battlefield, they wouldn't survive. Once I had my chance, James and the rest of his minions would be torn to shreds and burnt to a crisp with my power. "And let's not forget your beloved Edward…"
"He's mine," Tanya and Victoria barked. They glared at each other, quickly attacking each other in a vampy version of a cat fight. Their voices were like nails on a chalkboard and it was grated to my ears.
"I was going to marry him and he dumped me!" Tanya screeched.
"He's my mate!" Victoria hissed, pulling at Tanya's hair.
"He's my fiancée," Tanya argued. "You do not get to keep him!"
"ENOUGH!" James bellowed, glowering at both women. "Edward is a charcoal briquette. No one gets him. Isabella gets to watch him burn as I…" he trailed off, adjusting his hardness pressed against his jeans. James glared at both Alice and me. In the blink of an eye, he picked me up and threw me back into that room. Alice was in there along with me. "You will not be at the fight. You will not be there as I slaughter your family. You will have to live with those consequences." James slammed the door shut and we heard a lock click.
"This is not good," Alice said, running her fingers along the seam of the door. "If we're not there…"
"Check, Alice," I hissed, pinching my nose.
Alice's vision of the battle begins but we're obviously not there. Edward sees that we're missing and he begins to quake with anger. Jasper tries to calm him, but he's angry in his own right. Without thinking, Edward runs up to James and within minutes, he's a pile of ash at James' feet, who laughs maniacally.
"That cannot happen," I sobbed, rubbing my chest as my heart lurched with her vision. "How can that not happen?"
"I don't know. Have Emmett tell them telepathically?" Alice said, her voice miserable. "Everything is up in the air."
"Can that vision change?" I asked, gripping Alice's arms. "Your visions…they work on decided futures. Something can change and that goes away, right?"
"It can, but I don't know what to do," Alice whimpered, curling up in a ball. I've failed our family. If Edward dies…so will you, Bella. I just found you! I wrapped my arms around Alice. We both cried for that vision, but my mind was spinning of how I could change it. All of it wouldn't work since we were stuck in this windowless, vamp-proofed room that we couldn't unlock. No voices could be heard, in or out. The only thing tethering me to the real world was my connection to my mate. "That's it!"
"What?" I asked, quirking my brow.
"You may not be able to hear Edward, mentally or otherwise, but he's still attached to you. He can feel your connection," Alice said, her smile blinding. "Keep thinking of him, loving him and send it through your connection, Bella. He'll still feel you and he'll know that you aren't dead like James says."
I hugged her tightly. "I can't wait for this to be over," I whispered.
"Me, neither," Alice said shakily.
xx A&M xx
EPOV
I could feel her. Bella's love was pulsing through our connection. She was close. I just knew it. The time had come where our destiny was just hours away. We were standing in formation in Grant Park. The Volturi were not there, but their scents were nearby. They were lingering.
I huddled in my jacket, trying to ignore the stinging cold rain. It didn't bother me much, but I wanted this done.
Finished.
We also had a few more allies join us, thankfully. A couple who knew both Jasper and Alice, Peter and Charlotte, were standing with us along with a trio of vampires who were friendly with Carlisle, Liam, Siobhan and Maggie. Apparently, they had sent word to them while I was sitting in my vigil, watching James' brownstone. I was glad that we had the extra help, but I was wary of these newcomers. I didn't know them and for all I knew, they worked for James.
Their thoughts never indicated that they were, but I was still leery. This whole situation had made me paranoid and I hated it. I needed my Bella back and this whole ordeal to be over.
"Where are they?" hissed Garrett. "It's half past midnight."
"It's a strategic tactic," Jasper muttered. "They're fucking with our minds."
"Well, it's working," Esme spat.
I could hear some mental rumblings. Looking in the distance, I could the faint movement at the northwest corner of the park, near where Bella and I had our first date in Millennium Park. James' thoughts whacked me like a hammer. His hate was blinding and his mind was filled of our destruction. "They're here," I growled. I searched for Alice and Bella's thoughts, but couldn't find them. Bella was probably shielding them and I couldn't hear.
She's close. I can feel her. She's close and I'll see her. I love you, Angel.
"Remain calm," Carlisle said, standing up a bit straighter. I glared in the direction of James and his crew of vampires. My hands were clenched in tight fists.
James, Victoria, and Laurent arrived, standing in a small clump, glaring at us. Behind them, Tanya was crouched defensively, hissing loudly. Emmett is standing with her, a look of disdain on his features. He was partially blocking Tanya from attacking since she was not trained and wanted all of us dead. Me, especially. A horde of newborns slunk in from behind. They are feral, angry and hungry for blood. We were outnumbered, easily, four to one. On top of that, Alice and Bella were not among the vampires that stood before us.
My heart fell to the ground and I felt sick. Bella?! Bella! Answer me! I screamed mentally, my body trembling in anxiety. Carlisle gave me a look of concern, but I was not worried about him. I needed my mate, my angel. Jasper was no better than me, but outwardly, he just appeared to be pissed. His mind was forlorn, his heart breaking for his Alice. His fear was that she was dead.
I felt my heart warm and my connection with Bella jolted. She wasn't dead. If she were, I knew I would not be able to stand.
Edward! Listen to me, Emmett barked in my mind. Bella and Alice are okay. They're alright. Trust me, please! James has them locked in a room. It's lined with something that blocks out all sounds, minds and anything else. Victoria and James are the only ones who can open up this room, Edward. You CANNOT kill them. Not yet. Without their thumbprint, the door will not open.
James could be dead for all I cared. I just needed his thumb. The rest of him could be a smoking pile of ash. Emmett's frantic thoughts did put my mind at ease, somewhat. I was still panicking. Bella was still in the clutches of James and enfolded into his madness. Clenching my wrists, I relayed Emmett's message. James and his minions could not hear me, but the people who mattered did and they were happy that Bella and Alice were okay, but betrayed at James' actions.
"So you are not cowards," James said, his voice deep and resonant. "You've come to greet death with poise and dignity."
"We are not going to die," Carlisle said quietly. "We did nothing wrong. It is you that have faltered. Your need for power and control…it will end you. Your arrogance is your downfall."
"Well, I know for a fact that I will be victorious in this little spat," James said smugly, placing his hands on his hips. "You're completely surrounded and I've seen your deaths."
He's baiting us, Jasper thought to me. Alice must have lied and said that he would win or she 'couldn't see' an outcome. He will die. I know it. You know it, too.
"Just not yet. We need him to unlock that door," I growled, my anger growing inside. "Well, his thumb."
If he is destroyed, all of him will be destroyed. We need him intact, Jasper thought glumly. Fucking hell. "I was looking forward to killing him." Jasper looked around and we did see more newborns approach us from the south, snarling and growling. James is right. We're surrounded. This is going to be tough.
James jutted his chin and the newborns from behind us began their attack. Kate, Garrett, Irina, Peter and Charlotte were the first to feel the brunt of the newborns. The fight began in earnest and soon we all were fighting for our lives.
I partnered up with Jasper. We were both dealing with the grief of our mates being in James' captivity. The newborns we were fighting were very strong but predictable. I could see in their minds what they were about to do and I blocked every parry and blow. A large man was my first victim. He tried to stomp me, pummel me into the ground. Lithely, I blocked his heavy attacks before I jumped onto his back. With a snarl, I wrapped my arms around the newborn's head, snapping it clear off. Heaving the body, I tossed it into a fire that had been started in a garbage can. Another newborn was on my back, snapping at my neck.
I twisted, beginning another fight. This one was harder. The newborn was a woman and she had long brown hair, reminding me of my mate. However, she was feral and brutal. Her nails attacked me and she bit down on my skin as often as she could. Her venom burning my clothes and my skin. When she bit my neck, close to where Bella made me hers, I flipped her onto the ground and tore her apart, my body on fire.
Jasper and I ran toward the back of the line, helping Kate and Garrett. They were surrounded by ten newborns. Kate's power had stopped their attacks, but they were batting at them like angry cats. I focused my mind on the 'leader' and tossed him, completely intact into a roaring fire. He screamed as he burnt and he went quickly. Thirty minutes later, the circle around Kate and Garrett was gone. They moved closer to the lake to get the next group while Jasper and went back north, flying past Buckingham Fountain to capture and destroy three newborns who were too afraid to fight.
I was sore, venom oozing out of my many bite marks as we ran back, trying to get closer to James, Victoria, Laurent and Tanya. We would get close and then, they would move.
A sharp yell caught our attention. A newborn had her arms wrapped around Esme. Jasper sprinted and released her from the newborn's grip. I checked on her and she said she was fine before moving to fight with her mate. Carlisle and Esme worked in tandem, fighting seamlessly. It was odd to see them in such a manner. Carlisle was soft spoken and gentle and Esme was the epitome of goodness. Their faces worked up in sneers and snapping necks of the vampires was something I would not soon forget. Eleazar and Carmen worked separately since their fighting styles were so different. Eleazar was brutal and usually took the offensive. Carmen was patient, moving like a dancer before striking the deadliest blow.
"We have to get James," Jasper growled, wrenching the head off an older man. It sounded like metal grating together. "He's just standing there."
I turned and glowered at James. James was still not fighting. He was just standing off to the side, his face smug. Emmett was by his side, holding back Tanya who wanted to decapitate me. Her thoughts were stuck on it. She felt jilted since I had caught her with Laurent…a different Laurent than the one standing next to Victoria. She wanted me and when I caught her in a lie, she did everything to get me back. I never wanted her in the first place, only proposing because I thought that it was right. Now? I had everything I ever wanted in Bella, my angel. I'm coming, love. I promise.
"Let's separate and see if we can get to him on opposite sides," I suggested, wiping my face with my soaking wet sleeve. "He will not live to see another dawn."
"Is that a vow, Edward?" Jasper asked.
"I fucking promise it," I growled, turning and running to far end of the park. We fought for hours, it seemed. The newborns kept coming and we were all bitten, tired and done. The piles of newborns were flaming, reaching amazing heights in the night sky. I'm surprised that the police hadn't come with all of the noise. Each punch sounded like a thunder clap. Each death was like a car accident. It was appropriate that we were fighting on a night where there was a huge storm happening in the first place.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" we heard.
All of us stopped, including the newborns, when the bloodcurdling scream pierced through the stormy black sky. Kate was on her knees, clutching her head as a newborn had torn apart Irina. With a parting growl, the newborn tossed Irina's head into the flames before attacking Kate. And Kate was losing. She was so consumed in her grief.
Edward, we need to help! Jasper thought to me. We took off, quickly ending the newborn that killed Irina. Then, with a newfound determination, we gunned for Victoria, Laurent, Tanya and James. Their time on this earth was over. We scrambled through feral, blood-thirsty newborns, killing them easily. Just as we were about to make our attack on James, the cloaked figures of the Volturi appeared in front of us. But it was more than just Felix, Demitri, Jane and Alec. They were behind James and his crew. Emmett smirked, relinquishing his hold on Tanya to stand next to me as I slid to a dead stop. James' mind exploded with his ire, planning Emmett's end, along with the rest of ours.
"You think that we would let this continue to happen?" asked a high-pitched male voice. "You are mistaken, James. You were given an order. A direct order by my guard. Yet, you chose to ignore it. In fact, you defied us."
"That's because you are so set in your ways, Aro," James growled, jutting his chin out insolently. "You do not know how it is to be free. All that you wish is for us to remain a fucking secret and that humans run the world, causing its destruction. That time has come to an end!"
Aro nodded briefly. Another figure in a grey cloak came and dropped five newspapers onto the ground. Five more were dropped by another cloaked vampire. There were stories of the deaths all around Chicago and in the suburbs. Since this whole thing began, over three thousand people had lost their lives at the hands, or rather, fangs of James' newborn army. There was talk of an epidemic, a disease that fed on blood, causing the dead to have no remaining blood in their systems. Hysteria prevailed over the headlines on the newspapers and James couldn't find it in himself to care. He was almost proud. With another head nod, more cloaked figures appeared and the remaining newborns were destroyed. James' eyes widened in shocked as all of his creations were now engulfed in flames.
"We need to destroy all of them," came the low voice of the man with white blonde hair. "Even the Cullen's. They allowed this to go on for far too long!"
"Peace, Caius," Aro said, holding up his hand. "The Cullen's are not in the wrong. In fact, it was their impassioned plea that brought our attention to this mess." Aro turned, searching for Carlisle. He smiled, his paper-thin skin looking like it would crack from the pressure.
The three of them all looked that way. Aro was shorter with pitch black hair, held back with a red ribbon. He reminded me of a weasel with his pinched expression and whiny voice. Caius was as tall as me, with white blonde hair that hung around his face like a sheet. He almost reminded me of Lurch from The Addams Family, but with bright red lips and matching red eyes. The third man was a few inches shorter than Caius and had long brown, wavy hair. He looked almost bored. He wasn't, though. His mind betrayed him. He was just incredibly sad and morose, longing for his mate.
Caius huffed, crossing his arms over his chest, reminding me of a teenage girl who hadn't gotten their way. His mind was upset that the rules had been broken. All guilty parties had to be punished and that included us, since we knew about it.
"Carlisle," Aro said, holding his hand out. Carlisle responded by shaking Aro's hand. Aro's eyes closed and I could see him rifle through Carlisle's memories about what had happened. Releasing his hand, Aro smiled. "Just as I suspected, you were not involved. You do not need to pay for these crimes. Though, you are missing a part of your coven and have added a few more."
"Yes. Alice, my daughter and her sister, Isabella, are being held against their will at James' home," Carlisle replied. "Only he has the key or the means necessary to release them."
"And the rest of your coven? Who is this and why did he switch sides?" Caius snarled, glaring at Emmett.
"This is my other daughter's mate, Emmett McCarty. He was changed by Victoria, against his will. He was placed inside, acting as a double agent." James growled viciously, fighting against Felix's hold. "With all of this happening, we haven't registered him. Nor have we registered Edward Masen, Isabella's mate," Carlisle answered.
Aro nodded, holding his hand in front of Emmett. "You're supposed to take it, Mr. McCarty," Aro said, a smile playing on his features. Emmett nodded, shaking Aro's hand. He went to remove it, but Aro held on, his eyes closed and his mouth moving quickly. "Carlisle speaks the truth. I'm so sorry about all of this, Mr. McCarty. You never had a say in whether or not you wanted this life…"
"If I hadn't met Rosie, I would have said no, but she's my everything," Emmett replied, smiling at Rosalie.
"Go to her," Aro said, gesturing to Rosalie. Emmett ran to her, hugging her tightly and their reunion was bittersweet. They were thrilled to be together, but we had lost someone in our family and Bella and Alice were still imprisoned. Aro turned to me and he held out his hand. Without waiting, I took it and he looked through my memories, starting with the fight in Grant Park to my hazy human memories of Tanya with my former friend, Laurent. "Marcus…is he in pain?"
I frowned, confused by the question. "I don't understand."
"Marcus can read connections," Carlisle explained.
"He's not in pain. His mate is sending a great deal of power through their bond," Marcus said. I looked into his mind and I saw what he was talking about. Each couple was bound together with a light. The brighter the light, the more secure the bond was. My light was nearly blinding and I could see it disappear out of Grant Park. Jasper's light wasn't nearly as bright, but it was there, following my light. "She grows tired, though."
"We need to get them reunited," Aro said. With a brusque nod of his head, Demitri, Jane and Alec snapped the heads off of Victoria, Laurent and Tanya. I should have been upset at the death of Tanya, but she brought this on herself. Her head rolled off her body and landed near my feet. Her crimson eyes were still blinking and she was still aware. Bending down, I picked up the head. She smiled but it quickly dissipated when I tossed it into a garbage can. The flames engulfed her and Tanya was no more.
That was almost anticlimactic.
Aro barked out orders in Italian and his cloaked minions began cleaning up the park. He turned to James, his amiable smile disintegrating. "You will pay for your sins, James. The judgment is death. After you've freed Alice and Isabella," Aro said darkly. "Young Edward, you know the way?"
"Yes, sir," I said. Aro gallantly bowed and I took off, running toward the brownstone. I heard Felix, the three Volturi brothers, James, Jasper, Carlisle and Esme follow me. The rest of our family were helping with the cleanup of the park. Arriving at the brownstone, Felix and I both had to destroy two newborns who were lingering outside. They were just coming back from a hunt and were confused as to why their leader was being held against his will. They were ready to fight and so we made the decision for them.
I could smell her. Her sweet scent invaded my senses. I inhaled deeply, knowing that she was here. James' mind was curiously blank. Felix grabbed him and led him inside. We walked up several flights of stairs and into a large bedroom. It was empty. The scent of humans clung to the wall and I could smell their fear and their blood. It made my throat burn. Felix pushed James and he glared at him. "Release Alice and Isabella," Felix snarled.
James thrust his thumb into a reader outside of a metal door inside a closet. The door slid open and within the blink of an eye, James grabbed whoever was closest to him. He was holding tiny Alice against his chest, his fingers wrapped around her neck so tightly that I could see tiny fissures from the pressure. Bella darted past him and reached for my hand. Like a warm blanket, I was enfolded by her shield and I felt complete. "She will not live to see the next sunrise," James said darkly, his voice making the windows rattle.
xx A&M xx
BPOV
"It's done," Alice said, slumping against the wall. "The Volturi have intervened. Thank God!"
"How soon until they come to get us out?" I asked, sitting on the bed.
"Not long. An hour or so. Aro has to interview the suspects and complete his sentencing," Alice said with a grim smile. "We did lose one and there are injuries."
"Who?"
"Irina," Alice murmured. "I was never close with her, but she was family. It's a shame that she lost her life. She deserved happiness after Laurent's betrayal."
"Perhaps, she will get her peace," I whispered, saddened for the loss of Irina. "And her happiness." I said a quick prayer. "Who was injured?"
"Liam, a friend of Carlisle's. He had his leg broken. Most everyone got bitten, including Edward. Garrett had his ribs shattered by one of the newborns and Esme has a broken wrist. There were also a few close calls, too," Alice grimaced.
"Who?" I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
"Edward. A newborn, who looked a lot like you, attacked him and he struggled in fighting her," Alice responded, her eyes impossibly sad. "He got bit on his neck, close to where you injected him with your venom, when he realized that she wasn't you and he killed her."
"He must be shattered," I said, running my hands through my hair. "He hates to take a life…any life."
"He will be fine. As soon as he has you in his arms, Edward will be perfectly fine," Alice reassured me. We stayed together, holding each other's hands. I watched Alice's visions as the 'interrogation' occurred. I laughed evilly when Laurent, Victoria and Tanya had their heads removed. My heart burst when Edward, with a confident smirk on his lips, tossed Tanya's head into the flames of a nearby garbage can. "They're nearly here…and James is up to something. I don't know. He can't make up his mind, but he is up to something."
"Prepare for anything," I said.
Ten minutes later, we heard the lock click and the door slide open. James was on the other side, his eyes black fire and his mind completely blank. His hand grabbed Alice, who happened to be closest to the door, wrapping his fingers around her neck. I darted out, finding Edward first and then panicking about what was unfolding in front of me.
"She will not live to see the next sunrise," James growled.
Not if I have anything to do about it, I thought to Edward. Narrowing my eyes, I focused all of my power on James. My zinger was a lot like Jane's gift, but instead of the allusion of pain, I actually caused harm. James was the one who would not live to see another sunrise.
His heart was first. It imploded inside of his chest from the intensity of my zinger. He dropped Alice to claw at his chest as the pain radiated throughout his whole body. Alice sprang into Jasper's arms. The walls cracked and vibrated as I continued his punishment. When the floor buckled, I jumped at James, pushing him through the window and we fell to the ground below. His insides were burning from my attack. Edward landed smoothly behind me.
"Bella…" he whispered.
"He's dead," I snarled, my power increasing and his torso exploding from his incinerating organs. James was screaming in agony. He was shocked at what was happening to him, unsure how I was able to do it. "You ruined me. You ruined my sister. Now, I ruin you."
Blinking down, I focused my attention to his miniscule cock. It didn't take long until burst. I laughed at that, but I was not done. Clenching my hands and pulling on everything that I had inside of me, I refocused my zinger. With a scream that broke all of the windows in the brownstone, James' body was torn apart and he was no more.
Once James was gone, my body went limp and Edward caught me. The last thing I heard before I lost consciousness was Edward's frantic pleas. "Bella! Bella?! Please…stay with me! Angel! My Angel…"
A/N: I'm soooooooooooooooo much better at writing lemons than action. Just saying. I've revisited the fight scene over and over again, but I don't know how to make it better. I hope I did it justice. Perhaps, rereading it and a night to refocus myself may give me some more ideas.
Anyhow, pictures of Carlisle's townhouse, Grant Park and the Volturi are all on my blog and tumblr. You can find those links on my profile. You can also find me on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation or on Twitter: tufano79.
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