Chapter 7

Carlisle's POV

Ugh… I hate flying. The recycled air, the cramped feeling. It's awful but it must be done. It's our most efficient way to get to Volterra as soon as possible.

"Snap!" Alice squealed. She was sat at the window seat whereas I had the aisle seat and Jasper was in-between us.

"Come on Alice! We have been playing this game for four hours straight and you've won every single time. Can't we play something else," Jasper moaned. All she could respond with was a loud giggle as she pulled all her newly won cards into a pile. She was practically bouncing in her seat.

I couldn't help but laugh at their behaviour. Though with everything that was happening I was glad they were playing cards to keep their minds off things. Jasper might have been complaining but I could tell he was holding back a smile. He was just playing along. Normally most members of our family have taken a slight dislike to playing things like cards with Alice as she can see what cards etc. are going to come along. But Jasper likes to make her happy and entertains her. It just shows how much he truly loves her.

Alice happily re-dealt the cards as I tried to return to my book. I should have brought a second one as I got this one finished on our first flight to New York. Reading it over a second time wasn't very interesting. Carmen and Eleazar where sitting in another section of the plane. In such sort notice we couldn't get seats together. It would have been nice to have been able to catch up with my old friends but I guess I have to wait until this visit with the Volturi is over.

Our flight was soon over and our plane landed in Florence airport. We only had carry on luggage as we had no intentions of staying for a long period of time here in Italy. I really did not like having my family separated- especially at a time like this.

The five of us gathered at the car rental desk as I rented us something inconspicuous. As we walked out of the airport TV screens were showing a report about Victoria. It was in Italian but I could understand it perfectly. Italian was one of my better languages. They were talking about Victoria and her planned interview. So it was nothing I didn't already know. I still had a very bad feeling about what was she going to divulge to the humans about us vampires though.

Thankfully the sun was setting so that was one less thing we had to worry about. As we reached our rental car Eleazar and I sat in the front and the others in the back. I was driving.

"Alice, do you see anything else? Anything new?" I asked her nonchalantly as I pulled away from the airport.

"Nothing really," she replied. "I still see a large number of vampires heading towards Volterra but other than that not much."

I thanked her and continued on our way. There was a short silence but it wasn't in any way awkward.

"I've a bad feeling," Alice stated.

"A bad feeling? In what way?," Jasper asked.

"I can't explain it. It's more like a sort of instinct. It's like a vision but it's very unclear. As if someone hasn't made up their mind yet but there is more than one person who has to make a decision. It's all messed up and it's like it's in a constant flux," she explained.

"Do you know what that could mean?" Carmen asked looking to Alice with a hint of concern.

"No… I'm sorry. None of it makes much sense. It's like I have a headache. I've been seeing these images of Edward so maybe something happens to him. I just… I don't know," she replied.

"Alice don't be straining yourself. You're already doing so much for us," Jasper reassured. I stopped as the traffic light went red and turned to face Alice. Jasper had his hand lovingly on Alice's shoulder.

"He's right Alice. I'm sorry, sometimes I seem to take your powers for granted," I apologised.

"Don't worry about it Carlisle," she said as the lights turned green and I continued to drive towards our destination. "I like helping I just wish I could see what the Volturi are going to do."

"Yes, I think we would all like to know that," Jasper agreed.

"No matter what the outcome of the actions by the Volturi, there is one thing for certain: that this day is a historic day for any vampire," Eleazar began.

Everyone in the car agreed as did I. Yes, one could class this day as historic. No matter what any of us do things have completely changed forever.

At first I was in a type of shock I suppose. I didn't really know what to think. I couldn't believe someone would just expose us like that, even if it was a sadistic creature like Victoria. It has its pros and cons I suppose. Maybe my family won't have to hide anymore but then again what's that saying: be careful what you wish for. It could be handy for work as things like using my speed in public could help save lives. But who knows how this situation will turn out, not even Alice can see. We will just have to wait for the Volturi's verdict- but there is one thing for sure, this could all go terribly wrong.

We made it to the dark, winding streets of Volterra with the moon as the only source of natural light. We parked the car almost hiding it in a quite alleyway. As I stepped out of the car the beautiful scent of an Italian town hit me but it was infused with the thick sent of vampire and they didn't all belong to the Volturi. Alice walked up to me.

"Carlisle, I was right. There are more than just us visiting the Volturi. Everyone's gathering near the main chambers below the city," she explained.

We began marching through the cobbled streets of Volterra. It has been a long time since I last stepped foot here and it seems slightly unnerving. I am worried about how this visit might pan out but that's one of the reasons why I didn't want my whole family to come. The only reason I allowed Alice and Jasper to get involved was because I knew her powers may be needed.

As we reached the entrance to the Volturi lair as it were there were two other vampires walking towards us. One was tall and wispy and the other was short and stocky. Complete opposites but the two male vampires who were undoubtedly together. They were mumbling in French to each other as they leaped down into the underground passageways and sewers of Volterra.

The five of us followed one by one as I led the way. It has been a long time since I've been in the presence of the Volturi and my many memories of my time spent here began flooding back.

The scent of vampire and stale human blood became stronger as we reached a large, dark and damp opening amidst these underground passage ways. I almost gasped at the sight. I had never seen anything like it. In all my years there has never been a gathering of this magnitude of us vampires.

There were hundreds of vampires, too many to count. Eleazar was right: this day would go down in the history books. There were so many different scents and sounds. An array of different shapes and sizes. It was practically overwhelming with the scent of hostility in the air.

A cacophony of noise was erupting from the chatter of the unfamiliar vampires as we placed ourselves among the crowd. A number of vampires stared at us as we entered. They could tell we were different. It wasn't only from the way we were dressed or how we talked. Our golden eyes were the real dead giveaways. I could hear a couple of people whisper about us but it was only trivial gossip.

The five of us waited together as I absorbed my surroundings. The crowd were formed in an almost semi circle type form. No doubt circled around where the Volturi planned to make their predicable, melodramatic entrance. We began to wait just like everyone else.

"Oh dear, I almost forgot to call Edward. He's going crazy wanting to know if we're okay," Alice said. She pulled her sleek phone out and dialled his number.

They talked for a couple of minutes about nothing important like our flights before Alice told him everything she knew. Which relatively wasn't a lot and I could tell she was getting very frustrated with herself.

"Ugh! He hung up on me!" she exclaimed somewhat shocked. That was unlike Edward to be so rude.

"He said there was something going on with Bella and some idiotic humans -whatever that means- and he just hung up! I didn't even get the chance to tell him about the images I've been having of him," Alice moaned.

"Ring him back," Jasper suggested quickly. She shook her head and groaned.

"I can't!" she stated simply yet annoyed.

"Why?" Jasper asked as a confused borrow developed in-between his eyebrows.

"You'll see why," she explained as she looked forward past Jasper.

We were all confused yet used to Alice's antics. We followed her gaze through the mismatched crowd.

Suddenly Aro appeared in the distance joined by Caius and Marcus .

"Silence!" Aro yelled as the various members of the unpopular guard filed out behind them. Abruptly everyone stopped talking and their undivided attention was upon Aro.

"I'm sure you're all here because of the fact we have been unexpectedly exposed to the humans. As of yet we have not taken any direct actions but I can assure you that this will not be taken lightly. This has effected us all and even though we try to stop things like this from happening there was no way we could have seen this coming," Aro began before he gazed upon the crowd as if looking for someone.

Abruptly Alice who was stood in front of me dropped her phone into the wet, dirty ground. Jasper quickly knelt down, picking up the phone and wiping it dry with the bass of his green t-shirt. He began rubbing soothing circles into her back after he put Alice's phone into his pocket. I'd seen him do this for her a number of times when she was having profound visions so I assumed that that was the very reason he was doing it now.

Both Caius and Marcus began to speak their opinions on our exposure so everyone's attention was still on the Volturi. No one other than Jasper and I noticed Alice's behaviour.

All of a sudden Alice began to move again but she was trembling. She turned her body towards Jasper. She was in shock. Whatever she saw I instantly knew it wasn't good.

"Alice what did you see?" Jasper whispered.

She raised her trembling hand to his face, placing it on his cheek. She whimpered before putting her other arm quickly around Jasper's neck pulling him down into an embrace at her level.

"What's going on? What did you see?" he asked a little louder but his voice now filled with panic. Alice pulled back from their embrace but her hands remained on Jasper's face.

"Jasper, no matter what happens don't come after me. I love you with all my heart and always will," she sobbed as she pulled Jasper in for a frantic kiss. Jasper and Alice were never the couple for public displays of affection but one would never question that their love was one of the strongest in the world. Alice's behaviour could only mean that something truly terrible was about to happen.

As she retracted from Jasper he seemed a little stunned with a hint of pain reflecting Alice's expression. Suddenly I surprisingly found myself being enveloped by Alice's arms.

"Carlisle, thank you for everything," she paused. "And Carlisle… I'm sorry I never said this but I love you too, you're the father I never had and I can't thank you enough for that."

"Oh Alice… Will you please tell us what you saw?" I sighed as we broke our embrace. Carmen and Eleazar hand noticed that there was something happening and they were just as curious to figure out what was going on. Abruptly I felt a force of calm upon me. Jasper was probably trying his best to help this situation. As she stepped towards Jasper he took her hands in his.

"Alice please… Tell me… Please… What did you see?" he begged.

"I can't…" she sobbed. "Because I love you."

No doubt if it were possible tears would have been flowing freely and from Jasper's expression I think he probably would have been crying too. Though I was concentrating on the scene that was playing before me I tried to absorb the Volturi's speech. Jasper and Alice held each other as once again Aro began to speak.

"As you are all aware it is our duty to protect our kind from exposure. We have rules that must be obeyed but now as our most basic rule has been broken our laws no longer hold the same value. However, we warn you to keep your anonymity for the sake of our kind as well as your own. We will no longer punish those who innocently reveal themselves to humans. This isn't the first time humans have found about us, because of course the legends of us have to have had some form of basis. Humans are weak, forgetful, they may forget us once again. However never has anything like this happened on such a wide scale," he paused and a devilish smile stretched across his face. He stepped towards the crowd.

"Now for the moment you have all been waiting for. With the rules we have enforced for centuries there have been punishments given and as I said this event will not be taken lightly. Though our rules may not mean what they once did we still have to punish those who created this situation in the first place. The vampire know as Victoria will be killed!" he stated as the crowed erupted into roars of celebration excluding my family and I. The crowd quietened and Aro began to speak again.

"In fact I have just sent members of my guard to take care of the job. However there is still some unfinished business," he paused once more as his eyes filtered through the crowd and a number of people whispered to one another.

Aro stepped even closer to the crowd though this time Caius and Marcus followed, joined with the various members of the guard. The people in the crowd began to step aside, creating a path of sorts for Aro and the others to pass through. Unnervingly some vampires standing around us began to stare. The Volturi were headed in our direction.

A circle began to form around us as other vampires began to back away from us. Is this what Alice saw? My confused expression became stern as they neared us.

Jasper still had his arms around Alice but his stance became protective and he stood her slightly behind him as Aro and the other reached us.

"Ah hello my old friends. Carlisle, Eleazar it has been a long time."

"Too long," Eleazar replied firmly with heavy sarcasm.

Aro stretched his hand out for me to shake it. I reluctantly accepted the gesture even though I knew he would gather all my thoughts. He awkwardly held my hand longer than he should have, no doubt absorbing every last detail he could.

"It's good to see representatives of both the Denali coven and the Olympic coven here. However today my business is with the Cullens," Aro continued. I was on guard. I didn't like the direction this conversation was going.

"Our exposure occurred in the city of Seattle near where you hold residence did it not?" Aro asked though he obviously knew the answer.

"Yes…" I answered cautiously. "Aro, I can assure you that none of this has anything to do with me or my family."

"On the contrary, old friend, your coven being so close to her could have stopped this from happening. You do have some advantages above the rest of us," he said as he glanced at Alice who was still wrapped tightly in Jasper's arms. Jasper growled, practically spitting venom into Aro's face. I could feel the eyes of the crowd boring into me.

"Also you have a history with the vampire known as Victoria and rumour has it that she was building an army of newborns just to attack your coven. So I believe your coven gave her an incentive to do this, a motive if you will. So much so that one could argue that this is partly your fault. You could even be classed as accomplices," Aro continued.

"This is ridiculous! My family have done nothing and you know it!" I retorted.

"He's right Aro. It's not right to falsely accuse the innocent," Eleazar added seriously. Aro laughed.

"Ha! Who here thinks the Cullens are innocent?!" he yelled to the crowd. But everyone remained silent. His demonic laugh sounded once more.

"Who here believes that the Cullens are not above the law and deserve to be punished just like everyone else?!" he asked, yelling once more. The crowd exploded with vicious roars of agreement. It was barbaric.

"The crowd has spoken Carlisle, and you know the punishment for breaking our laws," he stated smugly.

"Aro this is murder!" I exclaimed letting my anger surface.

"No. It is justice," he responded. "We have to set an example that we are still the most powerful coven there is."

He glanced at Jasper and I before he stared at Alice. He was heartless.

"Kill the girl!" he ordered, coldly.

"No!" I cried. This is all my fault. I should have never asked Alice for her help. Jasper looked to Alice wide eyed. He was heartbroken. Simultaneously we all realised what Alice had seen.

Suddenly I found myself being pulled back. I was being held down by members of the guard and even by unfamiliar members of the crowd. Carmen and Eleazar were being held down too but Felix and another couple of large vampires had a hold of Jasper. They had separated Jasper and Alice. Alice was being held by Chelsea. The crowd was chanting. It was vulgar. Jasper was doing anything he could do to break free, as was I. They were too strong for me. Jasper was snarling, and biting. Every action, every movement was filled with pain. It was as if he was screaming. He would viciously attack the moment he would be freed. His eyes were pitch black.

"If you touch a hair on her head you are all dead!" Jasper growled.

Suddenly out of nowhere someone knocked Chelsea to the ground. Alice was free for a split second before two vampires from the crowd took a hold of her once more. They were pulling her towards the entrance of the Volturi's main chamber.

The vampire who attacked Chelsea attacked once again trying to free Alice but this time he was joined by a female. I recognised them quickly. It was Peter and Charlotte, Jasper's old friends.

"Aro, please don't do this! If you hurt her I will kill you myself!" I threatened as I tried to kick myself free.

"Ha! Carlisle Cullen is finally talking like a true vampire!" Aro laughed.

All of a sudden I felt someone try to pull me free. It was Siobhan from the Irish coven. I saw Liam and Maggie try to free Carmen and Eleazar. Jasper was being helped by Vladimir and Stefan from the Romanian coven. Though everyone tried we were overpowered by the guard and the many members of the crowd who had sided with the Volturi. Jane swooped down and began using her despicable power on the vampires who tried to assist us. They were writhing in pain. I instantly felt guilty.

"Alice!" I screamed as I caught my last glimpse of her before she was pushed into the Volturi's deeper chambers.

I felt helpless. Completely helpless. I didn't know what to do.

I few quick seconds had passed and I was still fighting to be free but it was too late. I heard a pained, blood curling scream filled with terror erupt from the Volturi's chambers. It was Alice…

I was overwhelmed with anger and pain. I couldn't see Jasper anymore but I could hear his cries of rage. In fact I couldn't see anything anymore or hear, move or even smell. I knew this disturbing feeling. Alec was using his power to cut off all my senses.

It was dark. All I could do was think, nothing else. For all I knew Alec wasn't using his power on me at all maybe I was dead too. I didn't know how much time was passing and if it was Alec I had no idea as to what was happening to me. Where were Jasper and the others. Were they okay? And what about Alice?…

I blinked. Wait I blinked!? My vision came rushing back. The numbness began to dissolve. I flexed my fingers and felt grass and soil beneath them. The fresh smell of the grass then hit me. Where was I?

I pushed myself off the ground. I was wet and covered it dirt. My hair was everywhere. I saw Carmen and Eleazar come to in front of me. Jasper was to my side, knelt staring off into the distance. His eyes were wide and he wasn't moving but he was obviously out of Alec's trance.

I was about to ask him if he was okay and I went to place my hand on his shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" he yelled as he sprung up onto his feet. He swerved around taking in his surroundings. We were in a field just outside Volterra. They had thrown us out. He growled and began to run towards Volterra.

"Jasper stop!" I called and began to run after him. I jumped in front of him.

"Carlisle get out of my way," he demanded. His face looked dead.

"What are you doing?!"

"I've got to go back there. We have to do something. I can't let them let them away with this. Maybe Alice is still… I can't… I just have too…" he begged as he went to run again but I grabbed his arms and I wouldn't let him move.

"Don't! They will kill you too. Remember what Alice said. She told you not to go after her," I responded. He was taken aback slightly. He would always follow Alice's wishes but would he keep to them now after what happened? In fact I didn't know whether I could stop myself from going after her either.

"I have to…" he repeated grimly. He tried to run again but I pulled him back by his collar.

"Jasper please!" I scolded. "For me, for Esme… For Alice…"

He gave me eye contact. He looked so angry yet devastated. He was trying to decide what to do. He pushed me away.

"If I can't go to Volterra then I'm not staying here!" he screamed his voice full of pure rage.

He leaped away from me in the opposite direction of Volterra. He glanced angrily at Carmen and Eleazar who were lost for words. Then he began to run as fast as he could. I couldn't stop him no matter how much I wanted to.

He was gone.

All at once I was hit by a wave of emotions. I can't believe any of this just happened. I was frozen to my spot.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I somehow managed to pull it out of my pocket.

Ugh… 35 missed calls. I scrolled though my contacts. I put my phone up to my ear.

"Carlisle is that you? Are you okay? Where are you?" she asked panicked. My emotions came rushing out.

"Esme… I need you."