A/N: Big thanks to OCD_Indeed for being an awesome validator.
And biggest thanks to Jilburfm for beta'ing this beast in awesome time! Ack.
Reviewers: Thank you so much for continuing to review even though I occasionally fail at responding, it means the world to me.
And lastly -- this chapter is at least double the size of normal chapters. Makes up for my update fail, no?
**
The Visit
BPOV
**
By the time Thursday rolled around, I had tried everything I could think of to get out of my trip. Renee had called me daily to make plans, arrange pickup, make sure I was bringing the right clothing and gush about her excitement over my visit.
It wasn't as if I didn't want to go to Florida. Or even that I didn't miss Renee. In truth, I missed Renee deeply and I wanted almost nothing more than I wanted to see where her life was leading. Yet, while she prattled on and on about beaches and restaurants that she wanted to bring me to, I found myself scouring my brain for different excuses to prevent the impending trip. I was coming up empty, though. At every turn, there was a roadblock in the form of Alice Cullen.
She was particularly adamant about my departure, and while I wasn't happy with the idea, I knew that there was no way that this would work for me.
As I drove to the mansion, I continued wracking my brain for plausible reasons to miss the trip. The air was thick around me and I knew a storm was brewing. Charlie had mentioned it was to storm all weekend, and that I had chosen a great time to go to Florida. I mentally disagreed.
I automatically pulled into the hidden driveway that I would've completely overdriven two months ago. As my truck puttered along the narrow lane of gravel, I realized it was all futile. There was no way I would be able to evade Alice. She was keeping close tabs on me, her arguments against my staying were sound and foolproof. I sighed dejectedly as I got out of the truck.
Honestly, my being here wouldn't actually benefit anyone. If it came to a fight or worse, my presence would only be a handicap. I kicked the innocent rocks that were ill-fated enough to rest in my path.
As I approached the porch, I tried to calm myself down. This would be the last time I would see him before I left. This could be the last time I would see him ever.
It was thoughts like those that had me so anxious to begin with. What if something went wrong? Of course, Alice assured me that everything would be fine, but the fact that even I noticed the little differences in Carlisle's demeanor, the constant subtle glances around the room, Esme's excessively anxious hand movements and Alice's increased faux-giddiness told me otherwise. The Cullens were supposed to be my rock. They were supposed to make things work out, even when that wasn't possible. They were supposed to keep my vampire safe no matter what. And the fact that they were faltering could only mean one thing: they did not trust in their own ability to do so.
I closed my eyes and let my head fall back, groaning at the uncertainty of the situation. My vampire was becoming more and more anxious as the week had progressed, but every time I would ask what was being kept from me, he'd shut down.
As his anxiety grew, so did mine. It only perpetuated the idea that the Cullens were hiding their concerns. They could hide nothing from Edward, though, and I watched first hand as the fear that had been fading from his eyes resurfaced. And I was wasting time being overly dramatic and pitiful. It was maybe my last few hours with my vampire and I was letting them slip away, trying to get a grip on myself.
I stood with resolve, brushing invisible dirt off of my jeans and pulling my fingers through my hair. I look at my reflection in the plate glass window quickly before heading to the door. I don't know when I became such a girl; never before had I cared about what I looked like.
I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the negativity if only for a few hours, and lifted my hand to knock. Before I could, though, the door swung open and Alice greeted me, ushering me into the foyer.
I didn't pretend to make small talk. I greeted my friends and asked them directly if I had to go tomorrow. They all insisted that I did and that was the end of that. I begged them to tell me what was being kept from me, and still, they were adamant about the fact that I was worrying too much. They promised me everything would be fine. And I simply could not believe that.
By the time I went upstairs, it was 5:30. I opened the door slowly to the darkened room, looking immediately to the window. The clouds were heavy with rain and the sun was completely obscured, the first small droplets beginning to fall. I flipped on the light automatically and turned to the bed.
Edward lay on his side with the blankets surrounding him, staring directly at me. He had a book in one hand but otherwise the bed was empty. He looked nervous. My brows furrowed in confusion, but I turned off the light again and made my way to the mattress.
I climbed in and moved closer to him as he shut the book and smiled faintly. I took it from his cool hands and discarded it to the nightstand beside us, before pulling down the covers and crawling under them. I laid on my side, mirroring his position, and coaxed his exposed hand to rest below the blanket.
He complied, letting me guide it into mine as I watched his eyes closely for a sign. A sign that this was bad, that I needed to back off. I knew by now that it wouldn't come; I hadn't seen that initial reluctance over something so simple in weeks. And lately, I hadn't been pushing my limits. I didn't want there to be tension between us when our days could be numbered, so I kept my actions safe. His anxiety was already in abundance, and I couldn't live with myself if I caused him additional strife.
So for the past week, I came over and I laid with him. Sometimes we walked around the upstairs, sometimes around the bedroom, occasionally we would venture outside but it was rare, and never once did I push him. I knew if all went well I'd have my chance to test him, to take things to their limits and have time to fix what I would invariably mess up. Right now, though, I couldn't afford to risk whatever sanctuary he had in me. To risk whatever sanctuary I had in us.
I brought my right hand to his cheek and stroked it softly, putting all the love that I had into that one gesture. I never understood before how a touch could exude an emotion as strong as what I was feeling for him, but as his eyes rolled back a little and he drew a slow, deep breath, I was almost certain that he felt it.
I reminded myself once more that tonight wasn't for testing limits. That the Cullens would protect him, and that when I got home, my vampire would be waiting for me.
As the rain beat against the window with more force, I closed my eyes and let my touch speak for me. I wanted him to know; if knowing that I loved him would help him get through this weekend, then he needed to know.
We were all well aware of the fact that he wasn't ready for this, as he wasn't even comfortable around Emmett yet, but time was not on our side, and the Volturi were not ones to let compassion outweigh their duties.
I brought my fingers across his trembling cheek and opened my eyes to find his burning into them. "Are you okay?" I asked, letting my fingertips trace his jaw.
The smallest shiver followed my touch but I kept my focus on his face. It was hard to read what he was feeling. His features weren't exactly blank, but indecipherable nonetheless.
"I'm okay," he said, tightening his hand around mine.
"I don't want to go," I whispered to him, moving myself closer. He automatically rolled onto his back and my body curled against his, my head resting on his chest. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing as the rain continued to pour. The room was fairly dark now; the shadows that were dancing on his features created an ominous feel to the atmosphere.
We laid in silence for several minutes, both watching the storm play out on the other side of the glass wall. Edward's entire body jolted as the first bout of thunder clapped in the distance. His breathing was labored and his arm was shaking around me. I pulled back to look at his face. His eyes and jaw were clenched as his mouth quivered slightly.
"I love storms," I whispered, sitting up and crossing my legs underneath me. He gradually opened his eyes and regarded me, resting his upper half on his elbows.
He raised an eyebrow in question and started to smile before the thunder struck again. The flash of light that accompanied it lit the room momentarily, the violent jerk of his body briefly illuminated.
"It's okay," I said, turning so that I was facing the window, as well. I smiled as he rearranged his body and laid his head in my lap. My fingers automatically tangled into his hair, my free hand rubbing his trembling shoulders reassuringly. I heard the distant boom and warned him that it would strike closer momentarily.
It didn't completely squelch his fear, but I could tell that he was ready for it when the loud clap resonated around us.
"Are you alright?" I whispered, pulling the blanket up to cover his fetal body. He nodded, but his dark eyes remained transfixed on the window. The rain slammed against the glass loudly, the angry sounds of the storm threatening to overbear our voices. "Do you want me to turn the light on?"
"It's okay," he answered softly, lifting his exposed hand and letting it fall on my thigh. I closed my eyes and my body stiffened reflexively. I knew it was too much to hope that he had missed my automatic response and I could feel my face heating up. I kept my eyes closed for several seconds, wishing I was dead or dreaming.
I opened one eye and peeked down at him, but his were closed too. Slowly, I moved my hand from his hair to his face, coaxing his head upward so I could see him.
When his eyes finally met mine they were full of worry and… something else. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, the storm behind us forgotten momentarily.
I nodded and looked back to the window. I was way beyond okay.
**
It was ten o'clock, our finite time coming to its end. The feelings that I had successfully managed to suppress all evening were suddenly coming back with a vengeance, the deep knot in the pit of my stomach threatening to kill me if I let it surface now.
We had spent the night watching the storm, mostly in silence. I knew if I spoke I would beg, and I knew it would do nothing but make this night less magical. His head had remained in my lap and I absently brushed my fingers through his hair, across his face, down his arms and up his torso, greedily loving every inch of skin that was within my reach. We didn't need any words tonight. Tonight was about showing my vampire that I loved him; that he had my support no matter what happened.
A quick rap at the door pulled me out of my trance, though, and I internally cursed Alice for jumping the gun. He lifted his head to allow me to stand and I moved quickly to the door, eager to get whatever bad news that Alice had over with. "What's up?" I asked sullenly.
"Charlie," she mouthed as she handed me my phone. With a quick glance back into the bedroom, I stepped into the hall.
"What's up, Dad?" I asked.
"Nothing, I uhh –" he began nervously, stumbling over his words. "I have to go in tomorrow… a couple of the guys called in and won't be able to make it. I was wondering if you'd be able to get to the airport –"
At lightning speed, I interrupted, "Alice can bring me!" I thought through my plan as rapidly as I could. My plane left at ten a.m., so I wasn't going to school anyway. "I can just…" I began calmly, keeping my squealing teenage girl at bay. "…spend the night?"
Charlie inhaled, considering my suggestion. "Should you ask the Cullens?"
Alice led me to the study where Carlisle sat behind his desk. I asked about spending the night and he agreed, taking the phone from me briefly to verify everything with Charlie. An impossibly short amount of time later, everything was set up. Relief washed over me and I giddily skipped back to our room, eager to share the news with my vampire. My present worries were all but forgotten in the moment.
**
I hadn't slept much; for the most part, the night had been spent tracing the curves of Edward's abs. Or the veins in his arms. Or the lines on his face. If this was the last night we were to be together, I wouldn't waste it on something like sleep.
The storm had mostly died down, but I knew it was just the beginning. The next five days promised nothing but rain and thunder and more rain in Forks.
We spent the morning in bed as I retold tales of Christmases with Renee, summers with Charlie and birthdays with my group of friends from Phoenix.
And then Alice was knocking, and it was time to leave. She poked her head in to let us know then left, giving us space to say our goodbyes. Any light feelings I had were now gone, my smile replaced with a small scowl.
We stood and walked together to the door before I turned to him. I grabbed his shirt and pulled myself closer to him, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist.
"If you want me to stay, tell me," I said, my frown deepening on my face. "Tell me, and I'll find a way."
He buried his head into my neck and held me tighter to him, letting me feel every surface of his body. As I ran my hands up the sides of his waist, I could feel the slight elevation of each of his ribs, the expansion of his torso with each breath, the vibration of his trembling.
"I can find a way," I whispered into his ear, trying desperately to hold him to me. I could feel the all-too-familiar wetness welling in my eyes and I willed it away.
"No." His response was strong but soft, demanding yet pleading. He pulled back and his eyes were begging me. I don't know why, but the set of his jaw was resolved and unwavering. "You can't stay," he whispered, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "It's not… it's not safe."
We simultaneously swallowed and I pulled him to me again. I ran my hand up and down his back while I tried to close whatever distance was left between us. There was none, but still I couldn't stop tightening my grip on him. I didn't want to ever let him go.
As if reading my mind, he pulled back, forcing my grip on him to loosen. I hated that it was so easy for him; that no matter how tightly I held on, he could break us apart with no force at all. I sighed and nodded, defeated.
"You'll be here when I get back?"
He smiled sadly and nodded, bringing his hand to my cheek. He wiped a stray tear away and nodded again. "I'll be waiting," he said.
With that, I turned around and left the room, my hands shaking violently and my tears threatening to spill over in full force.
Alice was waiting by my truck, her hand extended for the keys. I gave them up willingly; I was in no mood for a fight.
In silence, we retrieved my bags from my house and drove to the airport.
**
Carlisle POV
Bella was cutting it too close for comfort. Alice knew it would be light out when they came, and, through direct communication with Aro, I knew it would be today.
We had been trying to take precautions to make this go as smoothly as possible, but I honestly didn't think that they were our enemies in this. No, we were all battling against a possible common enemy, and Edward was the key. I truly believed that Aro wouldn't pose a threat to him.
Bella's safety was the most important, and with her going to sunny Florida for the weekend, we anticipated that she should be secure enough. It became a question of how the future would change when Aro touched Edward, but we would instantly know the outcome of that, giving us a head start on bringing Bella to safety. Although in truth, with the Volturi's resources, our protection alone couldn't save Bella if they decided to hunt her.
Too close for comfort, indeed.
We knew little about how well the visit would go, as I suspected that the information Aro received from Edward would likely jar Alice's vision. What we did know was that Aro was to be joined by five guardsmen, in addition to Jane and Renata, Aro's personal bodyguard. We were even numbered if something was to go awry, and with the abilities of the guardsmen in conjunction with Jane and Renata, we wouldn't stand a chance.
Add to this the fact that Edward was nowhere near ready to deal with the Volturi, and there were about a million ways that this could end unpleasantly. I had tried to spend as much time as possible explaining who they were and why they were coming to him, but in reality, he was just too broken to be ready for something like this so quickly.
And he tried. He tried so hard to understand, to prepare himself, to be strong and sturdy and not let his fear overcome him. In theory, it was working wonderfully. Unfortunately, I expected that it would be much different in practice.
I made my way down the hall, dreading the coming events. If all went well, they could be gone by tomorrow night. It was doubtful that they would leave tonight, as Aro considered us to be old friends and would no doubt impose himself on our family for the evening. He would perceive this to be the courteous course of action. But being separated from Volterra was not something to be taken lightly, either, and I also knew that he would not be interested in any sort of extended visit.
I knocked softly on the bedroom door and let myself in, as there was little time for hesitation in the moment.
"Edward," I began, walking to him purposively. "As you certainly understand by now, our visitors are coming shortly."
He raised his eyes to meet mine and nodded his head, his breath hitching at the news. Poor kid.
"You need to cooperate fully," I continued, "for this to go well."
He kept his eyes locked on mine as I made one last effort to convey the gravity of the situation to him. "We will do everything we can to protect you; these people – they're not our enemies."
He nodded and closed his eyes, swallowing loudly. I explained Aro's ability to him then; that with one touch all of his memories would be shared with the powerful vampire. I suspected that this was largely the reason behind the personal visit, but it would be foolish of me to think it was something so simple. I could hope, though.
As Edward sat trembling on the bed, I paced the little room, going over how I expected the visit would go. Reluctantly, I told him of little sadistic Jane, who just loved to abuse her little sadistic ability. I explained to him that it was nearly impossible to escape her wrath if she chose to unleash it upon him, but if it did happen, that he would be okay. I was fortunate enough to only know of her ability through the grapevine, but from the descriptions of my friends and acquaintances across the world, it wasn't a pleasant experience.
Alice joined us some time later, after Bella had safely boarded her flight and was en route to Florida. She had another take on how things would pan out, and offered whatever information she could to Edward. We filled the gaps in as much as possible, and although he had already heard this several times, I was grateful that he was paying close attention.
Between our vocal explanations and our internal supplementation, by the time my phone buzzed, indicating that Aro was on his way, I was confident that Edward had at least a somewhat comprehensive view of what was to come.
Still, with Aro announcing he would arrive soon, Edward's trepidation resurfaced, and Alice's jaw locked in deep concern.
No, this wouldn't go well at all.
**
I went downstairs to greet my old companion. There had never been any animosity between us, but as I bounced nervously in the foyer, I suspected our relationship might change.
"Three minutes," Alice whispered from her post next to me. Edward was upstairs in a mild state of panic, Esme and Rosalie perched stoically outside his door. Emmett, Jasper, Alice and I counted down the seconds.
When the black limousine with tinted windows rounded the turn into the driveway, Jasper flinched. I nodded solemnly and put my hand on his shoulder. We needed to remain calm, if for no one else but Jasper. For him to be useful in any capacity, we needed to remain calm.
The vehicle full of our soon-to-be-determined friends or foes made a painstakingly slow journey up the driveway. My anger flared, my gut telling me this was some epic game of manipulation. That Aro was intentionally driving us mad with anxiety. I was clearly delusional with worry.
The driver's side door opened slowly and a man emerged. Forty, overweight and balding, human. Understandable.
He walked, cool and collected, to the rear door of the limo and opened it gingerly. I swallowed nervously as the tiny pair of legs emerged. Jane. She stepped from the limo and did a 360, surveying the land. Nodding her approval, she stepped aside for four of the guardsmen to join her. I mentally ticked off the list of who had shown themselves.
The group formed a barricade as the sixth vampire's feet hit the gravel. Renata stood cautiously and peered at me before calmly placing herself directly in my path. She was quite the bodyguard – no attack could be made on Aro so long as she stood before him.
Aro surfaced next, his feeble legs clad in dark cotton, his knee-length black coat wrapped tightly around him. He wore a burgundy button-down shirt and long, white gloves that shielded him from his own ability. He looked… sinister. He followed his convoy's gaze until he spotted us watching him stoically through the glass. He smiled widely, warmly, and nodded his head minutely in my direction. He released his guard, although they were not happy to stand down.
The last vampire emerged from the limo and closed the door behind him, whispering a set of instructions to the driver. He wouldn't be needed or welcome, but was to remain close.
With one final, calming breath, I put on a friendly smile and opened the door.
The men stiffened as Jane eyed me suspiciously, itching for me to misstep. I resisted the urge to taunt her, instead focusing on the task at hand.
"Carlisle." Aro nodded calmly, the corners of his lips turning up. "It's great to finally see what you've built for yourself. It's been too long." He extended his clad hand to me and examined me happily. He seemed genuinely pleased to see me. I lightly shook it, careful not to damage the decrepit vampire, and hastily withdrew.
"It has." I smiled and regarded his team warily.
"Surely you won't mind them? They're harmless, really. I don't expect I'll need their assistance at all, in fact…" He raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Just a precaution," he whispered, smiling.
"Mmm," was all that I could answer.
"I'm very interested in meeting your clan, though!" He led me up the steps and onto the porch but stopped at the door. "I hear you have quite the diverse little group here. And all of you," he cocked his head to the side, "refrain from human blood?"
"That's right." I kept the smile on my face.
Aro nodded in response. The guard stood protectively around him, despite his efforts to remove them. "Interesting. After all these years, do you miss it yet?"
"I don't."
"Does it never tempt you?"
"Never."
"And what of your clan? Do they resist the desire to feed naturally or have they all lost it, as well?"
"Some have a harder time than others. We're all devoted to this lifestyle, though." My eyebrows knit together. Aro had been an old friend and had always expressed interest in me, but the pleasantries were wearing old.
He lifted his hand to his chin and walked to the railing on the porch, looking out over the yard. "And what of this boy? This… this new one?" he asked quietly.
I took a deep breath, knowing their purpose here. "He can't feed."
Aro raised his eyes to meet mine and squinted. He shook his head and sighed, closing his eyes dramatically. "I'll need to meet him," he finally said. "The more we know, the better."
Several minutes of silence followed before he finally turned to me. "What do you know so far?"
I rehashed everything we had gathered. The wounds, the weakness, the fear, the mind reading. He asked how we had come across him and I explained that we found him in the woods.
"Alone?" he confirmed. I nodded and made to continue but he lifted his hand. "You say he was unable to move on his own volition. How, then, did he get into the middle of nowhere?"
"We've been discussing this in depth. He couldn't have acted alone, it's an impossibility."
Aro nodded. "Go on."
"So, he was either dropped here or planted here."
"And yet you have no concern for your clan?" he concluded automatically. Something inside me sparked to life. I wouldn't have noticed had Renata and Jane not both stiffened at his sides. He shook his head and waved them back.
"Everything I do is for my family," I whispered, regaining control of myself. "Everything."
"And if he was planted – by this lab that you speak of – what then? Are you prepared to sacrifice your entire family for him?"
"What would you suggest I do?"
"We'll take him with us," he said, smiling. I began to protest immediately but was he just continued on top of me. "No need to get upset, Carlisle. It's merely a suggestion. We can offer him the protection that you can't, and your family would be removed from harm's way."
"Absolutely not."
"Just something to consider. Well, then," he raised his arms off the railing. "Let's meet him."
Better to get it over with, I told myself.
It was true enough, although a little more time wouldn't hurt anything. "This way," I whispered absently. I prayed that maybe, maybe this would be okay.
**
Aro left the guard downstairs, save for Renata and Jane. Between the two, they alone could protect Aro sufficiently, so it wasn't surprising. Esme and Rosalie passed concerned glances between one another, and Aro lifted his arms in a show of his innocence.
"Come, now," he began, gesturing for his girls to stay back. "You can't think I'd harm the boy? I have no reason…"
My brave wife took a step toward him and extended her hand to shake his. Instead, he lifted her fingers and planted a small kiss on her hand. When he pulled back, he chuckled at whatever memory he drew. My stomach would have churned if it were even a remote possibility. Instead, I just kept that smile plastered on my face.
"He sounds absolutely exquisite. A mind reader." The words were drawn out and I could practically see the possibilities running through his head. No doubt Edward could actually see them. I wondered if this offered him any comfort.
"…and you must be Rosalie! It's so wonderful to meet you all. Carlisle and I go way back." He reached for her hand and she reluctantly offered it up, glowering at me over his shoulder. I shook my head imploringly and heard Jane snicker behind me. She smiled sweetly at Rosalie and waved each of her little fingers individually. I gave Rose a look that said, heed my warnings about this girl.
"Now, then," he began, shaking his head decisively. He pointed to the door that led to the bedroom.
"He's not ready for this," I whispered, one last time.
"Well, unfortunately he's out of time to get ready. I don't have eternity." He chuckled at his joke and went for the doorknob. I reached for it instinctively and was thwarted by Renata. Aro turned to me, removing his smile, and raised his eyebrow, daring me to protest.
"May I," I began, shaking my head to clear it. "May I join you?"
His disapproving glare faded and his warm smile returned. "Absolutely," he whispered, enunciating each syllable. "This should be fun." I nodded, dejected, and together we walked into the bedroom.
Edward was standing in the shadowed corner, the crux of his weight against the wall, trembling violently enough for me to hear it in his breathing. Until he stopped breathing. And his body stiffened. And any hope of this going well flew out the window.
"Edward?" Aro asked softly, approaching him cautiously. Renata growled behind me, but he threw her a warning glare.
As he approached the shell of a vampire before us, he casually removed each finger from the long white gloves that protected his hands. When his fingers were free, he pulled the glove from his arm and tossed it carelessly to the bed, giving his other hand the same treatment.
As he did this, he began speaking to Edward. "Carlisle, here, tells me that you're powerful. We're similar, in a way." He watched Edward carefully as he wrung his bare hands together. "You've nothing to be afraid of. Surely you can see that I mean you no harm?"
Edward growled deeply from the corner. Impulsively, I stepped between Jane and him, effectively guarding him, but she simply stepped around me. "Please," I whispered, begging the fiend to control herself. She smiled at me and nodded her head, gesturing to Aro.
Lowly, she whispered, "If your boy controls himself, we've got no problem. I can't promise the same if he continues this way."
Edward, you need to calm down. You need to relax. His eyes met mine instantly and I could see all the unresolved fear of the past ninety years. Bella was smothering it, yes, but it was still there.
I'm right here, and if you can calm down, no one will hurt you. He had an internal war going on, visible to anyone paying attention. I watched as he tried to calm himself down, as his shoulders slumped further but his shaking eased. His eyes closed and his jaw locked entirely, his chattering teeth less audible because of the force of his bite. It was a struggle that I wasn't sure he would win, and Aro was not slowing down.
With every step he advanced, all the calm that Edward mustered dissipated. And Aro was advancing – quickly.
Edward, you need to be strong. He won't hurt you. His security blanket was gone and he needed it back. So impulsively, I thought back to Bella. I pulled every memory I could in the little time I had, but it wasn't enough.
In an instant, Edward had shifted into a crouch and growled the lowest, most sinister growl I had ever heard. Aro took a defensive step backward and began to speak to Jane but it was too late. In an instant, Edward was under her powerful attack.
"Jane!" he hissed. She was too caught up in her game to listen, though.
I lunged at her, making every effort to keep my word, but Renata intervened and I found myself on the opposite end of the room. I tried again. Edward's screams resonated through the entire house and I could hear the men downstairs keeping Jasper, Emmett and Alice at bay. Rosalie went for Jane but was thwarted in the same way that I had been, and Esme went straight for our suffering vampire.
I stood helplessly at the door as a guardsman forced his way past me, clasping his strong arms around me. It was futile, I couldn't fight this. With Renata protecting Jane and Aro, all I could do was beg for her to release him. And instead, she smiled at him, watching his body thrash in the corner of the room.
I continued my pleas with the devil herself as my wife's broken sobs echoed my own. She had never once touched Edward, but in that moment, she ran to him as she would any of our sons and forced him against her. He was shaking and screaming, his face contorted in agony, as she held his screaming frame against hers.
It had only been seconds, but I knew that any longer and everything that had been done so far would be undone, and I had a promise to keep.
Startling the man that was holding me back, I broke free, and, carefully avoiding Renata, I threw myself into Jane's path. The last thing I saw before the white hot pain was her smile, and that menacing little wave.
**
It felt like an eternity had passed before I was released from my hell, but Esme was still restraining a very distraught Edward in the corner, which told me that almost no time had lapsed.
I took a deep breath, elated with my survival. The rumors had proven true; if I never underwent that again, it would be far, far too soon.
Aro extended a hand to me, his face full of apology and regret. "I'm so sorry," he breathed. I didn't take his hand. I wouldn't touch that skin until it was directly required of me. He looked to Jane and began furiously whispering orders. I didn't bother trying to decipher them. I knew Aro had never intended for things to go that way, but Jane had a mind of her own.
Edward was fighting Esme's grip as she held his head to her shoulder, his growling soft and anxious. I walked to them and took over for her, wrapping my arms around his in an effort to both comfort and restrain him.
You're alright, I thought, keeping my internal monologue as soothing as possible.
"Do you need a minute?" Aro asked regretfully from several yards away. I shook my head. Might as well get it over with.
"If I feel threatened," he began, "I won't hesitate to give Jane the green light. You keep him under control."
I nodded and tightened my grip around the shaking vampire's arms. I kept my thoughts encouraging and watched Aro's descent.
Focus on me, Edward. Only me. Bella needs you to be strong. Be strong for her, Edward. She needs you. When I felt his gaze shifting to Aro, I constricted around him further. Just me and you, Edward. I let my mind wander to any memory of Bella that I could pull up. As little as it calmed him, it at least seemed to distract him some.
Aro looked at me solemnly and nodded, indicating he was going to make his move. Esme's eyes went wide as she cringed and covered her mouth. The miniature Satan just continued smiling. At least someone was enjoying themselves.
Thankfully, he went for his arm. It was exposed and contained, so it was the safest for all three of us. I expected that it would take several minutes for Aro to get a comprehensive look into Edward's past, so I prepared for thrashing and fighting.
But when their skin finally contacted, it only took a split second for Aro to pull back. His face contorted into what could only be described as misery and a noise escaped him that was somewhere between a groan and a gasp. He touched his fingers to his face then caressed them with his other hand. His eyes were wide and black, and he shook his head in surprise.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, swallowing. "I don't know what happened. I'll try to be quick."
I could see Aro's hand shaking as he approached Edward's skin once more. I felt his body tighten as Aro gradually allowed his fingers to connect with Edward's arm. This time, Aro closed his eyes. His breathing stopped and his face pulled together, his fingers shaking as he fought to maintain contact with Edward's skin. Edward was shaking, too, no doubt as he watched his own history play out in Aro's mind.
He continued struggling against me as the minutes ticked by, but he was growing weaker. Not physically, but mentally. He was losing the drive to fight me, and that thought petrified me.
Hang in there, son. I continued my futile efforts to calm him until finally, Aro pulled away.
"I'll be downstairs," he whispered, struggling to keep his footing as he stumbled from the room. Jane looked at Edward angrily before grabbing the discarded gloves from the bed and lithely following.
"Are you okay?" I whispered, releasing my grip on him. I expected that he would pull away. Hell, I even hoped for it. Anything was better than this blank shell of a man that lay before me. It's over, Edward. It's over.
But instead of pulling away, Edward closed his eyes and let his head fall against my chest, his breathing heavy with anxiety.
Hesitantly, I lifted my hand to his back. "You're okay," I whispered. "It's over."
**
Eventually, we had gotten Edward calmed enough to leave for a bit. Esme stayed with him, sitting in the corner of the room by the door to ensure that no stealthy attack would be made. The fact that Aro had expressed interest in Edward as an addition to his trophy cabinet was beyond unsettling. He wouldn't be left alone in the house until the Volturi were back in Italy, where they belonged.
I made my way downstairs to find Aro stoically perched by the window, an extremely concerned Renata seated at his side.
"You hurt him," Jane accused from the corner.
I just shook my head, prepared to dismiss her accusation. It was Aro that interrupted.
"Jane," he began. "Carlisle is a friend. Despite how his family feels about us, we are guests in his home. He did nothing of the sort."
Jane grumbled and turned her attention back to the television.
"Step outside with me?" Aro suggested.
His entire group stiffened at his request but he held steadfast. I nodded and followed him out the door and onto the back balcony.
When we reached the chilled, rainy air, and closed the door behind us, Aro immediately spoke.
"He's got quite the interesting history," he began. I had been waiting for this for ages; finally something to go off of.
"Do you know who did it?"
"Not who, no. It seems to me we have a new enemy, though."
"Tell me," I pleaded.
"Human captors," he began ticking off information on his fingers. "Definitely for experimental purposes, although how they managed to contain one of us beyond me. He's a victim of an eternity of abuse. Nothing but pain." He shook his head sadly. "Looks like he hadn't fed for several years before you found him. Based on what he took from his captors minds and what I gathered from his, the starvation was merely to keep him weak. When you found him, he was drugged, was he not?"
I nodded.
"Humans playing God. To eliminate the vampire race, perhaps? But no, they have several vampires. They keep them alive, too. He couldn't hear them always, but on occasion he would get glimpses into their minds. Nothing concrete. They are all in fairly bad shape, as well. Although, from what I can tell, none have been in captivity for as long as Edward. He kept his mind reading hidden. Thankfully. I imagine they would've been more careful with him had they known. Or possibly ripped his brain to shreds to figure it out.
"They didn't go easy on him. In the beginning, they kept him isolated. No human in their right mind would approach a vampire with full strength. So they merely locked him up and threw away the key…" Aro shook his head. "Let him starve for about a decade, get him weak. Didn't even enter his cell, just left him there to rot. And rot, he did.
"The vampire had no perception of time, so it's hard to say how long he went without any interaction. Judging by his body, though, it had to be several years. He was in worse shape than you ever made it to by the time they entered that cell.
"Reinforced titanium, as far as I can tell. Just a guess, though, really. Your boy had no idea what he was looking for, but based on the scent and the look, the distorted feel that I picked up from him, it seems like it was something along those lines. Besides, there's little in the world that can contain us, but with the right structure and the right element, it would be awfully difficult for a vampire to break that. Impossible, as his luck would have it. For the last eighty years he's been the subject of a number of experiments. I can't begin to describe their motivations, as he had no insight to offer me, but it ranged from drug experiments to vivisection and everything in between. With no sleep to mark the days, I have no idea how often these experiments were conducted on our young friend. But they weren't holding back."
I tried to keep my anger contained, but it was building steadily. How, why?
"It's obviously a concern… possibly a top priority. Since he doesn't know how he ended up as vampire I can only begin to guess. He suspects he was administered venom via syringe. He pulled it from the minds of his captors early on. And your guess is as good as mine as to how they got the venom. I can promise you, if a vampire is in cahoots with these people, he will be punished accordingly.
"You're right, though. There is no way he escaped on his own. Eventually, after they perfected the inhibitor, they stopped feeding him all together. His memories become broken, his thoughts jumbled and he just… existed. He stopped fighting them completely; he let them have their fun and suffered in silence. He's stronger than you're giving him credit for.
"It was overwhelming, touching the boy. I don't see how he even functions, let alone feel half of the things he's feeling. So much to carry around…"
Aro turned and walked to the door. I knew I would get no more from him. He was a man of little patience, as much as he claimed otherwise.
"Oh, and one more thing," he said, as he retreated into the house. His lips pulled up into his goading smile. "Where is dear Bella?"
I sighed and let my head fall into my hands. Knew this was coming, I reminded myself.
"She's in Florida, visiting relatives."
"Come inside," he whispered, nodding his head toward the door and retreating from my line of sight.
**
We all stood around the living room, each of us in different phases of panic. The guard stood opposite us, regarding my family as if we were common criminals.
"So, you see the problem?" Aro asked, a sad smile playing on his lips. "The rules are not in place as a formality, Carlisle, you know this."
I scrambled for some logical argument. Everything that I had come up with in the past two months would be a useless defense. I knew Aro and I knew the Volturi; rules were rules. Humans were not to be let in on the secret, no matter the circumstances. Unless…
"You have humans working for you… in Italy," I reminded him.
"Yes, but Carlisle – those who work for us do it with the intent of becoming one of us. Does your Bella have plans of joining our race in the near future?"
As much as I hated to admit it, she most certainly did.
But as I made to talk, Alice stepped forward.
"Alice?" Aro asked casually. "Something to share with the class?"
She extended her hand toward him bravely, ignoring her husband's hushed pleas. Aro smiled and removed his glove, taking her little hand in his own.
For several minutes, his eyes were blank, until finally, he released her.
"That really is a wonderful gift you possess, Alice," he whispered conspiratorially. "I'd love to have someone like you on our side of things."
"We are on your side, Aro," Alice replied.
He chuckled and moved backward, putting space between them. "And these visions you have, they're accurate…" He considered this for a moment before mumbling, "Amazing, indeed."
"No matter what we do, Bella will become a vampire. You've seen it. You've seen how hard we've tried to change it, and it doesn't change. It just doesn't," she answered.
Aro nodded. "I'll be forward with you, Carlisle. Frankly, I trust your judgment. If you want to keep a pet, keep a pet. If she isn't changed, your entire family will suffer the consequences." He shrugged at his casual threat. "I have bigger things to worry about than your clan playing house. Change her or kill her, but note that I will be following up on this. And in the future, consider checking in with us before acquiring a human pet. I wouldn't want Caius unleashing his fury on your clan, brother."
Jane opened her phone and called the driver. I could have danced my relief, but I kept it contained. Not yet.
"And the offer remains, Carlisle. We'd love to have you back, but I see that you're dedicated to your lifestyle. Perhaps give your young friend the option? Surely he would enjoy the taste of human blood after all these years." He smiled and began moving to the door. The guard followed.
"This trip has been most informative. I trust that you'll keep me up to date should anything change? Finding this group has become priority, and I will not rest until they're brought down." He put his hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed it. "I'm glad I decided to visit; it's been too long."
I agreed absently and hurried him to the waiting limousine.
**
BPOV
I sat on the plane, my foot tapping on the bar beneath it restlessly. I had been subject to more than one disgruntled scowl on the flight, but I couldn't contain my anxiety. Alice had called on Saturday morning, just after the Volturi had left, to inform me that everything had gone over fine and that Edward was safe. I couldn't help my nervousness, though. God, I missed him.
I had been distracted all weekend, my mom disappointed in my anxiety. She attributed it to being cooped up in a small town; I didn't correct her. I was the worst daughter ever. Guilt didn't begin to cover what I was feeling.
Several times she had hounded me about boys and friends and boyfriends, my dad, school… I just couldn't bring myself to answer her with enthusiasm. Because every single thing I could think to say made me think of my vampire, and my vampire was thousands of miles away.
I was more than a little eager to go home. Home. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. The plane would land at eight, Alice was picking me up and bringing me to her house until eleven, and then I would head back to Charlie's.
I did feel guilty for leaving Charlie hanging, but honestly, I wasn't sure how I would make it through the rest of the flight, let alone another night without Edward.
The plane landed a couple of hours later and I ran to Alice, who smiled brightly at my enthusiastic arrival. I hugged her tightly, realizing how much I missed her and how grateful I was that she was safe, too. We got my luggage and made it to the car just as the rain started to fall. As we drove, Alice asked me all about my trip, grumbling audibly at my lack of fervor.
"Tell me honestly, Al," I began, looking at her beseechingly. "No hitches?"
"I don't know, Bella. It was okay, but I mean…" She sighed, confirming what I already knew.
"How bad?"
"There was a tense moment. It's okay, he's been alright. We've been keeping our distance, though."
She explained the "tense moment" and I listened with surprised collectedness. Knowing he was minutes away from me made it easier to take the information. I nodded, listening intently to her retelling of the weekend, willing her foot to push further into the gas pedal. Once upon a time, eighty miles an hour would give me a panic attack. Now, I wondered what this car maxed out at.
I immediately threw open the car door as we arrived at the mansion. The rain was pouring down around me, making it difficult to see beyond a few yards, and making me absolutely positive that my eyes were deceiving me.
I squinted through the rain to verify what I was seeing. Edward sat on the porch, staring directly at me. I turned to Alice, ready to use any amount of force necessary to get her to leave us alone, but she was already gone. I looked back to my vampire just in time to see him stand, his legs shaking slightly, as he stepped down to the ground.
And I loved him. And I could swear that he loved me too. And most importantly, the weekend was over, and it was time to push his limits again. So I ran to him, preparing to throw my arms around his trembling neck and finally show him just how much he meant to me.
**
A/N: *hides* Will they kiss?? y/n?? :P
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