Alec's POV
I couldn't side with the Seer and the Warlock. I wouldn't be able to get out of here alive if I did. I wouldn't be able to protect Bella if I was dead – permanently. She was what was most important. I could not risk her safety for the two in front of me. Almost against my will the mist began to flow from the area around me, creeping its way toward the two of them. I didn't like having to choose between Bella and my oldest friend, but she was my life now. She is my mate and soon to be wife. I refused to put her life in any more danger than it was already in.
Ulric's eyes found mine and he shot me a look, begging me to stop my attack on them. I tried to convey how very sorry I was to him, but I don't think it came across. Either that or he didn't give a damn how sorry I was if I was going to paralyze the little guy. He mumbled something that I recognized to be a spell and I found that my energy began to fade. The mist receded and I could no longer concentrate.
"What is going on, Alec? Why did you stop?" I couldn't even tell who was speaking to me. A loud piercing noise rang in my ears driving a pain straight through my skull. I fell to my knees in agony as voices flew around my head.
I begged you to stop, Alec. I am sorry my old friend but I cannot allow Aro to live. You do not know the plans he has in store for the newborn that you are so fond of. Yes, my boy, I know all about you and Isabella. She is the key that he has needed for his plans to start a new race of vampires. She is what he has been searching centuries for in order to carry out these plans. He has found a way to use my magic, to contain my powers in an ancient stone. If she touches the stone the magic will begin to flow through her and she will become fertile. Aro will have his way with her, he will impregnate her. She will produce the first vampire that is born and not changed. It will have all the abilities of a human, but it will be nothing more than a demon. Alice has seen this as I have known about it. The child will be an innocent, but in the hands of Aro it will be vile and evil and the world as we know it will be forever changed.
Again, I am sorry my boy, you have always been like a son to me, but I cannot allow for this to continue. I hope one day we can meet again under better circumstances. Oh…I will be taking Isabella with me as well. Goodbye Alec.
And just like that a purple flame irrupted in front of him and both pieces of Aro were tossed in and disintegrated. There was a collective gasp from everyone in the room and immediate chaos broke out. When I looked away from the fire I was just barely able to catch a glimpse of Ulric and Alice before both of them disappeared in midair.
I was frozen in place as the remaining vampires converged on the spot previously occupied by the two. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion as if I was watching everything from outside of my body. Aro was dead and gone.
People were screaming and calling out my name. I felt strong hands help me up and knew that someone was talking to me, but it sounded as if I was underwater – everything was garbled. My movements were slow. My thoughts were slow. The last words he said to me replayed themselves in my mind.
I will be taking Isabella with me as well
In that moment, as I realized what had just happened, everything that was previously going slow seemed to speed up. The distant cries grew louder and overwhelming. I was able to focus my attention on the person in front of me almost as if she materialized right before my eyes. It was Jane. She was shaking me. I pushed my way out of her grip on me and muttered a quick apology as I flew out of the room, down the stairs and into the theatre room as fast as I could.
It was empty.
I tried not to panic, but it didn't work. I flew back up the stairs to her room knocking the door off of its hinges.
Nothing.
I raced over down to my room.
It too was vacant.
I had a sinking feeling in my stomach and I fell down to my knees clutching chunks of hair in my fists. This couldn't be happening.
I will be taking Isabella with me as well
His voice invaded my mind again.
She was gone. He took her with him and the Seer. My Bella was gone and I had absolutely no idea where she was. I stood up and ran out of my room checking every single room in the entire castle unable to accept the fact that she was gone. She could not be gone. In the midst of all the chaos in the throne room no one noticed my absence and no one noticed my erratic behavior. I was left alone to suffer in silence.
I went back to my room when my search for her provided to be done in vain. I knew she wasn't here. I needed to focus now and think about what I needed to do to find her.
Before I could even form a single strategy, my door was flung open.
"Where is she?" demanded Edward.
"I don't know." I couldn't seem to bring my voice any higher than a whisper. The possibility of never seeing her again was eating away at me rendering me helpless.
"What do you mean you don't know where she is?" he yelled. "She was supposed to be with you. You lost her?"
I couldn't answer him. Yes. I had lost her and that thought killed me.
"Answer me!" he grabbed me by the collar and pinned me up against the wall.
"Tell me where she is and I just may spare your life."
"I told you I don't know where she is." The words came out monotone. How could he stand there pretending to care about her? How dare he?
"She was too valuable! She needs to wear the stone. I need to find her. Where is she?!" I froze. Chills flew up my arms and I shuddered.
"Excuse me?" I said pushing his hands off of me. "What the fuck did you just say?"
"Oh, don't pretend like you didn't know. I worked so hard to get her to Italy. I knew that the only way I'd be able to do so is if I faked my wanting to die for her. It was almost too easy when Rose called me to let me know that she had jump off a cliff. She is a moron. I knew that Bella wasn't dead. When I called Bella's house and Jacob answered I could hear her heartbeat and her breath through the phone."
"What are you talking about? Who the hell is Jacob and what do you mean she jumped off of a cliff?"
Nothing that was coming out of his mouth made any sense to me. He had a plan to bring her here?
"Pay attention. When I planned on exposing myself it was only for the benefit of Alice. I needed her to see what I was about to do. I knew she wouldn't be able to keep it from Bella and I knew she would come to try and save me. The whole incident in the throne room the day she arrived, it was all an act. It was always an act. I needed to turn her and I needed to be able to keep her prisoner here. The plan didn't go exactly as planned as Aro actually fell for her. Stupid ass ruined everything! We couldn't get the stone on her in time and now the ass is dead! I need to find her. I need to get the necklace on her. If Aro couldn't impregnate her in time, then I sure as hell will!"
"You have got to be kidding me! You have been using Bella this whole time?!" I decked him, I put every ounce of strength I had into the punch. His head snapped to the left and he fell to the ground.
"You are one sorry piece of shit! You will never get to lay a finger on her." I snapped every single one of his fingers off of his hand.
"Try getting to her now stubby." I said stepping over him. I ran out of my room tossing the fingers in a nearby fireplace. My mind was instantly back on trying to find Bella. I thought the best place to start would be Urlic's room. When I got there I was surprised to see that no one else had thought to come in here yet. I searched the entire room and found nothing but an old sepia photo of he and I back in the late 1800's. It was from a trip we took to London just outside of Southwark with the Tower Bridge in the background. I pocketed it and kept looking, desperate to find something that would help me find Bella. A bright haze formed in the corner of my eye. When I turned to face it, it was gone. I walked over to the direction it was in and saw a battered piece of paper on the floor with a faint glow around it.
I picked it up and unfurled it. It was blank. I flipped it over and it too was blank. I put that in my pocket as well. There had to be something to it that I just didn't know.
"What are you doing in here?" Ugh, it was Jane again. Would my sister never leave me in peace?
"I need to leave Jane." She arched her eyebrow and crossed her arms.
"Why?"
"Because."
"Because, why?"
"Jane, stop it. I just need to go."
"What aren't you telling me Alec Cross?" She said, throwing her hands up in the air in frustration. "You're hiding something from me. You never hide anything from me." She walked over to me and took my hand concerned etched upon her face.
"I'm sorry about Aro, Jane. I know how much he meant to you." I saw the hurt she felt across her face and she didn't say anything in response. As cruel as my sister is, I loved her even though I didn't much like her most of the time…not lately at least.
"I'm sorry, Jane but like I said, I have to go. I promise I'll call." She nodded her head, her eyes filled with tears she could never shed. She let go of my hand and I walked out of the door.
I packed my bags hurriedly and left the room that I have called home for more years than I cared to count. I no longer belonged here. I needed to find my Bella.