Alice's POV
The older man removed his touch from my arm, sneering at my attempts at not having visions.
"Thank you very much Alice," Aro said sardonically as he walked away from me.
I glared at the man, hating the entire situation. It was getting ridiculous, being unable to control what I could see. I tried my best not to see anything about my family or Bella and her disastrous situation with Leo. Nevertheless, they still slip through. I closed my eyes, remembering the last visions I had been forced to share with the power-hungry man.
Jasper slipped down a manhole and scurried along the walls of the ancient tunnels, making his way to the entrance of the castle. He took the two guards down easily by sending an intense emotion of self-despair and they crumbled to their feet, dry sobbing. My love ran down a hallway, trying to search for something as quickly as he could. At the end of a hallway, he ran into a group of the elite guards—Jane, Felix and Alec. Then his future disappeared.
Shaking, I sank to my feet, knowing that Jasper was going to be caught now.
Dammit Edward! Jasper! Why did you two ever fight over me and Bella? I told you not to come after me if anything happened! I cried out in my thoughts. I stared at the human across from me—my meal. They were not gracious enough to give me a goat or some other animal. The young man looked terrible, not having drunk water or ate food in days.
My eyes glazed over as another vision took me, thwarting my attempts to keep the vision away.
Edward flew over the top of roofs of Volterra, running at top speeds that I had not seen in years and stopped Jasper from going into the manhole. He spoke quickly to Jasper and they both left and their futures abruptly disappeared once they slipped beyond the borders of the city.
I let out a gasp as hope filled me. They had reunited! But what did this mean—why had their futures disappear just when they jumped over the walls?
I sighed, curling up into a ball, knowing that they would stay away for the time being.
Edward and Jasper found themselves walking the deserts of Sahara, neither talking nor appearing happy to be there.
Yes, they would be safe for the time being. I lolled my head back, resting against the stones of my cell, letting out a sigh as I recalled the day we had come here for help.
"Carlisle! It is wonderful to see you again, and with a coven of your own? Fantastic!" Aro greeted us jovially.
"Likewise, Aro, it is good to see you again," Carlisle said with a smile. "I was wondering if you could be of assistance to us? We have exhausted every possible way of finding a missing family member of ours."
"Ah," Aro said, understanding, "a favor. I would be pleased to grant such a favor to someone like you, old friend. Who is this missing friend of yours?"
"Her name is Bella Swan. Is there anyone in your guard that might have the ability to find a person that has not moved in decades?"
"Not moved in decades? How do you mean?" Cauis asked curiously.
"We searched over the entire world for her for the past four decades, and nothing," Edward said, sounding a bit hollow. "She has remained in one location the entire time but it is such a small plot of land, it's like trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack."
"How interesting, and what is she to you?" Aro asked us then looked at Carlisle. "May I see your memories?"
Carlisle took a moment to consider then nodded and touched Aro's hand with his fingertip then removed it a moment later.
"Fascinating, you knew this girl as a human before she became a vampire," Aro said, studying his old friend carefully. "However, it would seem that you intentionally left her human for a time. Do you know how risky that is—letting a human know about us? We can't have a world where our prey is terrified of us."
Edward let out a growl and Carlisle glared at Edward to clean up his act then looked at Aro again.
"I apologize for my son's behavior," he said and Aro chuckled.
"No need, no doubt he heard what I thought. I apologize, Edward," Aro said, waving his hand dismissively. I noticed that Edward was still glaring at the old vampire.
My eyes glazed over as visions took hold of me.
Edward attacked Aro and then the guards had us under Alec's power of sensory deprivement then our future disappeared.
I glared at Edward incredulously, wondering what was wrong with my brother. Then another vision took hold of me.
"It's either help us against the Romanians or death, in punishment for your crimes," Aro said apologetically.
"She never told anyone," Carlisle said, pleading, "It was three decades ago and she still became a vampire."
"Nevertheless, we cannot have you repeat the same mistake again. I think your lifestyle is putting us at risk to exposure. Why, the mere thought of having your children attending high school is dangerous enough. However, if you serve us in the fight against the Romanians, we will be able to help find your girl. What will it be, Carlisle?"
The vision faded and I stared at Edward with worried expression, knowing that we had to make a decision that could cost our lives. Edward nodded at me, letting me know it was exactly what Aro was thinking in his mind.
"Carlisle," Aro said, taking a moment to compose himself, "Are you aware of the situation with the Romanians several centuries ago?"
"I do seem to recall that there was a war between you and the Romanians. What of it?" Carlisle asked, wary.
"Well, I have intelligence that the two survivors of that coven, are gathering strength. I cannot have that, and I need all the help I can get to make sure another war does not break out. So, will you consider?"
"We do not want to involve ourselves in another one's war," Carlisle said, keeping his face blank. "You know I hate conflicts of such kinds."
Aro sighed heavily, as though he was about to regret something. I heard a low growl from Edward then I knew what was going to happen next.
"Carlisle, do you realize what you have done? It's either help us against the Romanians or death, in punishment for your crimes," Aro said apologetically.
"She never told anyone," Carlisle said, pleading, "It was three decades ago and she still became a vampire."
"Nevertheless, we cannot have you repeat the same mistake again. I think your lifestyle is putting us at risk to exposure. Why, the mere thought of having your children attending high school is dangerous enough. However, if you serve us in the fight against the Romanians, we will be able to help find your girl. What will it be, Carlisle?"
"You know that is unfair to punish us like that, Aro," Carlisle said coolly then I saw a vision of us leaving abruptly. A moment later, Carlisle spun around and the entire family followed out and into a courtyard, filled with vampires from the world and within the Volterra. It was then I realized what Carlisle was doing—going to a place where witnesses would be.
"Stop right there," Aro said, Marcus slamming the door behind him, grabbing the attention of everyone else.
"I suggest you to let us go, if you are not willing to grant the favor of finding Bella. I know you have a vampire among you that can seek out a single vampire in this world," Carlisle said, facing Aro again.
"Nevertheless, you need to be punished, for allowing a human to know of our existence and left her alone—for several months, until she became a vampire. Do you realize how dangerous that is, to let a human roam the Earth for a few months, with the knowledge of us living in this world? How long it had taken us to fool humans into thinking that we are just myths, a product of the Hollywood and books! We do not need you to mess that up—your lifestyle is too dangerous."
"And conscript us into serving you for a cause we do not wish to get involved with? You are power-hungry," Edward said, glaring at the leader of the world. "You fear losing power you have over us. You're going to stop at nothing in order to get to me and Alice's powers so you can make sure your reign does not end."
The muttering broke out among the people in the courtyard, wondering what Edward meant.
"It's clearly in your mind, Aro, that you do not truly care about the well being of our race. Only the power that we gave you centuries ago in that war against the Romanians. I think you lost sight of that vision. Bella did nothing to harm our secret, I knew her from the inside out. It was that reason alone, that we were able to leave with confidence that she would not give ourselves away. Besides, if she did try to say something, she would have only ended up in a mental institute. However, that did not happen and she still became a vampire—without our interference. I had only wanted her to remain a human, and let her live her own life. But that clearly did not happen and I only wish to see her again. We all do."
Edward sighed, staring at the ground, "And now, she is entirely on her own, alone, and in no contact with anyone—vampires or humans. It's been three decades, Aro. And now you want us to focus on your so-called conflict with the remaining Romanians and their growing army? So you say it's servitude or death? What kind of punishment is that? Your mind is thinking, that you are simply afraid of losing power over us. I think your time has come."
Aro narrowed his eyes at Edward, studying the people around us as they continued to murmur amongst themselves. I didn't need a vision to know what Aro was planning—a way to wipe out the witnesses and us.
"I am sorry that we will not be getting any assistance from you," Carlisle said after a few long tension-filled moments. "But we will be taking our leave."
"Your punishment is death! Guards, get them!" Aro suddenly snarled, jolting everyone in the yard with surprise. I led the way, knowing which hall was safer than the others. Other people in the courtyard scattered too, afraid for their lives simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
After a few run-ins with several vampires, we made our way out of the castle, knowing the Volturi would not risk themselves to be seen by humans if it came to blows. Carlisle then took lead, taking us away from Volterra—and Italy—altogether.
"I'm sorry... I have gotten all of us in danger," Carlisle apologized once we stopped to go hunting somewhere in central France.
"It's not your fault, it's them," Rosalie snapped, shaking with anger. "Did they think they would hurt my family? Hell no!"
I closed my eyes for a few moments, focusing my visions on Aro and what they were going to do. I gasped, snapping my eyes open with worry.
"He's... he's put a price on our heads," I whispered. "They want us alive. Me and Edward."
Edward glowered, staring over the small cliff overseeing a river.
"And that's not all," I said sadly, "the witnesses that were there, they're spreading the news about the Volturi. We've got a war on our hands," I whimpered.
"What do you mean?" Carlisle asked as Jasper held me, sensing my distress.
"The entire world of vampires are going to be outraged by what Volturi is doing. That's bad for us, because they're going to want us to fight with them, or they'll bring us to them. We're not going to be safe anywhere!"
"There are people who should be able to look out for us," Carlisle said, frowning at what was going to happen. "The Denali coven for example."
I slowly nodded, seeing another vision and it soothed me, knowing that we would not be all alone in this new world that was just starting.
Returning to the present, I wondered how Jasper was doing, wishing I could just take a peek into the future, knowing that he was just miles away from me. Groaning, I buried my face into my arms and knees, wishing I could simply have a good cry, remembering the day I was forcibly taken away from my family, from my Jasper.
A year after we fled Italy, we all went to Iceland by boat from Canada, trying to stick together and staying ahead of Demetri's tracking abilities. Glad for a few day's reprieve and relax for awhile thanks to the hospitality of the coven in Iceland. I clicked well with one of the girls, who shared the same passion as I do for shopping. Wanting to get to know her better, we went hunting.
"Do you wanna go shopping sometime today?" Sheri asked as she finished her elk meal.
"I would love to, it's been months! I think I'm going to go insane without any new clothes," I said, exasperated by the whole situation.
"Well, I'm sorry girlie, but you're not shopping anytime soon," a voice spoke, and I spun around in surprise.
What—I didn't see this! I cried in my mind as I saw the Volturi guards. I looked at Sheri who looked guilty and looked away. I narrowed my eyes, realizing that we had been betrayed.
A wall of intense pain hit me like a rock slide and I fell to the ground, screaming at the top of my lungs. I briefly wondered if any of my family could hear me. I worried at the thought of my family being captured if they came. I had no idea how many had come here.
The last thing I wanted was for them all being captured or killed. I felt the sensation of the vision pulling me under again. I was glad I did not have to feel the pain while I experienced my visions.
"Where's Alice and Sheri? It's been a few hours," Jasper said, looking out the window, concerned.
"They should be back," Edward said, looking out in the same direction as Jasper. "That girl wanted me to come with them too, but you know I fed earlier."
The boys looked at each other for a moment as something clicked in his mind.
"Yes. Their thoughts have been rather odd. Almost too innocent," he answered Jasper's thoughts.
Worried, they went to get Emmett and went into the forest. They were soon followed by the rest of the Cullens. The family followed my scent and soon ran into a large group of vampires, waiting for them. I was not among them.
"Where is Alice?" Jasper demanded, trying to find me in the crowd. I realized that if they were to fight, it would be five to one. The family realized this fact too—they were severely outnumbered.
"Safe with Jane," one of the vampires answered nastily.
Edward watch the crowd, murmuring words to the family of what they were thinking. They were planning on keeping Edward alive, but the rest—dead. Then the next word Edward said, was in a shout.
"Run!"
The Cullens ran for it, and split up into three groups—Esme and Carlisle, Rosalie and Emmet, and Jasper and Edward. Distracted for a moment by the sudden action, the entire group of vampires split up and went after them.
I was glad to see my vision concluded as everyone left island in all different direction. Safe for the time being.
The pain ended and I glared up at the woman who cursed me with the mind-numbing pain. She only smirked back as I realized she had handcuffed me with some sort of ones strong enough to resist vampire strength. When did she handcuff me? I wondered. I squirmed, and realized my legs were tied as well.
My stomach ran cold, knowing that I could not get out of this one myself. I desperately hoped that Jasper would be okay without me for awhile. I allowed myself to be dragged away from the forest, away from the Cullens. Away from my loving husband.
I heard noise outside my door and I snapped my head up, wondering who was coming. It couldn't be Aro, he was just here earlier...
Once the door was open, it revealed faces of ones I had thought I'd never see again.