Characters are always the property of Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 6 And The Walls Came Tumbling Down...

EM POV

I walked through the maze of narrow roads and even narrower alleys, while they stalked me from the shadows. Feeling their eyes on me since the moment I entered the city, I was already anticipating the fight. I had promised Rose I would do this without getting cornered, but that was the plan. I just had to lead them as close to the center of the city as possible.

The one promise I couldn't break was the one I made to Carlisle before we left. I told him I would avoid innocents at all costs. That meant racing to the center of the city where the Volturi were more concentrated. The humans naturally chose to settle along the high walls surrounding the city, so hopefully they would remain outside the destruction. It just meant taking me right into the center of the lions' den, so to speak, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I adjusted the backpacks layered across my back and smiled. The weight felt good and my excitement grew. I hoped Edward was almost to the tower, because I was ready to throw down.

"Well, they encourage your complete cooperation. Send you roses when they think you need to smile. I can't control myself, because I don't know how. And they love me for it, honestly. I'll be here for awhile..."

I entered a dark, dead-end alley and lowered one backpack carefully to the ground, I sang into the gloom, egging the Volturi to come out. There were only six creeping in the shadows. Even with their black cloaks blending into the darkness, they didn't have a chance. The shadows separated and began to move toward me. My smile widened.

"Hey, guys!" I greeted all smiles and dimples. The figure closest to me flashed his teeth viciously. "Hey, long time no see, Felix!"

"I'm glad you made it," he answered. "We missed you in Washington."

I laughed aloud. "I bet you did! Well, I'm here now, buddy."

A low growl reverberated through the throats of the others as they fanned out to block me from the exit. I looked around at the faces I didn't recognize. "No Demetri? Well, that's too bad. Maybe you can give him a message for me. I want him to know that kidnapping my little sister was a huge mistake."

Felix just stared at me. "He'll be sorry he missed you."

"That's okay," I smiled. "Just tell how him how it felt."

"How what felt?" he growled.

I wanted to continue to fuck with him, but I judged I only had another three seconds to get out of this alley. Besides, it'd feel much better after I kicked his ass.

I surprised myself with how fast I moved. Edward was usually the quickest, but the way I moved would have impressed even him. Before Felix even had a chance to react I grabbed him by the wrist. I flicked my arm and his hand ripped off into mine. Felix wavered on his feet and stared at me with wide red eyes. I slapped him across the cheek with his amputated appendage and continued to sing.

"So, give them blood. Blood! Gallons of the stuff. Give them all than they can drink, and it will never be enough."

Apparently, they care for my singing. Three of them simultaneously jumped forward. I smoothly ducked away from the first attacker, a crazed albino vamp. Red eyes really completed the pigment-impaired look. He darted back as the others started forward, but I caught him with a backhand, sending him sailing back out the alley and into something that sounded with a large crash.

The other two, both with jet black hair, had traces of the orient in their narrowed eyes. It was too easy to reach out and grab the one on the left by the front of his cloak and throw him over my shoulder. He smacked loudly into the stone wall behind me. I could hear the debris as it crumbled from the stone and fell to the ground, landing on the man now heaped at the bottom.

The other one managed to catch me in the stomach with a hard right hook. I barely felt the punch, but he was staggering backward from the impact, eyes surprised. I smiled again. "So give them blood. Blood. Bloooood!" I sang, grabbing the front of the vampire's shirt and yanking him toward me. "Grab a glass because there's going to be a flood."

At that moment the other two jumped at me. The closest one didn't have a chance to do more than bend his knees before I had his throat in my hand. I quickly wrapped it around the back of his neck and pushed him hard into the other vampire still held grasped in my hand.

"A celebrated man amongst the gurneys, they can fix you proper with a bit of luck."

Their faces collided with a sickening crash and they instantly went limp. There was no time to enjoy my work and ducked as soon as they impacted. Felix was swinging a strong fist through the air at the very spot my face had been an instant before. He growled when he didn't receive the satisfaction of connection and I turned to grin at him.

"The doctors and the nurses they adore me so..."

In my crouched position, I swung a leg around. Felix was thrown to the ground when I knocked his legs from beneath him. I heard a sickening crack and knew his leg had been broken. When he reached for the cracked femur with his recently amputated hand, he let out a pained groan and moved no more.

The last guard standing stared at me. I lifted my hand and in a gesture worthy of the Matrix, beckoned him. The Guard had his most brilliant idea ever and turned, streaking from the alley so fast he was a blur in my eyes. My laughter followed him out. I stood slowly, though I knew there was less than a second to get out. I just couldn't help gloating one last time. Taking two deliberate steps forward, I stared down at Felix. His face was twisted in pain. I chuckled and finished my ode to him.

"But it's really quite alarming, cause I'm such a awful fuck!" I bellowed and planted a sharp kick just below his ribs. The feeling of my boot sinking into his dead flesh was strangely gratifying. "That last bits for Demetri," I said, laughter echoing in the narrow alleyway. He could only manage a weak groan. He wouldn't be going anywhere any time soon. At least not in one piece.

Happy to feel the satisfaction that only came with kicking ass, I turned and ran out of the alley. Just as I stepped onto the empty street a roaring explosion shook the ground beneath my feet. The force nearly knocked me to my knees and the building behind me groaned sickly. The entire thing slid from its foundation and toppled to the ground with a thundering crash.

I laughed and took the next right toward my drop off, just begging someone else to mess with me. I grabbed the two remaining straps on my back as another explosion ripped through the city. Edward was starting to unload his arsenal. Thank god Jasper told us how to make these things. What a useless bit of information I never thought I'd need.

Around two more corners, I found myself at the second designated point. To my surprise it was a gang of female guards hovering in the shadows this time. I stretched my lips as far as they'd go, showing off the dazzling dimples and smile. More than a few of them were swooning, but I didn't have the time to provoke them as I had with Felix. Each bomb was more powerful than the one before and soon Edward's second explosion would have the whole city shaking on its foundation.

It was time to think fast and plant the backpack by the back door of the prison, hopefully creating an easy exit point for Jasper and Alice. That was, of course, if they could even escape from their cells. We knew that there wouldn't be enough time to seek them out down there and were relying on Alice's foresight to know what was coming. It all depended on her. I just had to wreak havoc topside so she could make it happen.

As I stepped into the gray light filtering between the high buildings, I analyzed everything in the alley. There were trashcans strewn about, along with a littering of trash, all planted to give the impression of humanity but way too orderly to be actual garbage. Roughly 30 feet from the ground was edge of a balcony. Another was situated slightly to the right and another 20 feet or so above that. Lastly, I rested my eyes on the solid iron door the women guarded. It wouldn't be pleasant to have any piece of that obliterated shrapnel hit my body during the explosion. Not that it could penetrate my skin, but sharp bits of iron flung through the air at that velocity would definitely smart. I instantly formed plan B.

"Well, hello, ladies," I said in a low bedroom voice. One woman snapped her teeth together sharply, but they didn't seem to be overly alarmed at my presence. "I seem to have gotten lost. And with all the excitement around here today, I'm starting to get frustrated."

A woman with long dark hair stepped forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. She smiled seductively. "Where is it you're going, sweetie?" she cooed.

My smile widened. "The prison," I answered, voice still hushed.

Another earth rattling explosion ripped through the city. Edward had hit his second target. The women shifted their gazes around nervously and I couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"What the hell is this?" A voice sneered as the door was flung open. It was a face I'd recognize anywhere, though I had never seen it before.

The girl had short, mousy blond hair and stood less than five feet tall. It was obvious when she stepped into the alley that the others were terrified of her. They parted the semi circle in front of the door and the black haired woman with her hand on my arm took two hasty steps backward to join the others. They all shared a similar look of having been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

Now, I knew I had to tread lightly. I was more edgy around this little thing than big, bad Felix.

"Do you know who this is?" She hissed at the females. They shifted even farther away from the tiny vampire, as she strode forward.

Shit, too late. She knows who I am. I guess the time for conversation is over. I didn't give the cherub-faced girl a chance to say anything else. I whipped the backpack from my back and released the detonator as I flung it as hard as I could into little Jane's chest. She exhaled loudly, but I didn't look back. I had already leaped upward and was standing onto the lowest balcony.

As I prepared to jump to the next one, I peered down at the stunned girl. I watched her unzip the bag, revealing the thick metal tube covered with an assortment of twisted colored wires. It immediately registered what she was holding in her hands. The air seemed to shiver and I knew she was throwing her power at me. Luckily, it wasn't penetrating the concrete below my feet.

Knowing there was no time to waste I sprung upwards again, caught the ledge of the next balcony, and swung myself easily over the railing. I continued up the side of the building this way, listening to the distressed voices from below.

"Take it! I thought you were the munitions expert!" Someone was shouting.

"Right, like we need an exp-" The second voice was cut off with a piercing shriek. Jane must have turned her fury onto the second speaker.

I let my chuckles float down to them, as I stood perched on the edge of the roof like a gargoyle. "Whatever you do," I called down, "don't cut the blue one!"

With one last laugh, I turned and flew across the building. It was much easier to navigate the city and its winding streets from this vantage. But not safer. As the explosion erupted to my south, the building I was running atop shook and quivered violently from the shock waves. It was much worse high in the air and I was flung to my hands and knees, nearly skidding over the edge. The entire building beneath me groaned. This ancient shit didn't stand a chance.

Another explosion ripped through the air. In less than 20 minutes, the entire city was aflame. Maybe I'd gotten a little out of hand building the damn things, but hell, it was worth it. As I streaked back toward the western wall of the city, I hoped Edward had gotten out and was already waiting for me and prayed that Rose had stayed put. I knew she hadn't liked the decision to leave her with the cars, but there weren't other options. I couldn't risk having her hurt, even if she was by far more of a warrior than Emo-Eddie would ever be. He just had his stealth and that was more than enough for me to agree he should enter the city instead my wife.

I glanced over my shoulder before ducking down another alley. I was back on the ground, after being thrown from a rooftop following the final detonation. There were a dozen or so Guards chasing me out in the open. It seemed the females had escaped from the prison unharmed and been joined by others who gave little thought about the exposure. Their black cloaks whipped in the air as they followed behind. Their skin sent jets of light dancing everywhere. So much for the law, I guess. They were just getting too close and I was afraid they'd catch up to me by the time I reached the cars. Then everyone would be fucked.

Think, Emmett, think. All the buildings here are crazy old. It should be easy enough...

Without another thought, I slammed my fist into the jam of a door way. It took little effort to yank out a huge section of stone and one of the structural supports. It was a shame to have to destroy a piece of history, but, well, there you have it. It is what it is.

I managed to jump out of the way, just as the entire building gave way and crashed into the alley. It collided into the neighboring structure causing it to groan in protest over the tons of weight pressing against its walls. It began tipping dangerously to the side. The second building suddenly fell into another, beginning the unexpected domino effect. That ought to hold them.

In one easy leap I cleared the city wall and realized I had misjudged the point of exit by about a half mile. No matter. I could see Rose. Jasper and Alice were standing beside the Porsche with a brunette stranger. Rosie was snarling at her. My face brightened. Behind the wall, the sounds of my pursuers shifting through the mounds of rubble reminded me of the situation.

"Get in!" I shouted at them as I rushed forward. "Hurry! Go!"

Without a moment hesitation, Rose slid into the driver's seat and I flung the passenger door open. She was racing down the road before I had the chance to reach back over and slam the door shut.

I whooped loudly as the countryside streaked past us and leaned in to place a kiss on Rose's soft neck. "I did it, baby" I said, all smiles and dimples. I knew she was brooding. Probably over the new girl, but I saw how Jasper yanked her in the car and knew she wasn't here for a social visit. I needed to lull Rosie out of her mood. I had a better place for her to focus her attention.

She looked over at me and I saw her facade crack as she returned my grin with a breath-taking one of her own. "You did." She winked. Nice. An ego stroke to be sure, but I had a stroke of a different sort in mind. She immediately noticed the change in my face as I devoured her with hungry eyes.

Laughing she said, "Not while I'm driving," and threw a playful slap at my chest.

I captured her wrist in my hand and brought it to my lips. As gently as I could, I pressed my lips to the back of her hand. Her eyes twinkled seductively. She flipped her blinker and swerved into the left lane to pass another car. Without breaking my gaze she slipped back into the right lane of the highway, just in time to avoid a collision with an oncoming truck.

I slowly placed kisses down her hand, turning her wrist back over. With a light bite, I nipped at the inside of her wrist. She moaned as I continued down the inside of her arm to the crease of her perfectly sexy elbow and back to the delicate skin below her palm. The wheels of the car swerved a bit as she momentarily lost her focus. I snickered and turned my face back to smiles and dimples, which always left her breathless.

Surprising me, she quickly twisted her hand around in an impossible feat of physics and snatched my face, pinching the corners of my mouth until my lips puckered into a fishy pout. "You think you deserve something for acting stupid, don't you?"

I tried to smile back at her, but the grip on my cheeks denied it, so I settled on nodding my head. The sweetest laughter filled the car. "I think I'm the one who should be rewarded," she continued smiling with pure wickedness. "After all, I didn't charge in after you."

She released me and turned her eyes forward again. My mind was swirling with the ways I could certainly compensate my wife for her unrelenting patience as I got to play mercenary. I apologized mentally to Edward who was no doubt getting quite the view of my fantasies from the car behind us, but I didn't stop them. I just started whispering into Rose's ear about all the rewards I would give her as soon as we were alone.

A/N: The song Emmett is singing is Blood by My Chemical Romance. I know it makes no sense, but I imagined him fighting with that tune playing in his mind, and it just made me giggle.

Also, I apologize for my lack of explosive knowledge. I AM NOT A CHEMISTRY MAJOR! I thought about trying to look up how to make bombs, but thought I might be breaking the Patriot Act or something. Next thing I know, a bunch of men in black suits come to ship me to Guantanamo Bay. So, it is vague, but I was hoping it wouldn't detract too much from the action. We don't need to know how he made them or what's in them, only that they explode. Please keep that in mind for the next chapter too!