Characters are always the property of Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 15 The Fall

After I told Felix I would not run, he left me. It was the right thing for him to do, so I couldn't begrudge it, but I felt desperately alone. I couldn't sink away like I did immediately following my departure from Greenland. There was so little time left and I had to spend every second thinking on why I was about to be blinked out of existence. The Cullens. More specifically, Edward Cullen, but I was trying to protect them for his sake. Aro seemed to know more than he should about what lies had been told, but I would never betray them, no matter the cost. My act of betrayal had already been played and there would never be another.

I breathed as deeply as my empty lungs would allow – not enough, never enough – and still, it was worth it. Even if it didn't end the way it could have, at least I'd go knowing Edward was still alive somewhere, he was with his family, and I had done absolutely everything in my power to save them. It was the most comfort I could have in my final hours. From unknown distances, the Cullens were still a source of relief as well as sorrow.

When Felix returned, I felt selfish for being happy to see him. The sad smile that spread my lips was genuine. It would have been so much simpler to love him. I sighed heavily. Felix raised a finger to his mouth to quiet me, though I didn't think I had been loud. He cocked his head to the side, listening as a pair of footsteps retreated down the hallway outside. He seemed assured it was safe and reached into his pocket, pulling a thin black cell phone from his pocket.

I raised an eyebrow in question and Felix answered immediately in a very hushed tone. "Carlisle."

Carlisle? What the...?

I placed the phone to my ear. He must have heard me take a shaky breath, because Carlisle started talking immediately.

"Have you gone completely insane, Isabella?" He shouted in an unfamiliar panicked voice. "What were you thinking? They want to kill you!"

I shook my head in disbelief, though he wouldn't see the gesture. I was still in open shock. Felix looked solemn, but retreated to the door to give me some semblance of privacy.

"They want to kill you," I managed to whisper back.

"Bella," he sighed, backing off immediately as if I had chastised his emotional outburst.

"It really is good to talk to you again," I tried a fake pleasantry before asking the question I was dreading to ask. "Are you with the others?"

It was Carlisle's turn to sigh. "No. We have temporarily separated. Demetri is tracking us already." There was definite sadness to his tone and it made me feel ashamed all over again.

I didn't ask the next question that danced at the front of my mind and decided on another. "How is it I'm talking to you?" I raised my eyes back to Felix who only shrugged and tried to look like he was ignoring me.

"Felix," Carlisle confirmed my suspicions. "He contacted me a few days ago. He's worried about you." Felix glanced at me as Carlisle spoke and for a second, I saw the anguish on his face before it was wiped clean.

"He's not the only one," Carlisle added. "Alice already had me on my way to Italy when he called. It just simplifies things with Felix involved."

I forced a laugh. "Then you know exactly what's happening. No need to worry." I sounded all wrong.

He sighed again. "Isabella, you have to stay alive." Carlisle's voice had a soft intensity. "You have more to think of than yourself now."

I hissed because I didn't know how to respond to that.

"Stop fighting yourself and live, goddammit. You have to live because now you know. After centuries, you know what love is. There's more at stake than just your life. Think about it. Think hard." Felix looked pained, as he undoubtedly listened to Carlisle's intensity.

Then, he finished simply. "Please."

Felix had taken two giant strides forward and knelt before me, looking directly into my eyes. "I can get away."

"Listen to him," Carlisle urged from the phone. "We have a plan."

That stopped me short. "We nothing, Carlisle," I snarled into the phone. "We aren't doing anything. I am going to take punishment for what I've done wrong."

"But you haven't done anything wrong," they echoed together.

"You have no idea," I said gravely, my mind slipping back to a naked, vulnerable Edward.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You thought it was the best thing to do. It wasn't. Let's move on." Carlisle was still trying to reason, but Felix pulled back again, looking angry then resigned in turn.

Finally, I simply said, "No, Carlisle."

Everything was incredibly silent for a long moment. "Please, Bella. Fight them. You have the power to destroy them."

I was ready to shout at him, to tell him I didn't want to fight anymore. I had already thrown away everything that might save me, but before I could open my mouth, the phone went dead and I realized he'd hung up. He begged me to fight, but how could I? Was I strong enough? Did I even want to live anyway?

I looked at Felix, brooding silently by the door and didn't have an answer. Instead of seeing Felix, I saw Edward standing in the room and I remembered the fire of his kiss – our passion when we were together.

"I have to take you, Bella," he said softly. A smile touched the corners of my mouth, before I realized it wasn't Edward's velvety smooth voice propositioning me. It was Felix again, trying to lead me to my death. If only it weren't so ironic.

As calmly as I could, I stood up and walked to him. I placed a kiss on his cheek before he caught my arms and pressed me into his massive body. "I want you to fight, too," he said. "I know it's not the same from me, but we can try. I am with you a hundred percent. I know you can fight. Please. Giving up isn't in you. Why roll over and die now? Here, drink this."

He grabbed a silver flask from inside his robes, pressing it against my chest. I unscrewed the lid cautiously and the aroma hit me hard. I knew it was human, probably pilfered from the morning's feast, but I didn't resist. Deep down, I knew it would make me stronger that it would be harder to take me down, but I drank deeply regardless, finishing every drop of the liquid life.

I licked my lips and leaned in, kissing him again, this time on the lips. "If you're on my side, Felix, lead me to the throne room."

Felix stared deep and long into my eyes. I'm not sure if he found whatever it was he was looking for. He dropped his gaze and hands at the same time and turned away. I was able to catch his hand just as he opened the door, but he didn't acknowledge it. He didn't shake it away either, and that, at the very least, was something.

There were so many vampires cramped into the small room that there was literally standing room only. I felt nauseous at the hunger in their eyes as if they'd like nothing more than to eat my cold, hard flesh. The Brothers would probably let them if it meant to draw out the pain of execution as their prime torturers were either the one being slated for torturing, or unable to use her gift on me.

I looked at Jane as she sat next to Aro, chatting as animatedly as Alice might have done. I narrowed my eyes and she looked over at me. Her thin pink lips curled into a wicked smile. She was the voice behind this. I wasn't sure how I knew that, but I felt it deep. It was truth. Jane was behind this. I knew she was sending her power at me, but it proved as useless as always. I didn't have to try when it came to Jane.

As soon as I was seated, Aro cleared his throat and stood. The masses were coaxed into silence by his icy glare. Finally he spoke directly to me. "My brothers and I have discussed your situation and have decided you deserve a chance to make things right. You say you were with the Cullens for two weeks and during that time they separated."

Uh oh. I nodded slowly.

"Where, my dear sweet, Isabella? Tell me where they went and you will be spared. Perhaps we may even rescind our previous sentence of stripping your ranks. It is your choice, dear." He looked like he had given me the greatest gift. His eyes twinkled excitedly.

Fuck him, I thought and opened my mouth to say so, but someone else spoke first. I was the first to gasp, followed by Aro as recognition hit us like a semi. The others were slower on the uptake and some probably never understood at all. But, as the man stepped forward, my knees nearly crumbled beneath me.

Without thinking about it, I threw my shield over him, so he would be untouchable from all the Guards' powers. As an afterthought, I threw it over Felix as well. At that moment I realized my decision had been changed. I glanced back and forth between the two men willing to end everything to save me and I had no other choice.

A strange electricity began to hum through my body, making it feel more alive than it ever had. I tightened my shield until it hugged every angle of their bodies like a second skin. Love is a reason to live, I told myself over and over as I watched him step through the crowd. They parted for him, an ominous respect in their eyes.

He stopped in the open space separating me from the Brothers and Jane, walking with a casual confidence that told me he knew my shield surrounded him. His words filled the hushed room.

"There is no need for her to tell you anything. Here I am."

"Carlisle," Caius hissed.

Whatever else he had said was lost in the sudden explosion of murmuring in the crowd, but Aro's surprised voice rang out and the room went deathly silent once more. "What a surprise, old friend."

In the same furious tone he'd used with me earlier, he snapped back, "Volterra is no friend of mine."

"So you have come to free your beloved. Just as we knew you would." Aro clapped as if it were all a part of the game.

Felix hissed beside me and Caius turned to him. "Did you not think it was too easy to obtain the right documents to contact him, Felix? Does it surprise you that you were a pawn, too? Now, you can die beside her just as you wish. Both of you can." He sneered at me. "A perfect revenge for our traitor."

As his words sank in, I found myself laughing hysterically, spurred on by their error and the blood coursing through my veins. "You think...Carlisle?" But I couldn't get anything else out and bent down with my hands on my knees, trying to calm my outburst. They thought he was the one I loved. With all their power and might, the Volturi had no clue.

I took a few deep breaths when I was able and looked back at the brothers who were looking at me confusedly.

"Marcus?" Aro demanded.

But Marcus remained quiet, his eyes fixed to mine. I couldn't decipher the expression I saw there and had to look away. Instead, I fixed my glare to Aro. "You are fools."

His eyebrows rose.

I didn't give them time to even blink. I shouted for Felix and Carlisle to drop, hoping Carlisle had told Felix enough. Carlisle was the only one to whom I divulged my secret. He alone knew what I was capable of doing with my ability.

Sure enough, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Felix fall in an instant and I let loose with all my fury. It had been building for an agonizingly long week so it was easy to throw it from my body with a force that surprised even me. It had been so long since I had come close to releasing this kind of raw power. My shield exploded like an atomic bomb, gathering strength as it flew outward. People were thrown into the walls with such a force that the pressure began to crack the ancient walls which had somehow come through Emmett and Edward's attack unscathed.

They wouldn't be so lucky this time, I thought, as I watched the shock wave smack directly into Aro. His eyes widened as he was pushed backward and pinned to the wall next to a completely stunned Jane. The pressure was building and I pushed harder.

Felix and Carlisle were now next to me, having ducked below the whirlwind. I pushed out harder, feeling the room begin to quake around the edges of my shield.

"It's enough," Felix shouted into my ear. "Let's get out before it falls."

"Not enough," I hissed back, completely consumed in my anger. All I could see was red – fury. Without releasing any mounting pressure, I walked quickly to Caius and looked him right in his cloudy red eyes.

I dragged a fingernail down the length of his paper thin cheek while he and all of his bodyguards were pinned against the wall unable to move to stop me. "Caius," I whispered leaning in close. I could smell his fear rising. I pushed out again, just so he would know his fear was justified. The tower quaked unstably. It wouldn't be standing much longer, but until I made it fall, there was something I needed to do.

I looked at Caius and realized something that pushed my fury to the breaking point. Despite his terror, he was still smiling. Somewhere in his own demented mind, he was still going to win. I was determined to prove him wrong. With no further thought, I sunk my teeth slowly into his neck and heard the surprise in his breathing. It was quick and his head was gone with a snap.

I spit the leftover Caius bits to the floor and stepped up to Jane. Her eyes were still wide in shock. "What are you doing?" She nearly screamed at me. "I'm your friend!"

"Fuck you," I snarled. Friend? What a joke! I clamped my hand around her throat.

She glared, then spit right in my face. I didn't bother wiping it away and punched her. But once wasn't enough, so I hit her again and again, right in her thin little nose until it twisted disgustingly and her head hung limply to the side. She groaned weakly.

"Isabella," an insistent voice pleaded from behind me, but I ignored him. Felix was undoubtedly restraining Carlisle from restraining me. He would understand this was something I had to do. It might not be the right thing or even the best thing, but it was something I had to, regardless. Going against the Volturi could only be done all the way. There was no half-assing it.

All or nothing.

So, I twisted her little neck and off Jane's head rolled, landing with a thud at my feet. Her body was still pressed against the wall under my power and the venom slowly dripped from her neck, down her robes and joined Caius' in a pool beneath their bodies. I knew they'd still have to burn, but for now they'd be in too much pain to attempt anything.

I moved on to Aro. He began pleading with me to let him live, to show mercy. I laughed at him before slapping him full on the face. He began sobbing loudly and just for some peace from the incessant noise, I leaned forward. A hand fell on my shoulder and I thought Carlisle had broken free of Felix. The voice that spoke surprised me completely out of my blood lust.

"Stop."

I pulled back and turned to see Marcus standing behind me, the same bored expression on his face he always wore. "This is why I let them believe in Carlisle. Had they known the truth, you wouldn't have been able to do find your revenge." My mouth dropped open, not understanding at all what he meant. "And I wouldn't have been able to find mine." With a look, I moved to the side and Marcus stepped forward, staring Aro down.

"Brother?" Aro choked, as confused as I felt.

Marcus hissed. "You try to be something you are wholly incapable of being, brother. If you had any idea what a family meant, I would not be standing before you today." Aro's eyes went from wide to wider as whatever Marcus said clicked in his head.

"Didyme," Aro groaned. I immediately recognized the name of Marcus' long dead mate, though I admittedly didn't know much more about her beside that meager fact. Even speaking her name had seemed taboo.

Marcus nodded and I backed slowly away, sensing the mounting tension that had nothing to do with the pressure I was exuding which was still on the brink of collapsing the entire shaking building.

"Do you realize, brother, how empty my life has been since that night? I never understood how you could look me in the eyes every day since. You've never even attempted an apology."

"How?" Aro whispered. "How did you know?"

Marcus laughed. These emotions were the first I had ever seen from the man and I found it horrifying.

"I felt you slip away that night. Our connection permanently ceased."

Aro's face changed drastically. He was terrified, too. Seeing Marcus enraged was unsettling, even when it wasn't directed at me. I finally reached where Felix and Carlisle stood, the former not even bothering to hold the latter back as they were both transfixed on the brothers. Around the room, other eyes were staring, too, despite the pain of being immobilized by my shield against the stone walls.

Aro was bumbling to say something to soothe Marcus, but it was obvious from his crouched posture there would be no amount of persuasion capable of stopping it. "He killed her, because she fought for you, Isabella," Marcus said suddenly. "Because she didn't want to see you die."

Silence followed his words. All eyes shifted to me.

"You never knew that she told me, did you, Aro? But Didyme never kept secrets from me. She knew how her blood called to you and surmised your plan to allow her to mature before taking it.

"When she didn't return home that night, I went to your cell," he continued, addressing me in a softer voice than the one he used with Aro. "Aro was killing you and I knew my Didyme would never allow it to happen."

He snarled viciously. "That's when I knew, dear brother. When I saw you on the floor, draining the girl, I felt nothing for you and knew you had killed my love.

"That's when I took you, Isabella. I was the one that protected you, even though I knew she had never wanted you changed at all." His thin arm shot out and grabbed a surprised Aro by his throat. Marcus' muscles tensed as he clenched tightly. Then, he turned around, and looked at me again.

What I saw surprised me more than any of his words had. The clouded red eyes I had known of all the brothers were no longer covered in film. A storm raged inside their depths as he let out his feeling kept hidden from every one for nearly 300 years. He stared at me intently.

"You see, Bella, my wife was also gifted. She knew you were destined for greatness, but Aro harvested you for dinner despite Didyme's warnings. And he has regretted that every day since, haven't you, brother?" Aro trembled beneath my power as he stared into Marcus's eyes.

He sputtered, but Marcus smiled like he could see the disbelief on my face. "I'm sure I'm not the only one who can attest that you don't see yourself clearly, my dear. Your problem is you try to be everything Aro had told you to be. He has promised you many great things and you've tried to please him for your entire existence, but the blame is also mine to bear. You were mine before you became his, Isabella. While you screamed and his venom changed you, I comforted, but I was so bitter." He looked like he was admitting a horrible sin. "I begged you not to trust while your heart slowed and your flesh hardened. And it was me you would not trust."

Despite my earlier fear, I stepped forward and placed a soothing hand on Marcus. "You should have told me."

He smiled sadly. "You were gone from me the second he realized your power." Marcus paused and threw me a wink. "Not that he really understood, did he?" He was gesturing around the room, proudly showing off what I could do. "I was unfortunately caught unaware by you long ago, Isabella, before you had even fully changed and I would never let you catch me off guard again." As if to prove his point he dusted the front of his robes where he ducked away from the edge of my shield.

"You bastard!" Aro croaked under Marcus' grip.

"There's a problem," Marcus went on, ignoring Aro completely knowing he wasn't going anywhere. "He is still my brother though I despise him with every ounce that I am."

Understanding immediately, I smiled sweetly, first, genuinely for Marcus, then with added venom for Aro. His eyes bugged from their sockets.

"You wouldn't?" he breathed. It was a question because he could already see in my eyes that yes, I would.

I stalked forward. "Too bad you never finished the job," I whispered, then let my teeth pull through the thin skin, severing his head in one swift movement. His venom flooded from the wound, over my hands, and down my clothing. Then, Aro's head groaned in my hands and I threw it against the wall, wondering if I really could throw up.

Marcus was still next to me. "Thank you," he said and I had no doubt he meant it completely. "Now, you must go." When I looked at him questioningly, he went on. "No one, except you, is innocent today, Isabella. Everyone here is every bit as guilty as my cavorting brothers. Now get out. This tower's going to burn!"

With a swift movement, Marcus brought a lighter from his pocket and it was lit in an instant, the orange flame dancing lightly in the air. Two sets of strong arms pulled me backward.

"What about you?" I shouted at Marcus, ignoring the slightly wild glint that had taken over his eyes.

He sighed, a sound I could barely hear as Felix and Carlisle dragged me to the exit. "I have only lived this long to ensure Volterra's end. Now, it's done and I will have peace. Now go."

I watched in disbelief when Marcus bent down, setting fire to the robes on Jane's small pinned body. As the flames caught and began to grow, I could see it twitch in pain. Her body felt as the flames rose higher and stronger. They easily caught other vampires and the ancient furniture and in seconds, the entire room was ablaze. We lingered at the very edge of the hallway. I held my shield until the last possible moment, through the screaming and shrieking echoing toward me, and I caught a final glimpse of Marcus in some sort of war dance, the flames licking his own robes. I'm pretty sure he was smiling.

With that demented last look, I let myself be pulled around the final bend and released my shield with a resounding crack. The screaming followed as we raced furiously through the maze of corridors to get to the exit closest to the walls of Volterra and our freedom. The tower groaned unstably around us. As the screaming lessened, the smell of burning vampires flooded the entire tower, nearly knocking us all senseless, but somehow, we made it outside the ancient structure. The moment the fresh air hit me, I snapped my shield at the tower one last time. It would be enough to cause it to fall. Then, we turned and ran for the walls as fast as we could, staying in the shadows more out of habit than being necessary to avoid the eyes of humans. At this point, we only needed to get away from the falling tower.

Within minutes we were on top of the high walls and I hesitated. Together, we turned around and looked back at a thick purple smoke settling into the streets of Volterra. Ignoring the rank scent, I stared at the place I spent my life torturing and killing, only because it was all I knew. Now, I knew I was made a vampire because Aro's dinner plans had gone wrong. He didn't even know the extent of my power. I wondered about that hazy past I hadn't even been aware of before today and was glad human memories were so fleeting and a vampire's so easily distracted.

Just then, a loud rumble shook the ground beneath Volterra and the tower, the beacon of the Volturi, collapsed in a plume of ash and dust. I sighed heavily, but felt more alive than I ever had before. My past had just fallen at my feet. Alice's premonitions had been dead on. The Volturi was no more. This was my empire now. The electricity in my body surged from every pore, causing my hair to undulate and blow around me in the calm night. Flames shot up from the rubble of the collapsed tower, reaching higher and higher as if in salute and Alice's words echoed in my mind, "It will be your empire soon enough."

Then, I heard a gasp, more familiar to me than my own voice and I spun around quickly to see him standing next to Carlisle, looking directly into my eyes.