Characters are always the property of Stephenie Meyer.
Chapter 16 The Wives
When I turned around, his eyes were all over me, gaping at the energy that rolled from me in waves. It blew my hair and robes around my body with a power emanating from inside my own body. Pain and disbelief fought for dominance in his eyes and I forced myself to look away. I wasn't ready for that with the wounds of the past hour still fresh in my mind.
"Felix," I said hurriedly. "Take care of this for me." I gestured to the multitudes who were gathering beneath Volterra's walls, cheering for, what I felt, deserved no applause. I didn't want to be congratulated for killing off almost an entire city of vampires. Sure, most of them had been tyrannical monsters, but they had raised me, showered me with gifts, and given me everything I ever desired until now. Good or bad, I still felt uneasy how thoroughly I had let my anger take control.
Without waiting for his reply, I jumped down and ran. My energy was still surging and the anger was only barely contained. I had spent too much time dwelling in my own misery that when I let anything else through, it became difficult to reign back in. The harder and faster I ran, the more fury built inside of me. I was angry. Furious at everyone and everything. My entire existence had been a series of well told lies, meant only to hurt. I wasn't even sure who I was anymore.
I thought back on my early years here in Volterra. I had even known the woman Didyme, but, now, a face swam too clear in my memory. She was a tall and slender woman with limbs as thin as rope. With jet black hair and bright teeth smiling between her lips, I could barely conjure the memory of the woman that had sacrificed her life for mine, a poor and weak human. I probably would never remember anything else at all and it made me feel like I was doing her memory, her last act, a great disservice.
It only served to shame me more. To top it all off, he had been there to bear witness to my atrocities, to see those people worship me like I had done something just. What kind of justice would so ruthlessly rip apart an entire ideology? Now, I would have to serve my sentence restoring some sort of replacement for the whole damned empire. It really just made me feel even more attached to this god-forsaken place. That thought made me shudder. Never in m life had I felt more like running away. But I couldn't. There was too much depending on me as it was, and I knew I had to go back. If not for the ruin I had left behind, but for the one thing I dreamed of during those long days waiting execution.
Maybe I wouldn't be able to change anything, but I could try.
Decision made, I turned back toward the city and took down the first animal that I crossed, not because I was thirsty, but because I was stalling. I wanted to face Edward, to do whatever it would take to show him how irrevocably in love with him I truly was. I just needed a bit more time to myself. I felt like I should allow that, knowing that now I would see him again.
That's when I smelled the foul odor on the air. My eyes snapped skyward to see a thick column of purplish black smoke billowing from the direction of Volterra. But that wasn't right. The fires should be nearly out by now. The sun had made its way across the sky. Hours had passed.
My stomach clenched uncomfortably. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse.
I was off in a flash, speeding toward the city. The stench became thicker and harder to ignore the closer I came. It was difficult not to stop when the cloud of burned humans and vampires hugged the earth, blinding even my unnaturally keen eyesight, but I pushed myself onward. It swirled all around me, driven by the invisible force of the winds the fires were creating. The air was sickeningly hot, but I slowed my pace only slightly. Inside the plume of smoke was enclosed in an eerie silence. I couldn't hear anything as if I had been suddenly struck deaf. My eyes were everywhere at once, looking for anything out of place. It was impossible. Everything felt out of place.
Panic crept over me as not only couldn't I see anything, but I couldn't smell anything outside the smoke, either. It was slightly disorientating and I couldn't locate any of the Cullens or Felix with my senses so dulled. Venom pulsed through my body along with the blood I'd ingested today, human and animal alike. I still felt abnormally strong, but uneasy nonetheless.
From the corner of my eye, I saw movement. Black against gray and gone just as fast. I whirled my entire body in the direction of the shadow, but there was nothing there. The hair began to rise on the back of my neck and I spun around wildly, feeling the eyes on me, not knowing where they were located. I wanted to call out, but understood how pointless it was. Instinctively, I knew I was already surrounded.
I flexed my shield, throwing it out a bit from my body. Maybe that way I'd see whatever was coming. Then, as if in a defiance I barely felt, I stood still and waited for them. Whoever it was had probably already taken the others. I refused to think it could be the Cullens' flesh among the stale aroma clinging to the air after all I had done to prevent it.
No, I decided. I wouldn't even let myself think it. My mind was already dissecting every bit of information I ever learned, trying to piece this together. The more I knew about the enemy, the better my chances. It looked like this time I'd be completely on my own. So, who? Who could have done this?
Another shadow, but I didn't even blink. It was right there on the tip of my thoughts. The answer...
At that moment, a low rolling fog struck my shield about five feet from where I stood. Other points flexed a little, absorbing different powers being flung at me, but I ignored them all. Laughing somewhat maniacally, I let a smile stretch across my face.
"Oh, Alec!" I called out playfully. "Come out, come out, where ever you are!"
My words hung in the air like bait. They were both playful and venomous at the same time but there was no answer. The silence thickened around me, almost solidifying the pressure building in my ears. I was stronger than Alec. There was no way I was backing off.
"Where are you?" I called out again, this time taking a slow turn to look everywhere at once. I continued in a softer, more menacing voice. "Don't be a little bitch. If you have something to say to me, say it."
This time, I pounced on the shadow as it passed in my peripheral. It wasn't Alec, but another of the Guards who I vaguely recognized. He leered at me, which only served to spark my anger again.
"Where is he?" I growled. I meant everybody, anybody. I just needed some response.
Another roll of smoke smashed into my shield as I held the snarling guardsman at bay. It was all the information I needed. Without hesitation, I flew away from him into the smoke, blindly running at the invisible target.
I was fast and slammed into Alec's surprised body with all my force. My hand clenched down on his neck. In my burst of anger, I scarcely looked at him until a trembling began beneath my fingers. Slowly, my eyes focused enough to actually see his face and pity washed through me. He looked small, even under my own slender arm and the terror and hurt in his eyes was clear.
"Why, Bella?" He choked out. "Why Jane?" A moan escaped him, but it sounded strangled because I hadn't lessened my grip at all.
Alec had the ability to completely stun everyone in his path except me, of course. It left them blinded, deafened, and completely vulnerable to attack. The anger tried to bubble up again, but I held it back for the moment, wanting to approach this with a calm head. Alec was a formidable foe. We had spent many nights in the moonlight centuries ago, pitting our abilities against one another. He always flustered Jane to no end, as he could stop her concentration completely and ultimately win out over her. She could only win their matches by surprise attack. Then, he had been all over the world, using his power to carry out the Volturi's orders. So despite his femininity, he was strong. Once again, I found myself glad to be impervious to his abilities.
"She deserved it," I hissed unable to keep the venom from my voice. "You knew what she was doing." How he could he not? He was her twin, her other half, so to speak.
He trembled again, sobbing and trying to look angry at the same time. It was pitiful, so I went on. He was probably incapable of speech anyway, seeing as how my fingers were locked tightly around his windpipe. I put a bit more pressure for good measure. "Where are the Cullens? Where's Felix?"
Alec's face only went paler and I let my anger slide up again, even feeling other eyes on me. I was falling under again, knowing I was most certainly not impenetrable to physical attack. The urge to destroy everything that could ever remind me of Volterra ripped through me, drowning out everything else and I growled openly, allowing my intention to flash in my fevered eyes.
A pair of clawed hands dug into my back. I swatted at the annoyance but kept my grip tight on Alec's throat.
"You knew what she was, Alec," I hissed. "It could have just as easily been you."
His eyes were dark and panicking and something else. He looked on the verge of passing out.
"Last chance. Tell me where they are," I snarled, even as more than one set of arms pulled at my body trying to free me from Alec's throat. Teeth sliced into me, but I pushed it all away, holding his gaze. "We can still be friends, Alec. I don't want to kill you."
The burning raged as the venom pumped into me, but it wasn't stronger than my own fury and I finally saw him break. First, his eyes softened, then his mouth open slightly. I withdrew most of my grasp on him, while maintaining hold as my body was thrown about by his entourage. I just pulled Alec along with me.
His voice was weak from the crushed throat, but I heard his answer distinctly. "Gone."
"Gone? Gone where?" Did he mean they ran, or...
But there wasn't the chance for any more answers as I was suddenly thrown hard into a tree, finally severing my grip on him. As I sank to the ground, I took the time to notice the others for the first time. There were five all together, including Alec. My body burned hotter than ever, but it only added to my anger. I landed and sprang immediately into a low crouch, eying each for a long, exaggerated moment. The feral growls burst wildly from my chest as the attackers stepped toward me.
With a quick snap, I let loose my shield, slamming against the unsuspecting attackers, clearing the foul smoke, and falling every tree in a half mile radius. They were all pressed haphazardly amongst the crumbled ruins of the city walls.
"Where are they?" I shouted at all of them. Something drew my eyes upward.
I nearly gagged. Felix was hanging from a thick piece of chain looped around his neck. I knew that alone wasn't enough to kill him, but it was hard to ignore the way his legs dangled beneath him. His body was impossibly still.
My eyes searched more frantically for anyone else, but it was Felix alone who dangled in the air. I wanted to shout out to him, but the danger still threatened and it had nothing to do with the five vampires pinned against the boulders.
I didn't have to wait long for my worry to materialize. A voice, soft as silk, but a thousand times deadlier, echoed through the air. "They are gone," it chimed.
I gasped as I saw her, skin white as winter snow, blending flawlessly with her white robes. She glided over the ruined and smoldering city as if it weren't even beneath her. Long silver hair hung listlessly down her back as she floated closer. Impossible! Behind her trailed another woman, of almost identical features, only the other's eyes were completely covered in the milky film that threatened all the ancients' eyes.
"You are surprised?" The first woman mocked. Wickedness gleamed in her eyes. "They do not keep the wives in the tower, or were you too high a security risk to divulge that secret?"
She was trying to play on my fervor to be the best, the top of the chain, but she didn't realize I no longer needed to be those things. My body grew colder as she bore down on me, stopping only when she was inches away. I leaned back instinctively, then cursed myself for showing weakness. The wives were respected and protected above all others, but it was impossible not to want to lash out at those matching evil grins. The one closest to me stared into my eyes, her cloudy ones swirling maliciously. As crazy as I felt, she looked it. They both did.
Again, I was in control of myself, calculating how to deal with this. I really knew nothing about either of the wives. They were so secret it was like they were nothing more than legends, complete unknowns. It was impossible to know the best way to deal with them. They were infinitely older than the brothers and Didyme had been their sister. Apart from that, I was at a loss and a little intimidated.
Then, Sulpicia leaned forward, breathing in my face a breath that smelled of centuries and decomposition. "You will not be responsible for the death of anything else," she said. Behind her, the blind Athenodora was snickering.
Immediately, my whole body felt limp, like I couldn't move even if I had wanted. I just felt too heavy, but I found my voice was clear as I snapped back, "They are responsible for their own deaths. They were liars, evil torturers… "
"And you think you are different, that you are above them in some way? Girl, we have spent centuries building the Volturi and you have single handedly killed off the entire coven."
My body slumped further as I began to understand that at least one of the women standing in front of me had her own power. Apparently, I hadn't been concentrating enough to notice until it was too late. It must work somewhat like Jasper's ability against the body, I thought, feeling my muscles relax even further still. I allowed myself to slump forward, landing in a graceless slump at Sulpicia's feet. I tried to force enough energy to at least put up my shield, but I was momentarily feeling much more comfortable than I should and didn't bother.
"First my true sister – once in blood and then in venom – and now the brothers." Athenodora sighed and I sensed genuine sadness, before she was snickering again.
"You fucking little bitch, you will pay," Sulpicia hissed.
"Aro killed your sister," I said the first thing that came to my mouth, but judging by their reaction, neither agreed in the slightest.
"No, it was always you. A lot of fuss for a human, but nothing I said cured the fascination with you." Aro's mate seemed to be musing to herself, a trait she shared with the deceased man. "Even afterward, I couldn't understand." She paused, bending over me. "You destroyed them, the fools! But not us. No, we are much too smart for the infamous Isabella."
Her breath hung around my face, but I felt like I couldn't stop myself from continuing to inhale the putrid stench. I was simply too tired to try not to, despite the way the venom surged through me, urging me to do something. She was too close now and I was too vulnerable and there was nothing I could do, but talk.
"Fuck off," I sneered. "I don't want to play your games."
I was vaguely aware of Alec and his own personal set of goons circling around us, but no longer cared. The power from the wives stripped me of all desire. After that I just laid there, deciding I didn't really want to talk anymore, either.
The next thing I was aware of was a high pitched shriek pulling me from the blissful laze that I had fallen into. It echoed sharply in my ears, bringing me back to reality with a sickening jolt. I even felt a bit woozy, but whatever had held me before had weakened significantly. After a second of deep breathing, enjoying that it didn't taste of rotting flesh, I stood up.
My mouth dropped wide. Athenodora lay sprawled across the ground, a pool of black venom forming beneath her still body, thick like coagulating blood. That was just the beginning of the madness. A battle raged all around me. Familiar faces from Volterra fought against Alec and his partners. It seemed like thousands, because everyone moved so incredibly fast, but it might have only been a dozen. I remembered that the wives had their own brigade of security guards. But there seemed to be an increasing number of dark robes pushing against the others. Many had escaped the horror of earlier and didn't seem too pleased at the way things had gone. My fault, my head buzzed dizzily. Finally, though I barely felt I had regained the strength, I draped my shield back around my body and continued to search the insanity around me.
After a moment, I gave up entirely trying to discern who was on which side. I wondered if Sulpicia was out there fighting and how long loyalties would last with the Brothers gone. Noting Athenodora's condition and seeing she wouldn't be moving any time soon, I knew what I had to do. Faster than I dreamed capable, I charged through the battle and up the building where Felix hung, still utterly lifeless through the entire ordeal. I raced to him, because he deserved that. He deserved much more, but that was what I could give, so I gave it everything I had.
Easily reaching his body, I wrapped my arms around his waist to pull him back to the roof. The chain only tightened on his neck, but I couldn't get him close enough. If I tried to break the chain, the weight of Felix's body would undoubtedly drag me over as he fell to the cobbled streets below. I tugged uselessly at his robes, willing him into my arms, but it was useless. I was useless.
"I'll hold him," a velvet voice cut into my silent tantrum.
I looked over, twisting my neck awkwardly to find myself plunging into the depths of molten topaz. My mind instantly went fuzzy, like little bursts of light were flashing all around his face and my entire body relaxed. I had to fight the desire to lean into him and remain focused on the matter at hand.
"I'll hold him," he repeated, gently grabbing Felix's waist. "You get the chain."
It finally clicked, and I stood up, grasping at the heavy chain with both hands. Each link was nearly the same size as my wrist, but it wasn't difficult, especially considering the amount of energy I had today. Thank God for the extra meals. I pulled one of the links and it immediately released Felix in a sudden movement. Edward easily brought him onto the roof, lying him on his side, and began to pull at the series of complicated locks which bound him still. I touched his face softly, weeping tearlessly.
"All my fault," I whispered at Felix's ear, but I meant it for both of them.
Around us, the fighting continued, feral snarls and screams of terror echoing around my destroyed city – no, that's not right – the city I destroyed. It was a desperate battle between the lies of our past and the hopes of our future, but all I could see was Felix, even with Edward right next to me. I never wanted any one to die for me, certainly not any one I loved.
"Wake up," I urged. "Felix, wake up!"
"There aren't any wounds," Edward said as the last of the chains finally slid off his neck. "He's most likely in a state similar to the one you were in."
I finally looked up at him, meeting his eyes again, but refusing to lose myself in them. He wanted to return to the chaos below. I could feel him fighting the desire to go. Something kept him here though, and I couldn't tell what it was. Ultimately, I knew he was right. Felix was unharmed and we were both needed in the frenzy below.
I brushed a light kiss across Felix's forehead, just as he had done to me only hours before. "I'll be back," I promised, then stood and faced Edward. I had to totally disregard that strange pull toward his body, so I planted my feet firmly for a moment. There wasn't much time, but, "What happened?" I asked.
Edward shook his head. Bits of ash fell from the soot covered hair and onto his shoulders. "We were watching you leave and Jasper called Alice. As soon as you were out of sight, she had a vision." He looked back at Felix. "He refused to leave."
"For me." I hadn't meant to direct it at Edward or even speak it aloud. Felix stayed because I asked him to handle it while I went on an emotion binge over seeing Edward.
"A man in love will do foolish things, Bella," he said almost too quiet to hear above the ruckus from below.
For an instant, a million other questions whirled through my mind, but I knew everything would have to wait. This was my fault and I had to see it through to the end. I reached out and grabbed Edward's unsolicited hand. Gratefully, he returned the pressure to assure me my action was alright and together we jumped back into the midst of the battle.
On the ground, I only had one thought. Sulpicia must be killed. I wasn't even sure if she was still out there fighting, but I made it my mission to make sure she was taken out. I wove in and out of other fights, keeping my eyes searching.
It wasn't until he actually pulled on it swiftly, yanking me out of the way of an oncoming guardsmen that I realized Edward still held onto my hand. I thanked him with my eyes, too stunned to say anything and pressed forward again. The connection between our entwined fingers had felt so natural that I had forgotten it completely. Now, I was all too aware. I could feel his every movement as we slid tandem through the battleground. He was so close to me that I felt his breath against my neck. He took short, quick breaths and it warmed my skin as he, sending shivers up my spine. Everything else slipped into the background, as I momentarily forgot my self-imposed mission and imagined it was just the two of us. In the middle of all this bloodshed, I let reality slip away.
"Bella," his voice broke my fantasy. I didn't turn, but could have sworn I heard the smile there as if for that instant he could read my mind.
Then, there was no other thought other than the ancient white vampire who appeared half a dozen steps from us. A low hiss escaped my lips as I watched her lull more victims into lifeless puddles at her feet. The dark stains on her robes attested that she could also fight, though with the frailness of her body, I might have thought otherwise.
Edward went still behind me. Carlisle was among the ten or so other vampires locked completely at Sulpecia's mercy. His golden hair was impossible to mistake. So low that no one else could possibly hear, I whispered, "We have to split up."
Edward tightened his grip on my hand and I knew he was as uncomfortable with that idea as I was, but there was no other option. One of us had to serve as a distraction.
As if answering my internal argument, Jasper walked out of nowhere and straight toward Aro's widowed mate. I expected him to say something, but with a glowering look, he remained silent and the last wife looked at him smugly. That's when I felt Jasper using his own ability to try and fight against her. A wave of misery hit me and I watched as Sulpecia's face fell under its strain. But she fought against it and Jasper wavered a bit as she turned her own power on him. It was like watching a body being shut off one muscle at a time and I knew Jasper couldn't fight against it for long. But he had provided the distraction we needed.
Sensing the time to attack, Edward leaned in so close I could feel the planes of his chest flush against my back. "Use your shield as soon as Jasper falls," he whispered and was gone from my side before I even had the chance to wonder how he knew so much about my gift.
Japer fell to his knees. I straightened my body and stepped forward, deliberately being louder than necessary to cause Sulpecia to turn toward me. I locked eyes with her before letting my shield snap outward with the last bit of power I could muster. She was caught off guard and only had the chance to open her furious mouth before Edward was on her. In an act almost inately sexual, he tore her head away from her neck with a single bite.
Sulpecia's decapitated body fell to the ground as my shield snapped back and my strength finally gave out. I fell to the ground with a huff and took a satisfied look at the incapacitated vampires piled around me. Slowly, each began to move as Sulpecia's ability faded from their bodies and I knew we had done it. A second later, Edward was kneeling at my side. Once again I found myself staring into his swirling eyes and allowed myself to do only that.
"Are you alright?" he asked from a million miles away, but I was too lost in those intense molten pools. His laugh, sweeter than honey, barely penetrated my conscious mind and his fingertips reached upward, touching my face tentatively.
I never saw his hand move, too lost in the eyes to notice anything else happening around me, but somehow I knew. The electricity of desire suddenly surged through me radiating from my cheek. My body responded in a way it only did for his touch. I groaned softly and ran my tongue over my bottom lip.
My vision was only beginning to clear from the saturation of his touch when his lips crashed into mine. As completely reckless and silly as it seemed, I kissed him back even as the fighting petered out around us. We both lost and found ourselves in each other's embrace. I knew I had so much to answer for as far as Edward was concerned, but tonight, amidst the high of victory and venom, there were no need for explanations. Tonight, there was only us.