Chapter 39
I didn't think time could move so slowly. Our training was rigorous but the mental torment we went through seemed to be worse. We hated being back in Sam's pack and he seemed to favor his pack anyways. If we weren't ordered to be there we wouldn't have stayed the whole month.
But still, we felt a brotherly love for each other, like we did before the split. The run to the clearing where the battle would be was one of the hardest things I had to do in a long time. We all knew that if there was a fight there would be deaths, and we all wondered whose thoughts would leave us forever.
And so we stood, in a half circle, behind the group of gathered vampires, waiting for the Volturi. Jacob stood next to me for a long while but we couldn't hear him. I wanted so badly to be in his mind, to be able to share his thoughts and his emotions. Over the months I had been his second I had grown to love him like a second brother. But Jake wasn't able to stay with us long and he soon joined the vamps to stand next to Renesmee.
Seth stood on the other side of me, solemn. Out of everyone we worried the most for each other. Our minds seemed to block everyone else's out as we reminisced our childhood. Every time a memory of dad would pop up we would wince together and share the other's grief.
I smelled them before I saw them. The strong scent of unfamiliar leeches floated on the wind, tainting it. Their images soon followed. They walked in unison towards us, showing no emotion. We had no idea what their plans were. The wolves were far enough back that they probably couldn't see us. Their walk was slow and unhurried. It was like a nightmare, you just wanted it to stop but no matter what you couldn't wake up. There were thirty-two of them and about 40 behind them in an unorganized cluster. Witnesses. Sam thought.
They stopped about 100 yards from the front lines of our group. For a second no one did anything and the only thing I could here were the thumping of our hearts and our heavy anxious panting. Lets move. Sam ordered and in synchronized steps we walked into their line of view. The newborn's thoughts were panicky, our youngest was only a couple days old and our oldest newborn was only 2 weeks. They were unskilled and terrified.
Carlisle and Edward talked in hushed tones in the front of the line. "Should I speak?" Carlisle asked.
Edward nodded. "This is the only chance you'll get."
Carlisle stepped several steps forward so that he stood open and unprotected. He put his hands out in greeting and said. "Aro, my old friend. It's been centuries."
Friend? I nearly snorted at the word. The Volturi were silent for a second before the vampire in the middle, who I expected was Aro, stepped forward. He was trailed by a panic stricken female, probably a guard.
"Peace." He held a hand up, looking like an alien from some sci-fi movie. Then he tilted his head to the side like an amused puppy. "They seem out of place considering the army you've assembled to kill me, and to kill my dear ones."
The two talked back and forth, bickering. A third joined in.
"So many pointless rules, so many unnecessary laws you create for yourself, Carlisle. How is it possible that you defend the breaking of one of that truly matters?" The white haired leech said, hissing in annoyance.
They started to argue again. They wouldn't let Carlisle get a word in edge wise and our case wasn't looking much better. Finally Carlisle was able to say.
"Or you could just look at her Caius. See the flush of human blood in her cheeks."
"Artifice! Where is the informer? Let her come forward!" He snapped.
Everyone turned to look at a small female towards the back of the group. She started terrified, seemingly frozen to her spot. Another leech had to drag her forward. When she reached Caius, he slapped her. The pack flinched in unison at his cruelty. Caius questioned her and she timidly muttered responses. Finally Aro stepped forward and took her hand for a couple seconds then stepped back.
"You see, Caius?" Aro said. "It's a simple matter to get what you need."
Confusion spread through the pack. What just happened? Paul asked.
I think Aro can read minds like Edward can, but only by touching. Sam guessed.
Aro and Carlisle discussed more until Edward was called forward. He quickly kissed Bella before walking across the field, past Carlisle. I heard a little laugh come from Bella's direction and I wondered if being a leech had sucked her brains dry. Edward stopped a couple feet from Aro and held out his hand. Aro walked forward in an almost delighted manor and grabbed Edward's hand.
Unlike when he touched the female's hand this took a long time. Minutes seemed to go by and still Aro stood, holding Edward's hand, hunched over by all of Edward's thoughts. Then he straightened.
"You see?" Edward asked smoothly.
"Yes, I see, indeed." Aro said with a hint of surprise. "I doubt whether any two among gods or mortals have ever seen quite so clearly. You have given me much to ponder, young friend. Much more than I expected. May I meet her? I never dreamed of this existence of such a thing in all my centuries. What an addition to our histories!"
My eyes flickered to Jacob as Caius began to argue. I watched as my friend tensed and leaned a little closer into the hold Renesmee had on his fur.
"Will you introduce me to your daughter?" Aro asked again, after a moment.
I heard some vampires hiss around me but Edward nodded and then answered a question we had not heard. "I think a compromise on this one point is certainly acceptable, under the circumstances. We will meet in the middle."
They turned and walked towards us, Aro threw an arm on Edward's shoulder like they were best friends. They are so weird. Someone thought although I wasn't focused enough to pick up which newborn it was. Aro brought three of his guard with him so Bella brought Jacob and Emmett with as they walked forward across the snowy field.
"Interesting company you keep." One of the Volturi murmured.
No one responded except Jacob, who snarled.
The group in the middle of the field murmured quietly and I watched as Renesmee leaned away from Bella to touch Aro's face. Jacob flinched off to the side. After Renesmee was done Aro leaned back and murmured.
"I wonder."
"It doesn't work that way." Edward insisted.
"Just an errant thought." I couldn't help but notice Aro's eyes were focused on Jacob. I felt my fur bristle and stand on end.
Easy. Sam thought
"They don't belong to us, Aro. They don't follow our commands that way. They're here because they want to be."
Jacob growled and the rest of us were losing our cool composer.
"They see quite attached to you, though. An you're young mate and your . . . family. Loyal." He said the last word softly. All of our hackles were on end.
"They're committed to protecting human life, Aro. That makes them able to coexist with us, but hardly with you. Unless you're rethinking your lifestyle."
"Just an errant thought." He repeated while laughing. "You well know how that is. We none of us can entirely control our subconscious desires."
"I do know how that is. And I also know the difference between that kind of thought and the kind with purpose behind it. It could never work, Aro."
What would never work? Seth asked.
"He's intrigued with the idea of . . . guard dogs." Edward replied softly.
We paused in shock for a moment but a chorus of angry snarls ripped from out throats. Just thinking of defending those lifeless bloodsucking leeches made my blood boil. Enough! Sam barked, and we were silent.
"I suppose that answers that question." Aro laughed. "This lot has picked its side."
I didn't like the way he said 'this.' Edward didn't either, he leaned forward, hissing. Bella had to grab his arm.
"So much to discuss, so much to decide. If you and your furry protector will excuse me, my dear Cullens, I must confer with my brothers.
Minutes passed as the Volturi conversed. I started zoning out slightly, thinking of my future when Caius' words brought me back. "The werewolves."
All of us were on attention then.
"Ah, brother . . ." Aro sighed.
"Will you defend that alliance, too, Aro?" Caius asked impatiently. "The Children of the Moon have been our bitter enemies from the dawn of time. We have hunted them to near extinction in Europe and Asia. Yet Carlisle encourages a familiar relationship with this enormous infestation – no doubt in an attempt to overthrow us. The better to protect his warped lifestyle."
I felt a growl building in my throat when Edward cleared his throat, loudly. "Caius, it's the middle of the day." He said almost sarcastically. "These are not Children of the Moon, clearly. They bear no relation to your enemies on the other side of the worlds."
What is he talking about? I thought. The others echoed my thoughts.
"You breed mutants here." Caius snarled. Agitation flew through the pack. Easy. Sam commanded.
"They aren't even werewolves. Aro can tell you all about it if you don't believe me."
What? We all asked simultaneously.
Let's just listen. Sam suggested.
"Dear Caius, I would have warned you not to press this point if you had told me your thoughts." Aro spoke."Though the creatures think of themselves as werewolves, they are not. The more accurate name for them would be shape-shifters. The choice of a wolf form was purely chance. It could have been a bear or a hawk or a panther when the first change was made. These creatures truly have nothing to do with the Children of the Moon. They have merely inherited this skill from their fathers. It's genetic – they do not continue their species by infecting others the way true werewolves do."
This was all new to us and the pack was mute with surprise.
"They know our secret." Caius hissed.
Aro spoke quickly. "They are creatures of our supernatural world, brother. Perhaps even more dependent upon secrecy than we are; they can hardly expose us. Carefully, Caius. Specious allegations get us nowhere."
There was a long pause for a second before Caius called the traitor forward. She tried to explain herself but before any of us knew what was happening the Volturi guard were tearing her apart. All of us flinched and two of the vampires on our side, probably her coven, started wailing and rushing towards her. They had trouble containing one of them. Steady. Sam said smoothing out our anxiety.
After this had calmed down they spoke to our witnesses. Two vampires were questioned and both gave a testimony that Aro had probably already heard. The lengthiness of our gathering was doing nothing for my anxiety but I was guessing it was a good thing they were taking so long. After questioning three of the Volturi huddled in a small triangle.
If this goes badly, Jacob's pack, you will focus on the trio. Sam spoke strategy. My pack will focus on the guard and I want the newborns to attack the smallest and the females. We want to make it out of here with as many brothers and sisters as we can. He said plural sisters even though I was the only girl. I wrinkled my nose.
One of the leeches must have been messing with the weather. A strong breeze started to blow and then a fissure opened up in the ground. The newborns shifted their feet nervously. In front of us it seemed they were saying goodbyes and I felt a lump rise up in my throat. Jacob was looking down at Bella and Edward and I watched as a giant tear fell down his face.
I love you, Leah. Seth thought quietly.
I stepped closer to him and nuzzled my face in his neck. I love you, brother.
"Before we vote," Aro spoke, drawing our attention back to him. "Let me remind you, whatever the council's decision, there will need by no violence here."
Someone in the front lines laughed.
Aro continued. "It will be a regrettable was to our kind to lose any of you. But you especially, young Edward, and your newborn mate. The Volturi would be glad to welcome many of you into our ranks. Bella, Benjamin, Zafrina, Kate. There are many choices before you. Consider them."
After a moment of silence Aro spoke again. "Let us vote, then."
"The child is an unknown quantity. There is no reason to allow such a risk to exist. It must be destroyed, along with all who protect it." Caius spat quickly, smiling.
The third vampire who hadn't said anything the whole time spoke with a gentle demeanor. "I see no immediate danger. The child is safe enough for now. We can always reevaluate later. Let us leave in peace."
'I must make the deciding vote." Aro said, amused.
Before he could say anymore Edward interrupted with a cheer. "Aro?"
"Yes, Edward? You have something further….?"
"Perhaps, first if I could clarify one point."
"Certainly." Aro replied, raising an eyebrow.
"The danger you foresee from my daughter – this stems entirely from our inability to guess how she will develop? That is the crux of the matter?"
Where is he going with this? Embry thought.
"So if we could only know for sure," Edward continued. "exactly what she will become . . then there would be no need for a council at all?"
The continued to banter in circles until Edward yelled. "Why don't you join us, Alice?"
A shiver of shock and excitement floated through the vampires in front of us. All that came from us was an amused surprise. The traitor had returned. Seth growled lowly at us.
Alice came running into the clearing with Jasper and two others. One of them, unmistakably, had a beating heart. As Alice and the two new vampires, Huilen and Nahuel, explained, Nahuel is just like Renesmee – a half breed. The conclusion from their testimony clearly showed that Renesmee's future was now predictable and that she is no danger to anyone.
"Brother," Aro said softly to Caius. "There appears to be no danger. This is an unusual development, but I see no threat. These half-vampire children are much like us, it appears."
"Is that your vote?" Caius demanded.
"It is."
I barely heard what was said afterwards. Internal cheers were screamed inside our heads. There would be no bloodshed today. I reached over and licked Seth's check. He scowled at me but let out a laugh.
We turned and watched as the Volturi retreated. If they had tails I had no doubt they would be tucked.