Death is Slow
Everyone simply stared, including Aro and Caius. Apparently it wasn't originally planned to kill me. But then again, he might just be thirsty. I was the easiest target, after all. Then he broke out laughing.
"Really, you believe Aro would allow me to murder the child? I really should work on my individual reputation, shouldn't I. I can make a joke, despite popular belief. Now, on with the actual debate, shall we?" Marcus said. Everyone was still in shock that he'd talked out loud. He hadn't talked much at all in the last five decades. Or was it a century?
"Well, it is quite shocking that Marcus of the Volturi spoke, isn't it? Now, we have all had our ten consecutive minutes of stare time. Shall we continue?" I said. That took most everyone out of their little daze.
"Yes, yes. Now. What was it you were explaining, Renesmee?" Aro asked. Even in that open head of his, he'd lost his train of thought.
"Oh, well now it really has to be a dream, because Marcus actually talked. But for all intensive purposes, I'll trash that idea. I'm convinced this isn't a dream anymore. Now I think there was some sappy 'parents meeting their long-lost child' scene coming up, if I'm correct," I muttered. I wasn't looking forward to the sappy scene at all. Just to get it over with and concentrate on incinerating Luke.
"Right, right," Aro muttered, "Bella? Edward?" They walked forward carefully, as if any sudden movements might kill me. Dad laughed and picked up pace. Mom followed suit. They came to stand in front of me. I looked behind them at the Guard, most of whom had their hoods down. They all looked like forty-year-old cat ladies watching their soap operas-the episode where Bill breaks up with Angie, or Beth dumps Nate. Or some other combination of names. I swear, if it were possible, all of them would be crying tears of "joy".
Dad kneeled down to hug me. I set my hand on his cheek.
"We love you too, Nessie," he said in response. Next Mom came up. She really would've cried a river by now if possible. She leaned down to do the same. Just then I caught Rosalie's panicking expression. I knew exactly what she was so afraid of. My parents had been living with the Volturi. Therefore, they must've become accustomed to human blood. Straight from the source. I imagined that, and pulled away. Dad explained to my mom. She rolled her eyes and began some speech. I only heard a little bit.
"Okay, yes we have lived with the Volturi. No, we haven't adopted their forms of nourishment. We're still vegetarians, if that's what the proper term is. The forests around Volterra have a surprisingly large amount of wildlife. And even if we had switched, we'd still have enough self control not to consume our own daughter, Rose." Then she continued on about something else. Dad had come back to hug me again.
"Ness, how long have you been spending with Jacob? You stink," he whispered. I giggled. Mom ended the speech, which I doubt anyone was listening to, and went to greet everyone else in the family she hadn't gotten to before. Then Dad froze for some reason, a hopeful look in his eyes. Alice stared off into one of her visions. I was the only one to notice either.
"Now?" Dad muttered.
"It would probably be best," Aro replied to the unspoken statement. Aro walked to the entryway and motioned for everyone else to follow. Jane was on his heels.
"Jane, I want only the most crucial of the guard. No more than five. Choose them and meet us at the clock tower." he told the girl. I followed Mom out of the chamber. Bright light greeted my unadjusted eyes. From behind us I could hear just a few people following. Five were there. Jane, Alec, Demetri, Chelsea, and Renata, if I had gotten the names right. Then I heard what we were doing.
"He has a newborn army, Aro. Newborns can be reasoned with, if they haven't been trained to hate too liberally. Luke would have been in such a hurry he'd of only spent time teaching them to fight, not the reasons why. He'll see her, tell them to attack. They'll know him as their teacher, and do as he asks. They won't know who she is or why they must kill her. We need to get to him first, so they have no one to conduct their actions. It's quite simple," Dad said. I knew it. This had something to do with Luke.
"Quite good theory, Edward, but how can you be sure?" Aro asked.
"Edward! That was one of my visions! What did I tell you about how often they're wrong?" Alice yelled at him.
"Well, it sounds like something he'd do to me. Just like James. Too caught up in the murder to spend time considering technicalities. Of course we'd be coming for him, but he'd be too busy getting her weakened to notice. Heck, he might even make a video. Hey Alice, didn't you want to learn more about your parents?" He kind of chuckled with the last one. Alice gave the "looks can kill" theory a whole new set of proof.
We continued out into the sunlight. Well, some of us into the sunlight. Me, and the cloaked Volturi members. The others stayed hidden in the shadows and alleys. We were almost to the clock tower when Alice and Edward froze.
"No, stop!" Alice said, "They're here. Outside the city. Waiting. Get the rest of the guard, now! No time for preparations. Jazz, what should we do?"
"Are you sure they're here? Not coming?" he responded.
"Yes, they're already here."
"Well it should be safe inside the city. Luke would never take chances with the Volturi, even with his army… Wait, Alice, can you see him again? I can't believe we never saw that coming! He has sixty newborns. That's almost double what we have! He'll be thinking he can challenge us with those numbers! We have to catch him before he can reach the city," Jasper continued. I imagined it. Sixty vampires. Bloodthirsty. Loyal. Inexperienced. Lethal. I couldn't believe how calmly I had been taking the situation before. Of course, it seemed like nothing compared to the numbers of the Volturi when they had come to murder me. But I had been counting witnesses. I knew what I had to do. I was the only one who could. I was to be the distraction. The bait. The cheese in the trap.
"Alice, do you think Jacob left any clothes in your car? Or suitcases? Or anything at all that has been touched by him?" I asked.
"Why?" she countered.
"Werewolves smell terrible to you, right? That might give time to distract him. And I'll be perfectly safe, because they won't come near me if it's strong enough. Do you think we have something?"
"Renesmee, you will not be bait. Under any circumstances. End of story," Dad said.
"Yes. It is end of story. Of mine if this doesn't go well. I will help with this, and there's nothing you can do to stop me. He's after me. This is my fault. I intend to repair the damage," I snapped back.
"Renesmee, if anyone's fault, it's mine. Any of James' friends would never be involved with this family if it weren't for me, and don't you tell me how I forgot you're story Alice," Mom said. Alice did look like she was about to say something, but then her face went blank.
"Hurry! It's not happening yet, but he's decided he'll come into the city if we don't come quick enough." I hadn't noticed, but we were about back to the castle by then. I took the liberty of running ahead into the castle to see how Jane was doing coordinating the Guard. I almost fainted when I got in the last set of doors.
Five newborns were in the main chamber. Attacking. One of them must've been a shield, because the Guard seemed completely helpless. And Jane was backed up against a wall, cornered by one of the merciless vampires. Looking frustrated. Apparently she couldn't attack the evil in front of her. I snarled and bared my teeth as I lunged towards it. The second I had it tackled Jane jumped in to help.
"Renesmee, go start a fire!" she yelled over the snarls and growls erupting throughout the room. She tossed me a small silver lighter and began tearing at the newborn.
"What, are these like, mandatory for all Guard members?" I mumbled humorously.
"This is no time for jokes! Get one of the thrones! Now!" she screamed. I sped across to the front of the room and began tearing at the right chair. When it was thoroughly in pieces, I lit the flame.
"I got it! Come on, burn them!" I yelled as she began tossing pieces into the blaze. It was not a pretty sight. Somehow there were more vampires in the chamber. Ten, now. One was a few feet away, staring at me in confusion. It didn't attack.
"Are you waiting to attempt to kill me for some reason? Or is the murderer behind my back this time?" I asked her.
"No. But…you're a hybrid. Amazing. I couldn't see it possible," she said, "I'm Carrie."
"Are you…surrendering?" I asked. I'd expected to be forced to burn her by now.
"I guess that could be one conclusion. Or…just joining you," she answered. Without taking my eyes off her, I called Carlisle over.
"Carrie, if you truly intend to join us, you should speak to the Volturi. I cannot take power over the decision to let you live," he told her. She was directed to Aro, who looked fully welcoming. Suddenly Jane had taken power again. Carrie must've been their shield.
"Their shield joined us! The newborns are down!" I told everyone. All the army looked at the girl like she was a traitor. She sent a look of apology back at them. More of the creatures had come. Twenty by now. Thirty. All sixty of them. Did it really make a difference? We were already outnumbered. The Volturi already had a lot of work on their hands to come up with a cover story for this. Smoke and screams coming out of the castle in broad daylight. Oh, it was just a full out attack from lethal vampires like ourselves. Nothing to worry about there, good townspeople of Volterra. Ha. That'd pass easily.
A vampire pounced at me, and I ducked away last second. Then I ripped and burned it easily. I was paying too much attention to Jasper's fighting lectures.
All of the newborns had a match with a Volturi. Their numbers were dwindling. That was the problem. We'd destroyed maybe fifteen, and there were about five left. None were coming in to replace the burning ones.
"No. No, he's saving the army. The best. Stop! Alice, is he in the city?" I demanded.
"Are you blind, child? Look around you!" she replied while fighting off someone.
"Yeah, well I don't see Luke in this room! This is a diversion!" I yelled. Jasper seemed to catch my meaning. Just as a bloodcurdling shriek erupted from the city.