Changing Future
Part I
Fate
"A fixed decree by which the order of things is prescribed; the immutable law of the universe; inevitable necessity; the force by which all existence is determined and conditioned."
New Moon - one shot, divided into three longer chapters. It starts with chapter 21 - The Verdict, page 498.
" And then Alice stepped away from us, forward toward Aro. We turned to watch her. Her hand was raised like his.
She didn't say anything, and Aro waved off his anxious guard as they moved to block her approach.
Aro met her halfway, and took her hand with an eager, acquisitive glint in his eyes.
He bent his head over their touching hands, his eyes closing as he concentrated. Alice was motionless, her face blank. I heard Edward's teeth snap together.
No one moved. Aro seemed frozen over Alice's hand.
The seconds passed and I grew more and more stressed, wondering how much time would pass before it was too much time.
Before it meant something was wrong—more wrong than it already was.
Another agonizing moment passed, and then Aro's voice broke the silence.
"Ha, ha, ha," he laughed, his head still bent forward.
He looked up slowly, his eyes bright with excitement.
"That was fascinating!"
Alice smiled dryly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"To see the things you've seen—especially the ones that haven't happened yet!" He shook his head in wonder.
"But that will," she reminded him, voice calm.
"Yes, yes, it's quite determined. Certainly there's no problem."
Caius looked bitterly disappointed—a feeling he seemed to share with Felix and Jane.
"Aro," Caius complained.
"Dear Caius," Aro smiled. "Do not fret. Think of the possibilities! They do not join us today, but we can always hope for the future.
Imagine the joy young Alice alone would bring to our little household….Besides, I'm so terribly curious to see how Bella turns out!"
Aro seemed convinced. "
But Caius wasn't. He wasn't going to let it go. Besides, he was deeply disgusted with how lightly Aro seemed to take a matter that posed a potential threat to their kind.
That's why he secretly followed the actions of the Cullen clan and knew something that his "brother" didn't know.
As rulers and leaders, the Volturi had to be 100% sure that a given vampire would keep the terms of the agreement. In this case, there was no such certainty.
That's why Caius had to take matters into his own hands, since he couldn't count on Aro, much less Marcus, who lived in perpetual depression after losing his wife hundreds of years ago.
After years, he finally found something that could give him this constancy. And now he had a chance to use it.
"Aro," he turned to the long-haired vampire. "It seems to me that this is not the end of our meeting."
"What are you saying, dear brother? Everything has already been explained. Isabella Swan will be one of us soon," Aro replied kindly.
Caius frowned. "Are you sure the Cullens will keep their word?"
"Of course, Caius. They know what awaits those who turn against Volturi. Death!", Aro laughed hysterically.
"Has Alice Cullen explained to you how her visions work?", Caius suggested brusquely, propping himself up, glaring hostilely from his great throne. "Her visions are deeply uncertain Aro. Based only on the decisions of others. Besides, there are things her gift can't break through."
Edward couldn't read his thoughts. It frustrated him immensely. Something was protecting him. He looked at Aro. His thoughts were easy to read. Then at Marcus and a few other members of the guard. With the same result.
"Of course. I know all the gifted vampires in our world. Nothing can be hidden from me," replied Aro.
"Very well," replied the fair-haired vampire. "Then you'll be interested in this," Caius said, signaling the guards to open the door leading to the throne room.
The great brass door swung open to reveal a figure entering the main throne room, clad in a long blood-red cloak that brushed the ground.
The face, too, was covered by a wide hood, from behind which long cascades of copper curls cascaded down to broad, round hips. Her whole figure seemed feminine, with rather prominent breasts, a beautiful waist and broad shoulders. The girl took off her hood.
Her skin was barely paler than the vampires around her. Her large, green eyes hidden under a curtain of thick, dark lashes stared unconsciously around the cold, marble room. Her round face was decorated with a straight nose and thin pink lips on which a shadow of uncertainty was drawn.
She was beautiful in her own way. She was wearing a floor-length, emerald green gown with long, wide sleeves trimmed with gold ornamentation.
"I came as you asked Caius." Her voice echoed faintly around the room.
Everyone looked in shock at the standing female figure in the middle of the large marble hall. Edward tried to get to the head of the mysterious visitor, but his attempts were in vain. His power must have been blocked by another vampire from the Volturi personal guard.
"This is Edythe." Caius spoke up, rising from his throne. "Aro, we know how much you want a young Cullen in our ranks, but I assure you that this obsession will end today. Because this woman can do more than Alice Cullen could ever predict." He smiled ominously, turning to the long-haired vampire standing next to him. "She's a hybrid," Caius pointed out."I discovered it by chance a few months ago in Eastern Europe. Her father was an extremely powerful vampire who unfortunately wreaked too much havoc, killing the local human population like a maniac so despite his gift he had to be killed. He was too unstable to be drafted into our ranks. However, his daughter survived while her mother died in agony during childbirth. As a matter of principle, we don't allow the creation of immortal children, but this young girl here is not one. Therefore, she will remain under my personal care. Her gift is unparalleled."
"How is that? This is the first time I meet such a strange creature." Aro approached the girl, examining her.
"What's your diet like?" He asked her, curious.
"Blood but only if I'm hurt or sick. It helps me recover quickly. Human food is my main diet."
"Remarkable! Aro replied almost jumping. "How old are you?"
"50." A short answer came from her lips.
"Do you produce venom?" Marcus called from his throne.
"No, I don't have venom. I can't change anyone. My heart beats just like a human's, but it's a little faster. I am also much fitter than them and have better hearing and smell. My body is also as warm as human."
"It's just something extraordinary! Aro whispered. "Something unusual! When did you mature?"
"At the age of 7, I was fully grown up." Edith replied.
"Perhaps our lovely guest will show you what she was able to see." Caius encouraged, calling a young girl to him.
"Very well." Aro agreed. "But if you're lying brother, Alice Cullen will stay with us."
"NO!" Edward shouted, charging at the older vampire. "You can't do that! She hasn't broken any laws!"
Unfortunately for him, Dimtiri and Felix appeared on his way, catching him in time before he managed to get to Aro.
"Be silent!" Caius ordered in a serious tone. "You have no voice in this hall until the Volturi itself lets you speak! Now shut up and let us do what we have to do!"
Edward immediately fell silent, closing his mouth. Dimitri and Felix continued to support him in an iron grip, in case he tried to attack their leader again.
"Come on my dear, I don't bite." She was encouraged by Aro.
Edythe pulled off a long silk glove and gave Aro her hand to read.
The ancient vampire closed his eyes, concentrating. There was dead silence in the marble hall for a few minutes. All that could be heard was the hesitant beating of Bella and Edythe's hearts as they stood precariously in front of the Volturi. The girl was still scared and confused. Alice tried to reassure Bella with a confident handshake, giving her a small smile. None of the vampires present dared even take a breath. Everyone waited with determination to see what Aro would see in the tangle of thoughts of the young girl standing in front of him. Caius and Marcus also waited stoically, their dead eyes fixed on them, sitting on their ornate thrones.
Aro's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Edythe, whose face flashed a classic poker face. The pale girl no longer showed any emotions, as if everything she had felt a moment ago left her body as soon as Aro touched her hand.
"Amazing... Simply amazing..." He whispered, taking his hand away." This girl has a great gift! You were right, Caius, he will be a perfect addition to our court." Satisfied, he turned to his brother. However, a strange shadow of disgust remained on his face, as if he was afraid of something.
"I'm afraid that now the issue of our young guests remains resolved." Aro exchanged glances with Caius.
"What do you mean, Aro?" Edward asked.
"Well, my dear Edward... Your sister can go as well as your singer, but only under certain conditions," He replied. "Renata, you can stop blocking him." Aro instructed a long-haired brunette hidden between the guards.
The woman nodded in agreement, immediately lowering her shield.
"What are these conditions?" Alice asked, taking a step forward to face Aro.
Felix and Dimitri instinctively moved to block her path when Aro held up his hand, letting them know there was no danger.
"Isabella will be under the constant supervision of our dear friend, thanks to which we can be sure that she will not reveal our secret." He pointed to Edythe." You and your family will sever all contact with her. Your brother is to leave the human girl alone, or the consequences will be dire. It's an order. I think you can predict what will happen if you don't comply?"
"Of course, Aro." Alice was shocked.
What has changed? What did the hybyrd show him? Alice did not know. She looked at her brother. Edward also seemed worried about Aro's decision just like his sister. However, Bella was paralyzed. Tears were pouring profusely from her eyes. She had just regained the love of her life only to lose it again. Alice's dead heart just shattered into a thousand pieces at the sight of the crying girl. She was like a sister to her. Alice hoped that one day she would join their family, after her transformation. She saw it clearly in her visions. Had her own abilities deceived her? Edward let her know with a look that this was no time to argue, and Alice gave up her hopes.
The Cullen siblings acceded to the terms of the Volutri leaders and all three were able to leave the gloomy castle in peace. As they walked through the long dark corridor they passed a beautiful woman who was leading a group of tourists toward the main hall. Bella managed to calculate that this beauty was also a vampire. Dimitri who was leading them outside exchanged satisfied glances.
"Leave something for me, Heidi," he mentioned, smiling sinisterly in her direction.
Bella's breathing sped up even more, so much so that she thought she was about to vomit in disgust. Edward had mentioned many times that the Volturi feed differently from her and his family, but experiencing it so closely scared her even more. Bella took one last look over her shoulder as Alice pulled her gently by the arm, admonishing her not to do it again under any circumstances. Otherwise she would become a meal herself.
Then there were only cries of pain that echoed smoothly through the stone walls of the old castle.
The drive back to Forks took several hours. In all this time, Edward didn't look at Bella for a moment. The brunette wondered why he was so cold to her. After all, she saved his life. He could show at least a little gratitude towards her. But he was as silent as a grave staring blankly out of an airplane window. His face was stripped of any emotion.
Everything seemed to go back to the starting point. To the same moment a few months ago when he left her in the woods, walking away with the same emotionless face into the darkness of the trees.
Bella felt her wounded heart break into thousands of little pieces again. It was over. The end of anything between them.
A small tear ran down her cheek.
Aro ordered him to stay away from her, but why? she wondered.
After all, he could have killed her right away, and no one would ever have discovered the truth. What did he see in this girl's head that changed his mind so much? Edward surely knew. He'd had time and opportunity to read Aro's thoughts.
"Edward" she called to him. "Look at me finally."
The vampire didn't even flinch. After a while, Bella had had enough. "Edward, what did Aro see in her mind? I know you can hear me. Answer me, I deserve at least this."
Edward lifted his head to meet her gaze. His black eyes stared blankly into her brown ones. "Your death Bella."