Disclaimer: often wonders what Stephenie Meyer actually does with all this time she's not writing...
Disclaimer Deuce: Introducing Xavier, the magnificent bastard.
Mike's POV
Abhash had summoned me. I didn't understand what was so urgent that it needed to happen before we killed Xavier, I was making preparations before I got word. I made my way in to the room he head out in front of him by the sheath. He spun the sheath quickly and the blade flew through the air and landed in his free hand.
"This is no toy, this is Sohi, the frozen blade." I nodded.
"I give this to you now with a contract." I restrained myself from grabbing the blade.
"Contract?"
"Yes, you will work for me until this blade is paid for, and you will never raise your hand against me as a member of the Volturi for unjust reason." I nodded.
"Of course, the Volturi never move with unjust reason." Abhash pulled the blade back.
"Swear it." I nodded.
"I swear to pay this blade off and never attack you with the Volturi for unjust reasoning." I grabbed the sword and tied it to my pants.
"It's good you gave this weapon to me now, we're going to kill Xavier." Abhash seemed to disapprove.
"You don't know how to use this weapon yet... it's not a good idea to bring it." I gave a small laugh.
"Come on it won't be a problem, I know how to use it, it's not like it's going to hurt me." Abhash obviously didn't agree but didn't say anymore. I made my way down the hallway to the front of the complex. Embry joined me.
"Where is your target?" I asked.
"Finland, yours?"
"Germany." I called.
"It's about time we finally ended this." Embry replied. Zuri and Themba walked around the corner.
"End what?" I shrugged.
"We're off to finish Xavier." Embry answered causally. Zuri turned to me immediately angry.
"You never told me."
"Told you what? That we're hunting down Xavier? Oh, guess I didn't, what's the big deal?"
"What's the big deal? Listen here you! I don't like it."
"Demetri is tracking him, he's spread out through Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, if we hit him all at once nothing will go wrong, this is going to be easy."
"And if it doesn't?" Zuri pressed. I shook my head in frustration.
"We are the Volturi, what the heck do you think we do here? Play poker? Taxes? Watch Grey's Anatomy? No, we enforce Vampiric law over the world, and we have someone who has blatantly broken the law repeatedly in our sights, I know I was the one he broke the law on. He turned me, but only after turning me against my friends, and torturing me for a month straight, and what? You want me to sit out? To say 'oh good job finding him, now have someone else deal with him!" I finished nearly yelling. Zuri looked extremely vulnerable in that moment, she was shuddering away from me. Themba now holding her. I saw fear in her eyes. Fear of me, fear for me... it was gut wrenching, I wanted to take it all back, make it all okay.
"Zuri I'm sorry..."
"You've done enough damage Iverson." Themba sneered. I stole last look at her and turned, Embry with me. I walked forcing myself not to look back.
"This is gone on for far too long... let's end this..." Embry nodded.
"Let's end him."
Mike's POV
"Adrian are you ready?" I asked as we got off of the subway. I felt my phone vibrating, I looked, Demetri, please don't be bad news.
"Whats up?" I said causally.
"German Xavier has split up, there is another one in Germany, I'm e-mailing Adrian the location. He'll take one down solo and so will you." I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, this wasn't going according to plan, I hate when things don't go according to plan. You're overreacting.
"Is there a problem Iverson?"
"No... It's just... not going according to plan."
"Tough nuts, shit goes wrong, we've done too much planning to cancel now. Even if you're pussying out." I bit my tongue for a response.
"Yes... Sir." I grumbled.
"Good... get it done."
Ulrich's POV
Ivan and I were in charge of Xavier of Finland. It was a cold windy afternoon, plenty of cloud cover so we could walk easy without our hoods up. It was an abandoned building we came to. The walls were falling apart leaving siding showing through, insulation falling out everywhere but this is where he was. The door creaked and didn't move. Ivan impatiently kicked in the door sending it flying. I tried not to smile but faltered snickering.
"You had to do it didn't you?" he shrugged. We entered the building and it looked as run down on the inside as it did on the outside. All except one door. The door looked brand new, in contrast to the whole buidling, it was steel, but the rest of the building was molding wood. The door didn't belong, and right then I knew that's where Xavier was. I wrapped my fingers around it gently. Unlocked. I thought slowly opening it. What I saw I didn't expect. I saw me... and me, and me, and me.
The entire room was mirrors, wall to wall, floor to ceiling, even the ground itself covered in mirrors. Hanging from the ceiling was one solitary light bulb swaying back and forth but it's light bounced from every corner of the large room. Under it was A man from head to toe in black, from this distance I couldn't see anything, but as I got closer I could make a couple more things out. He was impeccably dressed. Black button down shirt, with a bright red tie, over that was a black vest, the buttons silver over that a suit jacket black as well, with silver cuff links, this pants black as his socks and shoes. I finally looked up to his face, thin hair, and a sick smirk on his face. It's you Xavier... It's time we end this.
He didn't seem to look at us at all, but past us. I looked at him then behind us at the mirrors, everywhere every reflection. He didn't seem to acknowledge our existence.
"So this is how it is to end? You've all come to end me?" I removed my thick Volturi robe and Ivan did the same.
"All of this... and you know nothing of me."
"What does it matter?" Ivan asked annoyed.
"If the history doesn't shape our lives what does?" Xavier posed.
"Our destiny is determined by our actions today, not what we did in the past." I responded.
"Today is just tomorrow's past." Xavier countered.
"True."
"I wasn't always a vampire... I was... I was in the Great Northern War... Russian armies seized control of this city... Or I should say what used to be a city before they raised it. Where I stand right now is where my house was before those russki dogs thought it'd be a good game to make my family rape each other. They wouldn't even do the damned deed themselves. No no no, they weren't cruel They made my family do it. I returned from my tour with the Finish navy and it's what I returned to, they tortured me but I took it all with a smile, they liked me so they didn't kill my family after they had them rape each other, they laughed and one of them bit me. They left me in my house with my family locked all the doors, and enough food to keep them alive but didn't tell them what they did to me... I killed my whole family... every... single... one... I couldn't help it. I was so thirsty! I did them a favor... yes that's what I did... They wouldn't have ever recovered from that trauma... death was the kindness I gave them. But there was one thing they hadn't planned for... my ability... I killed them all... every... single... hahahaha... one of them... and that wasn't enough... oh no... not even close... I found their families... raped their women... Drank their blood... hah, every... single... one... The women... the children... all of them... begging for their pathetic lives... each one... What of my people? What about when they begged for their lives? Did that mean nothing? Did that truly mean nothing... Hah... and then I learned the one lesson in death I never knew in life... If you have power, you don't need rules... 'thou shalt not kill?' A rule made by the weak to protect themselves." I heard Ivan groan next to me.
"My God, will you just shut the fuck up and fight us?" Xavier's expression changed from sadness to a dark smirk.
"Yes... Lets dance."
Mike's POV
I didn't like the fact that Adrian was fighting Xavier alone and so was I... It didn't seem right... everything seemed off. You're just overthinking everything, You've killed Xavier more times than you can count. He let me kill him all but one of those times. So? You killed him anyway. I caught him by surprise. You think too much. Shut up. You first.
I was standing in front of a creeky old building. I opened it and it creeked and slowly moved with me. Any chance of coming in with out being noticed is gone. The building was pitch black save for candles that lit a line beckoning me forward. I followed them slowly, cautiously. Sohi in my hand still in it's sheath I didn't want a glimmer of light from the blade to give it away, though I didn't know if vampirebone shone or not. Every step I set set down my toes then the ball of my feet then the heels careful to make no noise. The candles led in to room Candles lit the walls, and hanging from the ceiling high above us was more candles suspended in lamps.
"Please take off your shoes, you've entered holy ground." He was sitting cross-legged facing the opposite side of the room, he only had on white pants, they reminded my of my martial arts pants in they were simple and made for ease of movement.
"Holy ground?" I asked in disbelief. I took my shoes and socks off, not because he asked it but I knew I was better bare foot, I'd spent most of my fighting time of my life bare foot, he just gave me an excuse to be barefoot for this.
"You're German aren't you Iverson?" He asked, but he had an uncanny way of knowing things he shouldn't.
"No, I'm Irish." I could hear a sound of disapproval out of him.
"Lying is unbecoming of you Michael."
"Why do you ask questions to which you know the answer?"
"Don't we all ask questions to which we know the answers?" I shrugged.
"I'm not going to get in a philosophical argument with you." I stated.
"That would be fun..." he sighed as if thinking about it.
"No... The reason I asked is... Well... I'm German as well."
"We stand in the first Buddhist temple in German history... I was one of the first children raised here... My father was a very powerful man... his station didn't look kindly children outside of marriage... the whore wouldn't abort me... lucky me... My dad dropped me her and paid them enough money to raise me... I was simply an inconvenience to him. Do you know how it feels to know your very existence is inconvenient for your parents? Oh forgive me for being born. Yes... I was a bastard. My whole life I listened, watched as my father rose in power. Every single step angering me. I wanted him to fail. He didn't... he kept rising farther... Everyone told me to let go... it wasn't the buddhist way... live with less... all that bullshit. Contentment... They believed in Karma... hah...hah...hah... Maybe what I did to them wasn't so evil then? I still haven't been punished for it. I left to search out my father... make him see his bastard for all he was. He didn't accept me... in fact he had me thrown in jail... There an old man made a contract with me... he would give me everything I needed to have my revenge... and I would be stronger faster, more powerful than anyone or anything I'd ever known but I'd thirst for human blood, it would be my curse... all I needed to do in return for this gift was kill him. I obliged him...but the thirst... it... was unbearable... I wasn't strong enough to break out of the prison cell but the guards had sent for me eventually, apparently my father wanted to teach me a lesson about my place in the world. I resisted the urge to feed and was brought to him." Xavier stopped and laughed.
"Oh it was so sweet... I sat in front of him licking my lips he smelled so good, and it would be so easy to kill him... but I would judge him for what he said... maybe... just maybe if he proved his worth he could live." Xavier shook his head finally standing up and facing me.
"He told me I didn't deserve to live, I was a parasite, like all children were... a curse upon their parents, financially, emotionally. All children made adults weak, unable to do what they needed to do. He told me that he'd had six other bastards from women of power, but I was simply a whore bastard and I should have known better than to find him. My very father took a sword out of his desk and the two guards restrained me. I let them... I wanted it see the horror in his eyes... I wanted him to know he would die before he did... I wanted to savor the taste of his terror. He walked straight to me and without a hesitation put the sword at my heart and pushed. It didn't go in. he opened my ragged clothes and found no steel... I just looked at him and smiled... this exact smile." It was his smirk his ice cold death smirk...
"I put my hand through the stomach of the guard on my left and threw the other out the window... I watched... stalked... savored his panic as he crawled behind his desk trying to flee me. It wasn't lost on me that he was one of the most powerful men on his knees begging me to spare him. His bastard... My only place in the world was in the gutter... no... I wouldn't let my scum of a father live... he would die a horrible death. I picked him up by the hair... thin... black... hair... the only thing we shared... the rest of our feature I assume I got from my mother... I ripped out his hair, as he screamed in pain. The door was locked and barred by his giant desk even as people tried to get in to save his worthless life I smashed his once photogenic face in to a mass of skin and bruises. And then I drank his blood clean dry." I knew I shouldn't be surprised by his story, Xavier was a monster but I was taken back. I must have let the disgust show on my face because was laughing.
"Oh that's not the end of the story at all... No... I went back to this here temple... and killed every buddhist... They believed in reincarnation... I was simply helping their journey along..." He said laughing sadistically.
"I killed them all... One... after another." he said trying to hold back a laugh. He looked down at my hand noticing the sword there.
"Though I did learn one thing important there." he said kicking a staff from the ground up to his hand.
"How could you kill the people who raised you?"
"The people who were paid by my father to keep me locked up? Fill my head with bullshit? It was a prison without bars..."
"But how could you? They loved you." I said stretching. He laughed.
"Quite easily... humans are such a frail species don't you think? A little stab here, or a pop there and they're dead." I pulled out my blade.
"I'm ending this now... You've been alive for far too long." Xavier smiled.
"Yes! Come on now Michael... Let us dance to the death."
Embry's POV
Greece... Xavier chose Greece. Unlike the rest of the Volturi I didn't have to hide my skin from the sun so I walked out in the open. I wasn't looking forward to phasing in front of Xavier but it couldn't be helped, and if he was in a small room I was basically fucked. I made my way outside of town. Demetri told me he was moving so I followed. I came upon a cave. It was dark but I walked in without a second though, Xavier had to be ended and now. I followed my nose and the disgusting smell of vampire until it came to a giant opening, there were four tripods with lights lighting up the cave. Definitely plenty of room to move around. And standing in the center in a skin tight black shirt, and the same type of pants turned around and faced me. It was Xavier. Without wanting to my mouth starts to water a little.
"I know I'm terribly undressed for the occasion but You're not going to be easy to kill." truthfully he still looked impeccable but he looked much more app to kick my ass while looking good now. I'd fought Xavier multiple times, in different places, and he never looked any worse than a suit, and now he was in 'casual' clothes. He never seems to take anything seriously and yet here he is... He knows we're hunting him down.
"Why do you hate me Embry?"
"You ruined my life." I answered reflexively. Xavier frowned.
"No I didn't." He replied. I had to think about it for a moment.
"You tried to kill my ex girlfriend."
"Yes... but any vampire would have... any one... if you told them they couldn't have something they'd try and take it, it's just how we work."
"So I killed you." I said.
"I don't begrudge you that, in fact it was the most fun I'd had in a very long time."
"You threatened my ex."
"Threatened? I got her back to you... Without me you wouldn't even know you had a son! It was because of me she came back, she came back for protection from me!"
"Exactly! Protection from you."
"I could have easily killed her, and her boyfriend but no... I let her run to you. Why?"
"Because you like fucking with people's heads?"
"Well yes... but I really was going for I'm just trying to throw a dog a bone." He smiled and it wasn't a maniacal smile either. It seemed like real enjoyment.
"It was that fear that gave you the chance to keep her, you screwed that up not me."
"You want me to thank you?" I laughed. He shrugged.
"Maybe... I mean it's not my fault you didn't keep her." I made a disapproving sound.
"Hey! It's nothing against you... I mean I'm sure you could have kept her if you wanted to... but even so, why are you with the Volturi now? In the war they were both trying to kill us." He is right.
"They succeeded in killing you." I said snickering.
"I know! They're so mean!" he said pretending to be offended.
"But why are you here?"
"If I serve here for a year My family will be safe."
"Really? You just trust the Volturi? You think after you're year is done they'll let you and Iverson go? Haven't you noticed it's getting harder and harder to resist them? That even though you have a son waiting for you you still don't want to leave?" My throat went dry. He's right... I've been feeling it for months. He looked in to my eyes and smiled.
"Yes... you feel it too... join me, we'll destroy the Volturi." He said extending his hand from across the cave.
"We would kill all of them... and we would be free of their torments and laws."
"All of them?" I asked...
"Everyone of them." He said...
"And Mike, Themba, Yuki, Adrian, Zuri, Rhino, Sher, Felix, and Pantera? All of them?" he nodded.
"They would need to be killed." I laughed.
"Friends are trouble... they take your opportunities away from you."
"Ahh come on Xavier, haven't you ever had a friend?" I said teasing him. He smiled, enjoying that I had finally started playing his game.
"Oh I had one... his name was Anamaeus. When We were just boys Anamaeus and I were the closest of friends growing up in Athens. I was to be the heir to my father's lands and seat in the senate, I was the smartest boy, but I was always smaller than all of them. I often went to commerce. My father wasn't the most powerful senator, but he was a senator none the less... my schooling always came first, which was fine by me... I was never nearly as big as the rest of the boys, even Anamaeus was much bigger than me, though none of them smarter... I never said it out loud but everyone knew it... I was just a boy and didn't think anything of it... until the day my father was murdered. I was with Anamaeus that night... when the courts convened to do justice None was found. My father's estate and property was transferred to Anamaeus' father, and he took his place in the senate... I knew exactly who killed him, instead of taking me in, they made me a slave, I had no claim to my father's property because I hadn't came of age yet. I'd assumed Anamaeus would take me in as a brother... but no... I went to work at his house as a common slave... me! A common slave? Hah. I couldn't leave, they trapped me, but I was always smarter than anyone knew, I broke free and managed to stow away to Sparta. They had no slaves... none. It was in Sparta I learned how lazy Athens was. Athens, the city known for it's fair unbiased ruling, for their wisdom thousands of years later kept slaves, and Sparta... thought to be barbaric kept none... quite odd isn't it? Oh but I've gotten off topic." He stopped to apologize. He was nothing if not polite.
"I was only twelve when I made it to Sparta. I worked harder than I ever had in my life, even as a slave... but they were fair men, hard but fair men. Even when I was a fully grown man I was smaller than everyone else, but now I was in as good as shape as everyone... I helped develop crop circulation and brought in much revenue to Sparta... I was well loved but one thing kept itching me in the back of my mind. That Anamaeus and is father killed my father and got away clean. I was approached by a traveling merchant who had heard my story and offered me the singular tool necessary to exact my revenge, in exchange I would give him the years worth of livestock I'd saved for necessary tools. I'd waited two decades for my revenge and my young years were coming to an end, I knew I didn't have long before my body started fading and I needed to exact my revenge before some sick sense of Karma killed them before I could. No I couldn't have that." He laughed.
"So he turned me. Then and there... When I woke up nothing was the same... The next day I worked. I was summoned to the Market but my cattle needed seeing to, and just like that there was two of me. I knew exactly what I would do. I sent my clone back to Athens... To Senator Anamaeus bed chambers, to exact my revenge. He was surprised to see me alive all right... bu the never admitted to plotting my father's murder, he did however admit to making me a slave. Yes... he betrayed me... told me that I always looked down on him? Truthfully I did, He was never as smart as me and his station would never be a senator as I would be... until my father was killed. I of course didn't believe his story so I killed him... I killed his father who in his dying breath uttered the name of my father's murderer, the leader of the senate... I killed him, then his son... then his wife... and then his grand children... my justice was found... Ironic though, I killed my best friend for killing my father... but his sin wasn't that, but jealousy. Twas pride and greed what killed them was it not?"
"I thought it was you."
"Maybe it was Karma."
"You're still alive, it couldn't be Karma."
"They say a coward dies a thousand deaths... the brave man only dies a mere hundred... I've died my hundred already."
"I grow tired of your story's and riddles." I said.
"Alright then." He said beckoning me forward with his hand in a fighting stance.
"May I have this dance?"
Mike's POV
I charged at him swinging my katana as hard as I could. His staff blocked it easily and he followed with a swing from low to high I just avoided. My blade followed him but he parried and sent me off balance as he hit it away. He put the staff behind my leg and in front of my shoulder and spun. I flipped backwards, I almost landed on my feet but Xavier kept spinning and dumped me on my back. I pulled my knees up to my chest and used the momentum to roll backwards narrowly avoiding his staff slapping the ground. I rolled in to a push up position then pushed myself up to my feet and took a couple steps back.
"So that's how it's going to be huh?" Xavier grinned. I removed zip up hooded sweatshirt and placed it on a convenient coat rack. He spun his staff from hand to hand and side flipped backwards while his weapon spun under his body as he landed gracefully.
"What? You thought I survived this long on my ability alone? Silly boy... you have so much to learn of the world." I charged at him and he ran at me his staff hit the ground and I prepared my swing to cut him from hip to shoulder, one clean slash and this will be over. He pole vaulted over my even as my swung came through I couldn't reach his body gently floating over mine. He stood up but didn't face me. I drew closer to him swinging low. He blocked it easily and spun hitting me in the side of the head with his elbow. I stumbled away trying to get my bearings.
"I don't know maybe it's the fact I'm not wearing a shirt... yep that's where my power comes from. Or maybe... just maybe, I've always be stronger, smarter, faster, and much more cunning than you ever were, and can ever aspire to be." I charged with a one hand grip on my weapon holding it across my body. I swung it and he easily dodged under it. I brought my left hand forward with energy in it aimed right at his head now coming back up.
"Now die!" I screamed as I fired my burst of energy, something hit my wrist before the energy released it was his staff, the blast sailed harmlessly away from his head as my arm had moved. I saw a true anger in his eyes I'd never seen before, then I heard a dark growl. In a flurry I felt the staff hit me between my legs, stab at my stomach doubling my over, then slap up my chin and then came back down on the bridge of my nose shattering it. For a moment I thought that was it until I felt the staff on the backs of my legs taking them out from under me. Then I felt his elbow smash in to my chest driving me to the ground. Cracking sounds in my chest followed after. My head was spinning. He's too good with a staff, I'll never beat him like this.
Adrian's POV
"Adrian Miles, possibly the most watched NFL prospect in the last decade, of course... who wasn't a quarterback. Yes... you're quite the specimen. In fact, I had been following you for a while in fact we were considering you for a vampire before Demetri took you... now I've been given very specific instructions not to kill you." he said with a smile.
"Then what are you doing here?"
"Simple... I'm delaying you so I can kill Michael Iverson."
"Iverson is more of a threat than me?"
"True... He must be killed before he fully realizes his power. He could stop our plans."
"So if I'm so special, why can't I just kill you myself." he smiled.
"Simple, you don't know how to kill anyone yet." I laughed.
"I quick twist of your head and you're gone." He sighed.
"So brutish, how very unrefined... no... you might know how to end a fight, but you don't know how to begin one or fight through the middle, give it five years of training and you might be able to while using your power keep up with one of me... in a couple hundred you might be my equal... but like our dear friend Michael you simply do not have enough experience to kill me. So let us have a talk instead."
"You want me to talk instead of kill you."
"Of course, don't you truly wonder where I'm from?"
"No... Now die!"
Ulrich's POV
Xavier is much faster than we anticipated, and all these mirrors are only helping him. He moves fluid as a dancer, every move as if he could see us move minutes before we do. It doesn't make sense. He's not trying to keep us bunched up so he can only fight one of us at a time, he's standing in between us fighting both of us at once... unless... He wants to prove he's better than both of us at our best.
I threw a round kick and he dropped his weight. Ivan was trying to sweep his legs but his legs weren't under him as he dropped to the mirror below him. He spun his body and swept my legs I fell hard on my back and He dropped the heel of his shoe on my solarplex I heaved in pain as he spun still lying on the ground to avoid Ivan's stomp. I wrapped my arms around my stomach trying to catch my breath, more an instinct than a necessary move.
Xavier kicked at Ivan's leg trying to sweep him but Ivan dodged away with his right leg. Xavier spun up to his knees and put his shoulder in to Ivan's extended leg bringing Ivan down to one knee. Xavier was back on his stomach. Xavier rolled on to his back as Ivan grabbed for his suit. Xavier responded with a snap kick under Ivan's chin throwing his face up. I trying to get up as soon as I saw the opening Xavier made but I couldn't move fast enough.
All of Ivan's weight was on his bent knee. Xavier drove his elbow straight in to the knee. I heard a unsettling snap then a scream of agony from Ivan as he fell on to his back and pulled his knee to his chest. I jumped at Xavier trying to tackle him before he could finish off Ivan. I caught him off guard because my shoulder caught him in the stomach and speared him in to a mirror with a cracking sound from the mirror below. I heard his head bounce but then I felt his arms wrap around my head and one of my arms. This is it, a quick twist and I'm dead.
I heard a hiss from Ivan then Xavier's grip released. I rolled away and up to my feet in time to see Xavier kick Ivan's good leg out from under him. I charged at him but Xavier punted Ivan's face. Xavier smiled at me as I charged standing still as a statue with his arms crossed until I had closed the distance. He jumped up and landed on me his legs on either side of my head holding him up. He took a couple swings at me but I caught both of his fists. Yes... you might be faster than me but there's no way in hell you're stronger than me.
He grinned as he threw his body backward without letting go, my body followed after. I didn't know which way was up then I felt my he smash against glass shattering it. I don't remember when but I must have released Xavier because he was standing and I was on my back on the mirrors again. He's toying with us, we need to end this before he gets serious. I thought before making my way back to my feet, Ivan was back at his feet Ivan growled then charged. No! Damn it you stupid fool you'll get killed!
I charged at him also hoping to help Ivan Xavier looked over his shoulder at Ivan and chuckled, once again with his arms across his chest. We closed in on him and he jumped and kicked with both legs. He did the splits in air twisting his body for more power kicking us both in the face coming back down with his arms across his chest again. His suit still looked perfect, as if he just ironed his clothes. Ivan landed hard on his bad knee dropping immediately to the ground. Ivan launched himself at Xavier but he was only able get a hold of his arm. I charged seeing him temporarily grounded. Xavier met my charge with a jump spin hook kick I dodged. Xavier landed on the ground and snaked Ivan's arm around his leg then dropped it on his bicep. I heard a unnerving snap and another scream from Ivan as Xavier rolled away, Ivan now with a broken arm. I approached slowly not ready to make another mistake that might kill Ivan who was now crawling with one arm refusing to give up. I threw a hay maker he ducked under then a straight punch he blocked and danced away from me. I went in for a bear hug but he ducked under my arms and launched a punch to my stomach followed by two elbows and an upper cut nearly taking me off my feet. Ivan motioned to me with his eyes. I didn't respond but moved closer to him.
Xavier danced to and fro with his strikes. I slowly moved over to Ivan but Xavier was wary of Ivan and pushed me further away, then Ivan launched his body broken knee and all at Xavier. Both his good and broken arm wrapped around Xavier's leg. Xavier looked down just for a moment and I took the only opening I thought I'd ever see. Even as I took a punch from Xavier I grasped his head and twisted as hard as I could pulling it clear off. I fell to the mirrored ground and laughed for a moment.
"We did it."
"barely..." then I looked at Ivan as he made his way up to a seated position and the same thought came to both of us.
"If he's good enough that we barely killed him..." I said.
"Mike and Adrian don't stand a chance alone." Ivan finished.
Mike's POV
"How about this... Since you can't possibly best me when I'm using this staff I'll not use it... but this is the only handicap I'm giving you." He tossed his staff to the side. One clean cut and he's gone, then it'll just be pulling his head off and I'll be done. I approached carefully as if this chance would disappear if I moved too quick. In a fast vertical slash I came down twisted the blade and came back up at an angle he side stepped the first and ducked under the second swing, I stopped my body and came back with a sweeping strike he easily jumped over. I extended my leg across with my blade as it came through then pushed off my extended leg as my blade flew in a blur back across diagonally back at him. He twisted away from the blade as the blade left his body then he jumped towards it as it came back at him diagonally. He spun side flipping and spinning just over the blade, inches above it. While spinning through the air he stared me in the eye. I knew I couldn't move my blade to strike him as my blade cleaved air under his spinning body. I regripped the blade in my right hand alone and brought it back in a horizontal slash.
Xavier closed the distance with a elbow to my stomach and redirected my arm to follow him. I felt my grip on the weapon slipping then it was gone. Xavier had his back to me and I felt the weapon piercing my skin and a quick motion it was in my stomach and out my back. I immediately grabbed for his head trying to make a quick end to this but he turned the blade in my stomach and rolled out of my grip. I tried to fight back but he was faster than me and the searing pain in my stomach wasn't helping. I finally got my arms on him but he kicked the blade all the way to the hilt in my stomach. He closed the gap between us and I felt two punched to my stomach before he batted away a hammer fist I was attempting to hit him with. I finally connected with a punch to his face which forced him to take a step back. Shook the cobwebs out quickly and grabbed the hilt ripping it out of my body then spun and slashed across my body from shoulder to hip making a inch wide gash. I wrapped my arm across my body. Why isn't blood spilling out of my stomach? I looked at my arm it still had some blood on it but it wasn't drenched in blood like I expected.
"Oh you haven't been bled badly as a vampire? Vampires bleed much slower than humans... takes us a lot longer to bleed out." he said in a nonchalant voice playing with my weapon. The pain was starting to numb over my torso and I could force myself to ignore it. He has my sword, my 'Sohi'
I charged at him energy in my right arm focused in my hand I blasted at him but something was wrong, a metallic cutting sound and a sharp pain in my arm. I looked down to see my arm from elbow to hand flying across the room. I screamed in pain and launched a kick with my left leg out of desperation. I felt the katana stab in to my knee and twist. I tried to push Xavier away but my right hand wasn't connected anymore. With a quick pull I fell down to my good knee as the other one was disconnected from my leg. I cringed biting my tongue to keep from screaming. I threw my left arm at him but he kicked away my leg causally and slid behind me gashing my back five or six times.
Why is my vision blurry? As he drove the weapon in to my back and through my stomach again I fell forward seeing the pool of blood I was making. Is this what it's like to die as a vampire? I felt Xavier's hands on my head then his knee smashed in to my face breaking my nose, among other injuries. I fell back on the ground not even attempting to get up. He wouldn't kill me face down on the ground would he? I weakly tried to open my eyes but only one opened. I started to move my good arm but Xavier quickly stabbed through the center of my upper arm effectively killing it. The sword came back out and Xavier gripped the top of my head lifting me up. To his head level.
"It's been fun Mike... but you didn't get good enough fast enough... I won." his free hand brought the weapon across my neck.
"Any last words."
"Just a few..." I said weakly trying to stay focused as long as I could.
"I'm not a monster... go ahead... say them."
"My power... doesn't... c..come... ffrom... mmyy hhaaands." I mumbled.
"What?" He asked. I lifts my bloody stub of a half arm. And released all the power I could muster. I felt his grip on me weaken and I started to fall... I must stay awake... I must li...ve...
Adrian's POV
Xavier turned away from me as if looking for something out in the distance.
"That asshole! Mike just killed me with a trick!" I didn't take a second to think about it I charged and grabbed his head twisting as hard as I could. It was easier than I thought it'd be... a quick snap and pull and his head was in my hands. I dropped his head then started my match and lit his head on fire. My cell phone rang. I flipped it open.
"I finished him Demetri." I answered.
"Well obviously, I can't feel him anymore... speaking of that all of him is dead... Have you heard from Iverson?"
"Mike? No..." Demetri made a sound on the opposite end.
"Xavier fought much better than any of us anticipated... Iverson hasn't responded to our phone calls."
"He's alive though?" Demetri made a sound.
"He's not dead yet..." Demetri stopped for a moment.
"Actually he might be... his brain isn't functioning."
"Wa..wait what?" I yelled.
"I'd get over there and help him if I were you." I closed the phone and put on my red hooded sweatshirt that matched Embry's, Yuki's, and Mike's. I moved through the town as fast as I could but I quickly realized it was no coincidence how far apart Mike and I were. Xavier set it up so we couldn't help each other.
I finally made my way in to the building but when I got to the door outside of the room I saw blood seeping from the door. No! I screamed silently and ripped the door clear off it's hinges. Face down in a pool of blood was most of Iverson. The blood caked the entire floor, on the other side of the room with the front half of his body blown off from head to hip was who I could only assume was Xavier.
"Mike? Mike are you okay?" What a stupid question he's missing half an arm and half a leg and there's two holes in his back plus the gashes. His white undershirt was now sticky with his own blood, and his white martial arts pants had changed from their natural white to blood red, and the only worse part was it wasn't red everywhere... there were splotches of white material drawing my eyes to the fact that he'd loss so much blood that he was nearly swimming it in. He still hadn't responded to my calling him, he hadn't moved at all. I removed my hooded sweatshirt and put it next to his on the coat rack and leaned down and rolled him on to his back, his front looked worse if even possible. I noticed some of his leg had turned black from the dried blood but the arm was still a fresh wound. I pulled out my phone and dialed Felix.
"He's not moving."
"What do you mean?" he asked calmly.
"I mean his head is attached he's in a pool of his own blood and he's not moving or responding to me."
"Is his head okay?" I forced myself to look over his head, his left eye was swollen to hell nose broken, maybe a cheek bone also broke but nothing that should have caused brain damage.
"It should be."
"Okay... good." Felix answered calmly.
"Good... he's not responding to anything."
"Damn it Adrian, stop being such a bitch and calm down for a moment... he's bled out... Vampires draw their power from their blood, hence why human blood makes vampires stronger than animal blood, Mike is just out of blood. His body stopped working, just wait for night and kidnap a couple people and start feeding him, it might take three or more people but he should be able to reattach his body parts and be as good as new in a week or two." I shook my head even though he couldn't see it.
"No... He wouldn't want us to kill a human for him."
"Then you better get collecting wild life because it'll take a lot more to fix him up than a couple squirrels.
Embry's POV
I didn't understand why I needed a personal and a Volturi cell phone but I let it go. I called Themba after the kill because I knew she'd be worried... she might not say it out loud but I could hear it in her voice. I could sense it. I didn't rub it in, I didn't even make a big deal about it... I tried to just talk causally. She didn't need to know that Xavier broke a couple of my ribs and was a much tougher fight than I expected.
"Yeah... I know this isn't a big deal... I'm sure nothing is wrong but... Zuri is wondering about Mike... you know her, worrying a bit too much, it wasn't a bad fight was it?" Themba asked. I didn't know which question to answer or how... Mike hadn't called me either.
"Well the truth is... I haven't heard from Mike either..." I said trailing off.
"It's no big deal though right? I mean You've killed Xavier before... he's nothing special right?" I can't flat out lie to her.
"Well... he... umm... how do I say this right... You see... The thing of it is... He was... yeah... He was a much better fighter than before..." I ranted.
"What do you mean?" Themba said angrily.
"Well... he did... kind of hurt me... and... yeah... broke some ribs."
"Why didn't you tell me." she said almost yelling.
"Well I didn't want to worry you." I heard Zuri screaming at Themba in the background.
"Zuri wants me to ask about Mike... he still hasn't called her." ugh...
"Look... I'm sure everything is fine with Mike he probably just took a bit longer..." I stopped when I heard my Volturi cell phone buzzing. I flipped it open leaving my other phone on.
"Whats up Demetri."
"Mike's dead... kind of... Adrian is attempting to bring him back to life... he needs to double check that he doesn't want to be fed any humans to bring him back to life, but rather animals." I blinked.
"ahhh yeah... could you please clarify what you mean by he's dead?"
"I mean he hasn't moved a single muscle in about an hour and has zero brain activity." I heard Zuri screaming and crying on my other phone in my hand.
"What in seven hells was that?"
"Oh... nothing... just some girl lost her puppy in town." I said trying to sound convincing.
"Where is he?"
"Germany, find Adrian." I nodded more to myself than anyone else.
"Okay on my way... thanks."
"You're priority to getting back to Volterra Adrian will take care of Iverson."
"Yeah... still going, bye." I said before hanging up the phone.
Adrian's POV
"No... Mike hasn't recovered yet." I said annoyed with the calls from Zuri.
"You don't need to be short with me." she snapped.
"If you want him to recover give me time to get some blood for him." I closed the phone and shook my head.
Embry's POV
Adrian had tried everything but nothing was changing. He'd been feeding him blood and every now and then he'd wake up only to bleed it all out too quickly. I knew what I had to do but I didn't want to. His wounds were to grievous to keep pumping blood in to him. As I sat in the Germany airport waiting for the sun to go down I tentatively dialed the number in my phone... I hadn't talked to them in months... I don't know why there just never seemed to be a good time to and now I was asking for a favor... If it wasn't for Mike I wouldn't even consider it. Bull shit you'd do this for Rhino, Felix Themba, Zuri, and Sher too... maybe even Pantera.
I stared down at my phone as if it was betraying me. I didn't even know what time it was in Minnesota right now but it made next to no difference to me. I dialed the number and held my breath.
"Hello? Embry?" Carlisle answered.
"I need your help." Carlisle made a sound of disapproval that I barely heard but I knew it was there. I half expected he'd ask for something in return but that wasn't Carlisle. That was something I'd do, or most people would do, he is not most people.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Mike... He's... not alive." I heard a shuffle in the background and and Rosalie arguing with Carlisle. After the fight and hearing Jasper intercede Carlisle returned.
"Could you please explain what you mean?"
"His head is still attached, and none of his body parts have been burned... but he bled out... we can't get enough blood in him and when we do it bleeds out before we can do anything." Rosalie managed to get the phone.
"What happened to him." I growled in to the phone.
"What the fuck do you care?" She hissed back at me.
"Why are you so pissed at me?" she asked.
"He shouldn't have been in the Volturi in the first place."
"And that's my fault?" I laughed.
"Yes, actually it is. Neither you nor Tanya stopped him."
"We couldn't stop him, he made his decision to go." I grumbled.
"He was hurt by you and Tanya! Of course he chose to run away from the problem and act like it didn't exist. I used to do the exact same thing!"
"You never even tried to talk him out of it!" I continued.
"So you're saying you're so much more mature than him? You're only four years older than him."
"Don't you get it? He's a seventeen year old BOY who got his heart broken twice, was thrown in to a war and turned out to be good at it. That doesn't make him any less a boy! At least I had my family and friends to help me through all this when I changed in to a wolf, what did Mike have?" I growled at her.
"You should have kept him in Minnesota, being a member of the Volturi isn't safe, and I couldn't protect him."
"It's not my fault. I didn't do anything wrong. Damn it Embry you know I care about him. I didn't do anything wrong, it's not my fault he's mad at me." I knew she was right but Mike still felt betrayed by Tanya and Rosalie.
"I know it's not your fault but that doesn't mean he wasn't angry when he made the decision to come here." I finally said.
"I'm coming there with Carlisle to help him." I shook my head.
"No... he's already here and he's staying for his year." Maybe longer.
"So you kept telling me how I'm supposed to be his friend and now I'm not supposed to show up to help me?"
"You missed your chance."
"Carlisle will need help putting him back together and I have more knowledge on that than you do. The only other option is Edward and we know how he likes Edward." she had me there.
"Fine... but at least dress like a friend, and not like someone trying to impress him." I warned.
"What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean."
"Oh and one more thing Rosalie."
"What?"
"He's probably not going to be happy to see you." I heard Carlisle take the phone.
"We're going go get there as soon as we can... before we get there, please sterilize the area and get a surface to operate on..."
"Sterilize... you mean clean up all the blood?"
"Yes. that's exactly what I mean."
"I'll see you soon Embry, I have a birth to do here then I should be on my way." Carlisle said.
"Bye Carlisle." I hung up the phone and looked down once again at Mike, his bloodied, bruised, beaten, and battered form were hard to look at. But I took a deep breath and started.
"Come on Adrian... If anyone can bring Mike back to life it's Carlisle..."
? POV
"Shifter... are you ready to move in to the next phase of our plan?" He nodded
"Yes, everything is going according to plan, with the aide of the werewolves you added to the cause we should outnumber the Volturi within weeks, assuming they can turn enough people in to werewolves."
"Good, Havik any news on Elzam?"
"None, they're working much harder to conceal their inner workings but I'm not worried."
"They still want to protect their pathetic sheep from the idea of monsters... they will try to hide our existence as long as possible."
"Mortalis, why don't we just destroy them now?"
"No... They will be a boon to our cause. They shall kill Vampires for us."
"Don't you think they'll turn against us and aid the vampires we're fighting."
"Humans are weak and pride filled. Their petty squabbles will keep them from ever being a threat to us."
"What of the Vampire pets of the U.S. Government?" Havik sneered.
"You will watch your tone in front of our leader." Shifter argued.
"How I say it won't make what I say any less true." Havik again said.
"They are nothing to us, at best they'll be good warriors, but we'll out number them a thousand to one... they are of no concern." I turned my head to the door and smiled.
"And how did today's operation go?
"Better than I could have hoped for. Michael Iverson is preceding well, he'll survive the attack and be all the stronger for when he joins us. Embry Call could already join us master.
"No... I don't want to show my hand."
"Of course. The other half of the plan worked as well... They all think I'm dead." He said with a laugh.
"Excellent. You've done well Xavier."
While I was writing the final POV I realized I should have added a Bors and Gwen part to this chapter, especially since Carlisle is on his way... but this chapter is the longest chapter I've ever written so I had no intention of adding another thousand or more words to it and taking another half a week to write it. For those of you counting each word, there are 9691 of them. I think the longest chapter I've written was 6000 words. This chapter just kept going, and I had way too much fun writing Xavier's stories to stop. Speaking of Xavier, turns out he's not dead... funny how that works? So hard to kill a bad guy these days... So next chapter we're finally going to see Arthur's illegitimate child with Gwen. Anything else? Any questions about this chapter I can't promise I'll answer them exactly but I'll try to give you the spoiler free answer. Thanks for reading... I need alcohol after all that writing. For a refence who don't know how long a chapter like this is in my word document (single spaced) it's 14 pages long. So obviously I've put a lot of myself and time in to this chapter so please review. Make sure to leave rolls of twenty dollar bills, comments questions, concerns in the review section. Catch you on the flip side.