Chapter 24: Betrayal

It was another usual day in the castle of Volterra, at least…that was Edward thought. Walking down the dark halls, he found himself in the large library. Climbing up onto the ladder, he grabbed the same book he had read maybe a thousand times, Wuthering Heights. Sitting on the ladder, he read through the book once more. His mind drifted a little, since he recalled that he teased Bella again and again about reading the book.

Looking up, he suddenly heard someone walking down the hall. He quickly stuck the book back into it's place before hiding behind one of the bookcases. "Aro how do you plan on pulling this off? The boy is fast," he heard Marcus say.

"My dear friend have faith, the boy will forget all about his little love affair with that human of his," Aro stated nonchalantly.

Edward felt his jaw lock, so much hatred filled his being that it took all his self-control from attacking Aro then and there. "Aro if you don't mind me asking, why are you obsessed with making Edward forget the girl?" Marcus asked curiously.

"It is easy Marcus, he doesn't remember the girl, she is fair game," Aro chuckled.

Aro looked up when he had the feeling they were being spied on. Holding up his hand to stop the other vampire, the Volturi slowly moved around the bookcase. Moving around the corner in vampire speed, he saw that there was no one there.

Edward had quickly moved around toward the other side of the library, but not too far where he couldn't hear their conversation. Swallowing and closing his eyes for a second, Edward gripped the bookshelf he was standing next to, checking to see if Aro was still there. "As I was saying Marcus, the boy is too much of a risk if he remembers that human," Aro carried on as if nothing had happened.

"I assure you Aro that the boy is meaning no harm," Marcus answered.

"Really? The boy seems to be having a problem following orders," Aro insisted as he walked around the library.

Whenever Aro was close enough, Edward would quietly and swiftly move to another part of the library. "Also, after we get the girl, we can easily get him to turn on his family," he heard Aro predict.

"Aro, are you talking about changing the bond this boy has on his whole family?" Marcus asked in disbelief.

"Unless he can get Jasper and Alice to join the army," Aro said in a bored tone.

Edward closed his eyes tight before looking towards the window. Glancing over his shoulder, he opened the window, climbing out in the pouring rain.

After climbing to the top of the castle, Edward sat on the top staring down at the empty city streets, becoming completely drenched from head to toe. Disgust filled his being, he felt nothing but utter hatred and disgust towards Aro. His thoughts turned to Aro's thoughts in the library, he knew why Aro was obsessed with Bella. It made Edward hate him more when he read that Aro wanted to keep Bella for himself.

Closing his eyes, he let his mind drift to a better time, a happier time with Bella. The images in his head started playing like they had just happened.

Bella had walked into his new room, looking around. "Wow, Esme went all out on your room," she commented. Chuckling lightly, he combed his fingers through his hair.

"Yeah, she was really trying to make it so I felt part of the family," he answered.

Looking around, she started going through his music collection when he stood behind her, his hands resting on her waist. A smile appeared on his face as he buried his face in her hair. She suddenly moved away from him, looking at the couch in the corner. "Nice," she commented.

"It's comfortable for reading," he answered.

"Looks like it is," she agreed.

Suddenly a playful growl and a shriek filled the room when Edward pounced and pinned Bella down on the couch. Smiling, her brown eyes locked with his topaz eyes, "Talk about a rush."

"You haven't seen anything yet love," he whispered.

Leaning forward he brushed his lips against hers, feeling her fingers move up into his hair.

Edward opened his eyes, feeling the same ache that was haunting him for the last four months, it was becoming almost unbearable. His grip on the ledge that he was crouching on started to tighten, the stone beneath his hand began to crack. Suddenly, he jumped down from the ledge and was back in the castle.

Storming into the main hall, he threw off his cloak. "I know what you're doing Aro! I'm not about to let you take Bella from me!" He snapped angrily. Aro continued to remain frightfully calm in his seat.

"Oh? You believe I want to take your human?" He asked.

"I know you do," Edward hissed.

Shaking his head slowly, Aro got up from his chair, walking down the steps nonchalantly. "Well, you know it is not polite to eavesdrop on other people's conversations boy," he pointed out. Glaring at the Volturi leader, his hatred clouded his ability. "And as you know Edward, I believe you also know more to my plan," Aro commented.

"You will not destroy my family, you won't make me destroy them either! I'm going back to Forks!" Edward snapped before he stormed out of the main hall.

Aro was standing there with a grin on his face.

Edward was in his room getting what he needed to head back to Forks when he heard the door open. Looking up, he suddenly felt a rush of pain hit him. He fell on all fours, groaning in pain. Jane was standing there with a smug smile on her face. "This might hurt just a little," she said quietly. Holding out her hand, the castle was filled with Edward's cries of pain.

Aro stood in the hall, watching with his arms crossed over his chest. Edward was on the floor in pain, it was the worse pain he had ever felt in his life. Holding up his own hand, the Volturi leader called to the childlike vampire, "Jane!" Looking up, she quit her torture, taking a step back. Walking over, Aro bent down next to Edward. "Will you now fully join the Volturi?" He asked.

"Burn in Hell!" Edward hissed.

"I'll take you with me," Aro answered.

Felix and Demetri walked into the room, grabbing Edward by his arms and legs. "Carry him to the main hall," Aro ordered.

The doors opened and the two Volturi guards carried Edward into the room, letting him dropped to the floor. Standing up, Marcus stood there in disbelief as Jane and Aro returned. "I guess our plans are going to be pushed ahead a little early," he informed his friends. Edward went to get up when Demetri and Felix pinned his arms and legs down to the floor.

"Shall I continue my lord?" Jane asked, sounding a little anxious.

Looking between Jane and Edward, Aro slowly nodded. "You may," he answered. Jane smiled evilly as she held her hand up again. Edward arched his back letting out a roar of pain. Struggling hard against the two vampires holding him down, Edward felt like his skin was being peeled off him. "You can still surrender Edward, surrender your true loyalty and by doing so you will get clemency for your betrayal," Aro explained.

"NO!" Edward roared.

Feeling the rush of pain again, Edward threw his head back. This was the worse pain, this kind of pain defeated the feeling of when he was turned into a vampire. "I will take good care of your human girl, she will be treated like a queen," Aro sneered as he kneeled next to the tortured vampire.

"Y--Y--You won't…you won't touch her!" Edward snapped.

"She will surrender to me, after seeing that you don't remember her she will still want to be near you, it is the perfect plan," Aro sneered.

"I will never…for---ARGH!" Edward shouted painfully.

"Just say you surrender and it will stop," Aro answered.

"NO!" Edward shouted.

Tugging hard on his wrists, he just wished the guards would let him go. "I won't give in, I won't ever give in!" Edward snapped. Shaking his head slowly, Aro got up from the floor.

The rest of the Volturi that were in the room stood there in shock as they watched as they tortured Edward. His roars of pain were echoing off the walls, making the windows shake. "Jane, Demetri, Felix," Aro called. Edward was dropped to the floor and the vampire lied limp on the floor. For the first time in centuries, he was almost losing consciousness. Walking over, Aro stood above the weak vampire, sneering at him. "This could have gone different," he said with a sigh.

"Y--You…are…a monster," Edward got out.

"As we all are my friend, as we all are," Aro answered patting his shoulder.

Each time Edward tried to move, he would feel a twinge of pain. Jane was still torturing him, but she would only do it if he moved. "What shall we do now my lord?" Alec asked as he moved to stand next to his sister.

"Remove him from my sight, take him to the dungeons," Aro ordered.

Unable to fight, he felt himself get lifted up off the ground and carried down to the dungeons of the castle. Marcus was sitting in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Letting out a groan as he hit the ground, he opened his eyes to stare at the stone ceiling above him. "Are you alright boy?" A voice asked. Looking over he saw Marcus standing behind the bars of his prison.

"Wonderful," he muttered.

Marcus shook his head slowly before he had to leave Edward there. Closing his eyes, Edward's mind started to drift back to Bella. He could picture her, his only reason for living was on the other side of the ocean. "Bella please don't come for me," he whispered to the walls.

When the morning sun broke through, Edward was slowly getting up when Demetri and Felix walked in. "Come on," Felix muttered grabbing onto him. As they practically dragged Edward out of the cell, they moved him back up towards the rooms of the castle.

They entered a room and held Edward down on the bed there when Aro walked in. "Well Chelsea, you can begin when you are ready," he informed. Edward's eyes widened when Chelsea walked into the room with a smile.

"No, Aro don't," he insisted, panic showing in his voice.

Chelsea walked towards Edward with her hand stretched out. "Don't worry Edward, this won't hurt a bit," she said seductively.