Chapter 13 – An enemy underestimated.
Aro turned to two of his guard members who were stood patiently awaiting his command.
"Bring me that shape shifting wolf. I think it's time we use him to make an example to show just how serious we are"
Jacob took a few steps forward and crossed his arms across his chest.
"Just how do you think they'll bring me" he demanded to know.
Jacob shook his head.
"I'm not some lap dog that they can just fetch, I could take them both out without breaking into a sweat"
Aro grinned and turned to Jane.
"Jane dear, would you be so kind"
Jane stepped forward and nodded her head to her master.
"I'll be honoured master" she replied in a saccharine sweet voice.
Bella, whose memory of how badly Edward was affected by Jane's power shouted out to Jacob.
"Jacob No!" she called out.
Jacob turned to her and smiled.
"Relax, what's the worse she can do" he asked
Edward, Jacob and Bella all turned to see that Jane was staring furiously at Jacob. It was quite obvious that she was attempting to use her power against him, but it was not working.
Aro let out a frustrated growl.
Jane stopped her attempts at using her power against Jacob and turned to glare at Bella.
"Still using your shield I see" she accused.
Bella was beyond confused at this as she hadn't time to react and extend her shield to Jacob, so she knew that she wasn't protecting him.
Jane quickly turned her attention to Kaure and attempted to use her powers against her, but again it was blocked.
Kaure, who knew full well what Jane's powers were as Edward and Bella had filled her in chose to take a few moments to goad her.
"Is that the extent of your power. The ability to glare at people" she cackled.
Jane stamped her foot and growled.
"Oh my, you acted just like a petulant child then" Kaure goaded further.
Aro was very frustrated by this turn of events. They were letting these humans with over inflated ego's stall them for too long.
"You know I am usually quite a patient man and despite the many years I have lived I am not over sadistic, but you are bringing out the worst side of me and I warn you all know cease and desist this nonsense. Bella can be forgiven as she is still quite new, but you Edward Cullen should know better than to anger us. Remember at the moment I want you to join us and bring to us your enhanced skills, but I can change my mind at any moment. If you push me too far I will set about destroying you, your wife and your daughter rather than taking you alive"
Edward growled and held tightly onto Bella's shoulder.
"I'm sorry Aro, but Bella and I have no intentions of joining you, we've already discussed things and we're rather be destroyed than become one of your puppets. I reiterate what Bella said earlier though, you will not get your hands on our daughter."
Aro sighed. This was not going well at all.
"So I see we're at an impasse, but surely Edward you aren't so foolish to put your faith in these women. Just what are they going to do to us" he snapped.
Edward looked to Kaure and she flashed him a wink. She turned her attention to Athena and they engaged in some form of silent communication.
Athena then started to slowly walk forwards.
Edward, Bella and Jacob were totally bemused at this as Athena was leaving herself open to attack.
Suddenly Marcus, who up until this point had been stood in a bemused silence became fully alert. He looked directly at Athena and a large warm smile flooded his face.
He took a couple of unsteady steps forward and held his hand up in front of him. Athena had transformed into an image that represented the greatest desire of Marcus, his deceased wife Didme.
"Didyme" he called out gently as he continued his approach.
Cauis watched on in horror as his brother approached this strange woman. He kept his eyes on Marcus, but patted Aro on the shoulder.
"What is that old fool doing" he asked incredulously.
Aro however was too dumbstruck to respond. He too could see Didyme, but for him it represented the image of his greatest fear, his sister that he killed all those years ago.
Aro took a step towards his brother and stoop open mouthed.
"Didyme" he called out too.
Caius couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Have you both gone mad, my brothers" he called out, but Marcus and Caius were too engrossed in what they could see.
Edward, Bella and Jacob watched on with great interest as events unfolded before their eyes.
Marcus had now reached Didyme and was staring deep into her eyes. Edward couldn't but think that he had never seen Marcus look so happy.
"Didyme, my belovd Didyme. Is it really you" Marcus asked over and over again.
Athena didn't answer, but just smiled at him warmly. Marcus lifted his hand and gently traced the contours of Didyme's face.
Aro stood a few steps back trying to understand what he was seeing. It was so long ago when he killed his sister, but he had fled from her body so quickly and ordered some of his men to take care of it, could it really be that she had survived and flee'd.
Aro called out "Didyme, my dear sister"
Athena stopped smiling sweetly at Marcus in order to glare at Aro.
Aro recoiled a step.
"Oh Didyme, do you still hate me so much after all this time" he pleaded.
Marcus turned to look at his brother and snarled.
"You stay away from her Aro, she is mine" he hissed out.
As Marcus turned to look back at his lost love he hadn't seen Athena slip on the tri-let onto her hand. He was too engrossed in looking into her eyes and tracing the contours of her face with his hand that he thought nothing of her raising her hand to his.
As she pressed the trilet to his forehead the illusion of her appearance broke and the true sight of Athena was displayed for Marcus. He only had a split second to realise that it was not Didyme, before he felt a searing pain radiate from his forehead down to the rest of his body.
His brothers looked on in horror as Marcus emitted a high pitched scream before his body disappeared and all that was left was a pile of dust on the ground beneath where he had stood.
Aro made a hasty retreat back to his brother and grimaced.
"What was that" he demanded, still in shock from the loss of his brother and the trickery of seeing his sister.
Kaure smirked and let out a small chuckle.
"I told you, my tribe we are guardians of humanity. Over the centuries it has been our duty to protect humans from your kind. For a long time we were spread across the world and had many battles with your type, but over the years your kind became more judicious with their killing. Some of our tribes stopped being active and died out, but others focused more on their own areas. My tribe is one of the most active left" she explained.
Aro was uncharacteristically lost for words.
"I obviously misjudged the situation, but despite your hidden abilities, surely you must realise that you are outnumbered."
Kaure shook her head and clicked her fingers. Moments later several other tribeswomen all appeared and stood close to Kaure and the others.