Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, the New Moon dialogues, parts of the plot and character names. All other plotlines, characterizations dialogues and details belong to the author: Bronzehyperion. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without the author's authorization. ©2009-2010 Bronzehyperion. All rights reserved worldwide.
CHAPTER 15: HEAVEN AND HELL
"We don't get many visitors of our kind."
I remained stoic as Aro stared at me with blood-red eyes, an amused smile playing on his lips.
Marcus sat next to him on one side, barely aware of my presence, while Caius, on the other side frowned at me. Marcus resembled Aro the most; both had black hair, while Caius was the opposite. His hair was shoulder length and white, almost translucent like his skin tone.
There were a few other vampires, most of them a part of the Volturi entourage. Some eyed me with a mixture of caution and hostility, while others barely paid attention to me.
"Who don't you come closer? Introduce yourself," Aro coaxed in a friendly manner.
"We're very curious as to why you are here."
I moved closer to the three vampires with no haste. I poked around their minds, trying to determine what they were thinking. Aro was indeed curious and intrigued and wanted to get to know me, while Marcus wanted me gone because he simply cared very little. Caius wondered what threat I posed and was ready to call upon the guards to destroy me in an instant. He was less than pleased about the fact I had dared ask for an audience.
The moment I reached close enough, Aro's hand shot out and grabbed mine without warning. I could have seen it coming and was surprised I hadn't reacted by pulling back. Of course, had I done that, the guards would have probably jumped on me instantly.
It was a strange sensation to have someone read my thoughts, much like I could read theirs. Aro was far more powerful than me though, by touching people he could see all the thoughts someone had ever had.
"Edward Cullen," he murmured as he kept his eyes closed.
I knew what he was seeing. My human life. My death. My life as an immortal being, where I didn't hunt humans – but also the times where I had, I could tell from the small smile on his lips as he relived those memories through me
He was compelled by the Cullen family and their special powers. He smiled at the memories of Carlisle and he was very interested in what Alice could do especially. He was slightly astounded by the way she had foreseen in the past and what she could foresee in the future.
That was one power his coven had yet to possess.
He winced slightly at my memories of Bella.
The hunger I had felt for Bella. I knew it made him thirsty. He was not horrified by the love I felt for her, he was mostly fascinated by it.
"This is remarkable. You're Carlisle's protégé, are you not?" he smiled, opening his eyes.
"I am his son," I spoke clearly. Saying the words brought forth a dull aching. An aching that manifested my guilt. It was minor compared to the pain I felt when thinking of Bella but it did pain me to stand here and defy Carlisle, forget my family and end my life.
I knew they'd either forgive me or simply didn't care – Rosalie – but that didn't mean I was not letting them down.
They had to understand though. My existence was useless without Bella. I couldn't just go on and bear the pain any longer.
It had to end. Today.
"Ah yes, Carlisle was always eager to resemble a somewhat normal family," Aro smiled in mockery.
"I will never understand it," he admitted in wonder.
"A mate, a protégé. Two couples treated like family. A whole coven of vampires who don't hunt humans."
Felix growled at the words, while Caius shook his head in mockery.
"Carlisle and his nonsense. He was always so resistant and couldn't accept the true power of what he was. He was a part of this coven and he spat us in the face by leaving. How dare you show yourself here? You're not welcome!"
"Enough of that," Aro warned Caius. "Edward is a guest."
He turned to me. "Now tell us, to what do we owe this wonderful pleasure, Edward?"
I noticed how Felix growled at his words, which received him a reprimanding hiss from Aro.
Marcus looked bored, while Caius remained irritated. He huffed at Aro's pleasantries.
"I came here to request something," I started.
"Yes?"
"I am asking for your assistance," I continued.
Aro's face fell. All pleasantries were gone now. He'd seen every thought I had ever had, including the ones which explained why I was standing here.
"Our assistance in what, young Edward?" he muttered, noticeably irritated now.
"You know what, you've seen it."
All eyes were on Aro. He knew what I wanted. They all hoped he would elaborate since I had no desire to. Felix was anxious, Demetri slightly bored, while Jane and Alec stood in a corner keeping a close eye on their Masters.
"Your death," Aro finally spoke.
It wasn't posed as a question.
"And why would you want to die?"
I frowned and sighed. "You've seen it."
Aro frowned. "The girl?"
"Yes."
"You want to die because of the girl?"
I sighed. "Yes, I do."
"A human girl, no less," he pondered.
"That's something I have not heard before."
I was certain I could hear someone snickering. Probably Felix. Caius looked bored and he started to pick at his bristle fingernail. It was in fact Marcus who was staring at me intently now. For one moment his onion-white translucent face grimaced into a deeply rooted pain until he looked away and his stance became passive again.
I knew in that instant he had felt it. What Bella meant to me, what I'd do for her.
"This is rather unusual," Aro said, still muttering to himself.
No kidding.
"This girl, Bella..." – I wanted to growl at his use of her name – "she must be something special if you are willing to die for her?"
I was certain I heard Felix snort audibly now, which earned him another reprimanding look from Aro.
"Just tell me if you are willing to help me," I muttered.
Aro sighed. "This is not a decision we can make easily, I am afraid. We need to discuss this first."
Marcus gave him a quick glance, while Caius sighed.
"Aro, is this necessary? Can't we just kill the vampire if that's what he pleases? Clearly he has broken the rules by affiliating himself with a human..."
"There is no need to decide anything other than how to kill him. Ripping him apart is very effective, I say we go with that," Caius added.
Aro turned and hissed at the blonde Volturi. Clearly he had other things in mind.
"We will discuss Edward's request. There will be no punishment until we have looked at it fairly and thoroughly!" He growled.
I wanted to protest but Caius beat me to it.
"Are you mad, Aro? You are going to let him wander the streets? He who has willingly exposed himself to a human, a human he is now willing to die for. I say we give him what he wants."
Listen to him, Aro I silently pleaded. I knew he could not read me now, not unless he was touching me
"No."
Felix moved forward asking for an audience by bowing slightly. Aro granted him permission to speak by urging him to stand straight.
"Master, if I may be so bold. This….Edward"– he nearly choked with disdain at the use of my name – "he is a flight risk. And it has been pointed out he broke the rules. We can't let him endanger the streets of Volterra. Especially not with all the festivities tomorrow."
Aro narrowed his eyes at Felix and shook his head. I was hoping he'd make his decision straight away after all but his mind told me that he was determined to give my request proper thought.
"Demetri, escort Edward outside," he spoke and he rose from his throne to leave the room, his following instantly alert and ready to leave with him.
"Wait!" I stopped him, before he could exit.
"Yes?"
"When will you have decided?"
"You'll find out."
"Demetri," he urged, leaving me in the hands of his guard.
Demetri halted next to me and waited for me to turn and follow him out.
"Let's go, vampire.'"
The streets of Volterra were dark and empty. I was hiding at the mouth of the alley, waiting for either Demetri or Felix to come and get me.
It was the middle of the night and had I been able to sleep, I would have been thankful to lay down on the flat stones of the ground to sooth my exhaustion.
I wasn't actually tired, psychically I would never be, but emotionally, if I had any emotions left to spare, I felt like I could sleep for weeks.
I longed to sleep forever.
I had no idea how long it would take before Aro, Marcus and Caius would call me back. I had no idea what they would decide.
I knew Caius wanted to punish me and that Felix shared that sentiment. I didn't care what they'd do to me, as long as they managed to kill me in the process. Marcus' decision was harder to predict because his mind was completely passive.
And then there was Aro. There was something about him. At first his kindness had seemed fake and merely designed to trick me. But now that he knew who I was, he seemed genuinely interested in my gifts and intrigued by my request.
There was no way to predict their decision and that bothered me.
Waiting here, doing nothing gave the agony free play. It was impossible to bear it.
I wanted to scream and wreak havoc and demand them to tell me right now. I could cause uproar in the city, give them cause to arrest me.
Either way there would be no chance that they'd refuse me my own demise. It was my choice. It would just be much more helpful if they granted me this one thing. If I had to force their hand, it would only take up time I didn't want to waste. There would some sort of trial and I'd rather they just decide to grand me what I wanted, rather than to have to go through some sort of show to have them decide about my fate.
There was a deafening sound of water leaking through a pipe close to me.
Every drip hitting the floor was an echo in my head.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Bella. Bella. Bella.
Bella was dead. I wanted to die too. There was no point in waiting, there was no reason left for delays.
If time was of the essence than it surely wasn't helping me. The clock jostled above me every hour, its echoes haunting me with the knowledge of what time it was.
One hour passed. Two hours passed and eventually I gave up trying to focus on it because it was driving me mad.
I don't know when or how but eventually the darkness in the sky faded and it welcomed a bright yellow and orange stream of morning.
A day that would prove to be sunny, judging by the brightness in the sky.
The piazza was slowly filling itself with people, highly anticipating the celebrations of St. Marcus Festival today.
Some of them were wearing blood red cloaks.
There was something haunting about the image. Humans dressed as saints, dressed in cloaks to portray something they were not. Little did they know about what was going on inside the Palazzo. How close some of them were to death. Because surely that's what would happen to some of them.
The Volturi made sure to never hunt too much amongst the population of Volterra since that would look too suspicious. It were mostly tourists they brought into the Palazzo.
I did not have much patience watching the piazza full with humans. The faint breeze brought their scents over to me and though none of them smelled appetizing, I wondered what would happen if I would simply hunt them.
Not a good idea. That too would lead to a trial and I didn't have time for that. I needed an answer now.
I was about to force myself into the Palazzo, when Demetri and Felix appeared from the shadows of the alley.
"Vampire, come." Demetri demanded quietly.
Felix grinned mockingly, waiting for me to move past him, while Demetri silently walked in front of me.
I was trapped in between.
Demetri led us back to the room, where Aro, Marcus and Caius were waiting. Their entourage was hauled up in the corners. Jane and Alec were nowhere to be found. I gathered from Aro's mind that they were keeping an eye on the town and the celebrations somewhere in the shadows.
"Edward," Aro spoke pleasantly, "I hope you had a good night."
"You gave us quite a debate," he added with a wink.
I barely listened to what he said; I was sifting through his thoughts, desperate to find the only answer I needed.
My patience and torment was not rewarded or soothed in any way though.
I didn't get what I want, what I needed. It was loud and clear in Aro's mind.
He had no intention of killing me. No intention of meeting my request.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
"Your decision is wrong," I growled, alarming Felix and Demetri who moved closer to me, ready to attack me if necessary.
Aro shook his head and looked me straight in the eyes, as if he was communicating something vital and he wanted me to pay close attention.
"You have to understand, young Edward. Your talents are very valuable. Too valuable for us to let them go to waste."
"We had a heated debate, I can't deny that. Caius here had to be convinced that your power is superior to the fact you exposed us to your Bella. But since she has sadly passed on, she no longer poses a threat."
His words acknowledging Bella's death stung. It hurt and burned more deeply than it had done ever before. The only solace I felt was the fact that Bella was safe from any Volturi threat now. They would never have to come after her. Her death would be merciful compared to what they would have done to her.
I sighed. This was about my mental gift. Aro was fascinated by what I could do. This meant he found that granting me my request was unacceptable.
"So you won't help me?"
"Edward," Aro articulated clearly, "I am afraid your particular gifts are too important for us to eliminate you. It would be wasteful."
And there it was. It was so clear in Aro's head. He truly did not want to help me. In fact, he had different plans for me.
"However, we do feel your pain. We don't quite understand the pain of the loss of this particular human, but we offer you an alternative."
"Join us," Aro suggested with a smile.
"We'd be glad to utilize your gifts. You'd make an excellent addition to our coven."
He wasn't offering me clemency. He was offering me a job.
A life.
The last thing I wanted. Perhaps it was the worst kind of punishment. It was certainly more tormenting than being ripped apart.
I wanted to die. Simple. How hard could it be for them to execute me? It could be no more unpleasant than being ripped to shreds by the paralyzing pain I felt every second of my existence.
Why would I ever want to be a part of this coven?
"No," I grumbled. "I won't join you."
"Edward," Aro warned. "Don't dismiss our offer so easily. The alternative is far less forgiving."
"Let me guess; you'll kill me if I refuse. Newsflash, it is pretty much what I want. I'd rather be brutally tormented and ripped apart than to even consider for a second to join!" I spat.
"We really do not want to do that, Edward. I think it is best you take the chance to consider our offer."
"Save it," I hissed. "I'll take whatever punishment you see fit. Don't bother offering me any more jobs or a live within your coven. I DON'T WANT IT!"
Frustration was getting to me. I was such a fool. I'd been so convinced that it was going to be simple. I ask the Volturi to kill me and they'd say yes.
Never could I have imagined they'd offer me this instead. It was vile and unwanted. More agonizing than being tortured to death.
"Aro," Caius protested, "this has gone on far too long. The vampire is ungrateful and clearly has a death wish. Let's give him what he wants."
Aro gave Caius another deathly glare. I was almost surprised that he was so keen to incorporate me into the Volturi Guard. Or even as an actual Volturi.
But then, his mind gave away he wanted what was Carlisle's. It wasn't vicious; he actually respected Carlisle a lot. But he could not bear to kill me. He found my life and talents more valuable than I did.
This was hopeless. Clearly Aro had the most influence within the coven and he had no intention to help me. So the others would not help me either. He had vetoed it.
I was on my own.
"Fine," I muttered, "if you refuse to help me, I'll find my own way."
I turned to leave and Felix and Demetri instantly moved towards me, ready to jump on me if they had to. But Aro's power over them was proven yet again as he ordered them to stay put before they could reach me.
"Stay where you are," he told them.
"Edward," he warned as he allowed me to walk away freely by dismissing me with a simple hand gesture.
"Don't force our hand."
I could feel the eyes on me, though I kept mine firmly closed. A child - probably watching in caution and surprise as I slowly took a step forward- leaving my shirt folded on the ground. Four jostles from the throng and then the sun would be at its highest peak.
A perfect sun at noon. So willing to expose me for what I was.
The sun was all I needed for my pale skin to lit up and glisten. For the crowd on the Piazza dei Priori - unaware of who was about to disrupt the festivities - to go mad, forcing the Volturi to stop and trial me.
And more importantly, sentence me. I was counting on this especially. They had no choice. Aro would be made a mockery if he stopped my punishment this time.
He wouldn't have a choice anymore. Not if I forced his hand. Which was exactly what I was going to do.
I had contemplated to hunt in public but I realized that no human life was worth risking over ending my own. I also didn't want to disappoint Carlisle any more than I already had by deciding to end my life.
The sun was my one and only ally.
The chime of the clock boomed around me again and I welcomed the sound as it brought me closer to my goal with every clang.
Three left, I counted.
A hint of the sun, already slightly touching the edges of the protective shadows I was still hiding in at the mouth of the alley, caressed my cool bare chest as the wind blew against my skin.
It reminded me of sweeter times where the touch of her skin would awaken these desires in me that I'd considered long lost before she came along. For a moment, I allowed myself to pretend she was here.
Touching me. I could almost feel her lips feverishly moving against mine. So warm, so perfect. How I yearned to hold her tightly in my arms. I almost reached out to welcome her, but instead I kept my arms at my side, palms facing forward, like a messiah ready to be sacrificed.
I remembered this was impossible. I'd never hold her again.
Because she was gone. Forever.
The idea I'd never feel her warmth again or how my throat would never feeling like breathing in fire by the very smell of her, ripped my already torn heart apart even further.
It was unbelievable, incomprehensible.
A world without Bella.
This wasn't a world I knew how to exist in. Not anymore.
Another chime of the clock meant it was almost time.
I felt like I was suffocating, though I didn't need oxygen.
I purposely shied away from the exact words Rosalie had spoken - they were basic and deadly - because they were burned and etched into my soul like an unwanted scar that would never go away. The words that had marked the end of my life. All I'd done since then was desperately trying to find a way to finish it effectively.
I felt almost at ease knowing I'd only have to make it through a few more moments. Just endure this strange, now unfamiliar world I couldn't be forced to exist in, no matter who pleaded with me.
Not my family, who may once have had the hope I would recover. Not Aro who had believed he could recruit me for his coven. They could not force me to exist in a world without Bella.
Not by family, not by law.
There would never be any relief from the cutting pain inside. I focused on how I had to hang on a little while longer and then the agony would stop.
I longed for blackness, for the beauty of oblivion. The ultimate way to stop remembering.
Death.
And whatever came after that, wherever I went, it didn't matter as long as I would not be reminded of this life ever again.
The memories had lost their significance since Bella wasn't out there somewhere remembering them too.
The throng jostled again.
Only one more left. I could taste the sun now. I could feel the same eyes still watching me carefully. I knew I needed one human to stare at me in horror and start screaming for my plan to be considered a success. I had no desire to frighten this child watching me - her mind filled with lollipops and cartoons - but if she was my only option to be seen now, I would take it and risk her sanity in the process. Now was not the time to become selfless.
I took another step towards the edge, knowing it would take less than a small inch for me to step into the sun. To bare myself for what would be my final moments.
The moment I wanted to place my foot forward, in sync with the sound of the final chime, I heard it.
The angel's voice.
I was shocked. Was this what came after dying? Was I allowed an afterlife with the angel by my side? Surely it was cruel for me to hope for this as I was so close to death.
Unless...
Certainly, I was still alive?
The voice grew more profound, like it was coming towards me, rather than echoing inside my mind.
It was calling for me.
"Edward!"
My name.
Was it the wind fooling me with imaginary whispers? Had my mind finally snapped at the loss of Bella and the fear of never being reunited with her?
It seemed that way.
But then I heard it again.
The angel sounded almost frantic. And the voice was coming closer still.
This didn't seem like a delusion, though I had no way to be certain. I had done this before: conjure Bella up in my own imagination, a sweet mirage designed only for me. Perhaps I had truly lost my mind.
"Edward, no!" she cried.
As I heard her voice anxiously pleading with me, I smiled.
This felt real. This was no trick. Bella was here.
This meant I had to be dead. This relieved me though I didn't quite understand how the entire experience had managed to be so free of pain.
But I didn't hang on that question for long, as my nostrils flared and picked up the scent I thought to only exist for me, calling me, easily tempting me. I inhaled deeply, burning my throat with great pleasure.
There was no doubt in my mind anymore.
I was dead.
"No!" the voice screamed again. "Edward, look at me!"
Don't fret, my love. There's no need to raise your voice. I can hear you. I wanted to say, but my lips remained unmoved. All I could feel was the rays of sun warming them like a lover's kiss.
Like Bella's kiss.
The burn got stronger, as the scent rapidly moved closer to me. It was like that battering ram again and before I could comprehend what was going on, the scent and warmth slammed into me. If my arms hadn't locked around it instantly, it would have bounced back in some way.
This was peculiar. In my arms was a substance, perfectly solid and real. It smelled heavenly, illustrated by the instant thirst burning my throat. It wasn't like before though. The scent made me thirsty but it wasn't overpowering in the sense that it gave me the urge to hunt and kill.
Quite the opposite actually. I wanted to hold on to the angel in my arms, I wanted to bury myself in her scent.
I opened my eyes – eager to learn about my new surroundings, as the clock tolled again.
What I saw was as surprising as it was overwhelming.
Bella was here. In my arms.
And we were both dead.
But somehow we had reunited.
I had never expected that and I only took a moment to wonder how this was even possible. I was a monster, Bella an angel. She had a beautiful deep soul and I was soulless. There would be no way we would be together again in an afterlife. I belonged in the deepest pitches of hell, whereas she would have no problem finding a place in heaven.
But she was here, wherever here was. In my arms. And she felt real.
So maybe there was some kind of afterlife for immortals after all.
"Amazing," I said, slightly amused. "Carlisle was right."
Carlisle. He would have been pleased to learn he was right about the afterlife and it slightly hurt to know I would never be able to share this information with him.
"Edward," she called me, but her voice sounded barely audible. "You've got to get back into the shadows. You have to move!"
I didn't want to move. I was fine here, in the warmth, basking in the glow of her embrace. Didn't she feel it too?
My hand brushed softly against her cheek, the heat of her skin leaving a delightful tingling behind where we'd touched.
It felt a little strange. Bella was dead so she was supposed to feel cooler, more like me. But maybe the afterlife didn't care about trivialities like that.
"I can't believe how quick it was. I didn't feel a thing—they're very good," I mused.
Truthfully, I had expected more pain. Getting your flesh ripped apart was clearly no pleasure but there had been no pain at all. Maybe the pain I already suffered because of Bella's loss was more than enough to mask the psychical pain of getting killed.
"Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty," I murmured Romeo's lines from the tomb as I pressed my lips into her hair.
She smelled heavenly and the burn in my throat, while present was soothing compared to all the pain I had harbored for months.
I felt whole.
"You smell just exactly the same as always," I told her. "So maybe this is hell. I don't care. I'll take it."
I didn't really believe that though. There was no possible way this could be hell. The burn was strong, yes, but it was worth it. It was bearable, because Bella was here.
"I'm not dead," she protested. I eyed her carefully, wondering if I should be amused or surprised at her words. She was so stubborn.
Of course she was dead. And death had never looked more beautiful. She was a little wet, perhaps because she had drowned before dying – the thought of her actual death made me frown, I didn't want to think about how gruesome it had to have been – and her face was glowing with a fresh blush. Her hair was wild, due to the wind and her heart was beating much faster than it should.
Huh, her heart was beating? Her cheeks were spilled with the rush of blood coursing through her veins? She felt warm? Alive.
And what was it that she was telling me?
"And neither are you! Please Edward, we have to move. They can't be far away!"
Bella struggled in my arms, and this was unacceptable. She couldn't leave me. Not now. We had to be together. I would never leave her again and I would never let her go again.
"What was that?" I asked, hoping she would explain to me why she was so eager to get away from me. Why were we supposed to move and what were we supposed to be running from. And why did she feel like she was alive?
"We're not dead, not yet! But we have to get out of here before the Volturi—"
Comprehension flickered before she could finish her sentence.
She is alive, you fool.
This was not heaven. And Bella was not dead.
Neither was I.
Which meant…
My mind instantly ran through the consequences. If neither of us were dead – and I had yet to understand how it was possible that Bella was alive – than I had just made a very big mistake by almost exposing myself.
I had been so close to breaking the rules, thus incriminating myself. More importantly, Bella was now in danger too. And that was inexcusable.
But it was too late to run. And running would only make it worse.
Behind me I could hear the quiet footsteps, the silent but eager minds ready to claim us both and leave us at the mercy of the Volturi.
Felix and Demetri.
I grabbed Bella's arm and spun her so that her back was against the wall and I was in front of her, my arms spread wide in protection.
Nothing mattered but that she would be safe.
Bella stayed behind me, but tried to peek out from under my arm.
She was always so darn curious. It made me dizzy in a happy way to think she was truly here, though the bliss was heavily tainted by the idea of losing her again and sooner than I could have anticipated. And by my own fault, unsurprisingly.
"Greetings, gentlemen," I spoke calm and pleasant, but only on the surface. Two very dangerous vampires who'd gladly rip me apart. And a few hours ago I would have welcomed that. But now, now that Bella was actually with me, things were different. Her life was at stake.
It was important I would remain calm because I could not afford to set them off.
"I don't think I'll be requiring your services today. I would appreciate it very much, however, if you would send my thanks to your masters."
"Shall we take this conversation to a more appropriate venue?" Felix whispered menacingly.
"I don't believe that will be necessary." I spoke, harsher. "I know your instructions, Felix. I haven't broken any rules."
"Felix merely meant to point out the proximity of the sun," Demetri said in a soothing tone.
Both Felix and Demetri were concealed within smoky gray cloaks that reached to the ground and undulated in the wind that blew lightly through the alley.
"Let us seek better cover." Demetri suggested. Of course, the last thing we wanted was to stay in this nook, where people could see us.
"I'll be right behind you," I said dryly. "Bella, why don't you go back to the square and enjoy the festival?"
I hated the idea of losing her, but it was important that she could walk away from this. I could deal with Demetri and Felix on my own and I'd fare much better if I didn't have to worry about her. I had no idea how she had gotten here, though I suspected she was not in Volterra on her own, and as long as she would be able to make it out of Volterra alive, than I could deal with whatever the Volturi would throw at me.
They didn't seem to agree.
"No, bring the girl," Felix spoke in a low tone. I knew what he was getting at. He was hoping for a fight and a snack.
Neither was going to happen, if I had a say in it.
"I don't think so." The pretence of civility disappeared. My voice was flat and icy.
Preparing myself to fight if I had to, I moved just a tiny bit -barely noticeable - flexing my muscles so I could slip into a crouch easily.
Fighting was definitely on Felix' mind.
"No," Bella mouthed the word as she hid behind me. I could feel her warm breath on my bare skin. Her heart was drumming against her chest; I could feel the throbbing echoes against my back.
"Shh," I murmured reassuringly.
"Felix," Demetri hissed. "Not here."
He then turned to me "Aro would simply like to speak with you again, if you have decided not to force our hand after all."
"Certainly," I agreed. '"But the girl goes free."
I knew I was arguing a lost cause but I had to try. I'd do anything to have Bella walk away unharmed.
"I'm afraid that's not possible," Demetri said regretfully. "We do have rules to obey."
"Then I'm afraid that I'll be unable to accept Aro's invitation, Demetri." I spoke icily.
I knew exactly what their rules upheld. This was not about my near exposure. This was about the girl standing behind me. My only love, whose heart was beating far too fast.
They would have to kill her for her involvement. And kill me for the same reason.
Such strange irony. Now that I had no desire of dying, they could easily take both our lives in much more vicious ways then jumping off cliffs or getting ripped apart.
Alright, so for me there would not be much of a difference but they could torment Bella as much as they wanted to.
I could not let that happen.
"That's just fine," Felix purred. He was very eager to fight me.
"Aro will be disappointed," Demetri sighed. Demetri didn't quite understand why I was so eager to protect Bella – a meaningless human in his eyes – but he was still intrigued enough to not share the same desire as Felix to fight me.
"I'm sure he'll survive the letdown," I replied coolly.
Felix and Demetri stole closer toward the mouth of the alley, spreading out slightly so they could come at me from two sides. They meant to force me deeper into the alley, to avoid a scene.
I didn't move an inch. If they wanted to harm Bella, they'd have to go through me.
I tried to focus on Bella's breathing washing over my skin. She was still hidden behind me and her breath was slightly shaking.
She was afraid.
I had to fight them even if I was outnumbered. I had no choice.
But before I had time to make a move, a far too familiar mindset alerted me.
Edward, don't start something you cannot finish on your own.
Alice.
I should have known. Of course she was here. There was no way she'd pass up an opportunity to meddle. She must have been the one to drag Bella here.
Then again, Bella probably went willingly, no matter how big the danger. This secretly pleased me. If she still wanted to risk her life for me, then maybe she could forgive me for leaving her and putting her life at risk her again.
I whipped my head toward the darkness of the winding alley, determining where exactly the thoughts were coming from. Demetri and Felix did the same.
"Let's behave ourselves, shall we?" Alice suggested, as she moved out of the darkness.
"There are ladies present."
Alice tripped to my side, her stance casual. There was no hint of any underlying tension.
Demetri and Felix both straightened up, their cloaks swirling slightly as a gust of wind funneled through the alley. Felix's face soured. Apparently, they didn't like even numbers.
"We're not alone," she reminded them.
Demetri glanced over his shoulder. A few yards into the square, the little family, with the girls in their red dresses, was watching us. The mother was speaking urgently to her husband, her eyes on the five of us.
She looked away when Demetri met her gaze. The man walked a few steps farther into the plaza, and tapped one of the red-blazered men on the shoulder.
Demetri shook his head. "Please, Edward, let's be reasonable," he said.
"Let's," I agreed. "And we'll leave quietly now, with no one the wiser."
Demetri sighed in frustration. "At least let us discuss this more privately."
He was hoping to reason with me but he also cared too little about me to start a fight. I could tell he might be willing to let us leave, though I doubted Felix would ever let that happen.
Six men in red now joined the family as they watched us with anxious expressions. They looked at Bella and realized I was protecting her. That made them more alert.
My teeth came together audibly, the sound echoing through the alley. "No."
Felix smiled, hoping this was his cue to attack.
But he never got the chance.
"Enough."
I had heard this before.
Jane.
Felix and Demetri relaxed immediately, stepping back from their offensive positions to blend again with the shadows of the overhanging walls.
I dropped my arms and relaxed my defensive position as well—but in defeat. This was not good. Fighting Felix and Demetri could have worked with Alice by my side – though the idea of having my sister fight these two had never sounded like a great idea – but with Jane, a very powerful vampire here, we'd have no chance to get away.
Not alive at least.
"Jane," I sighed in recognition and resignation.
Alice folded her arms across her chest, her expression impassive.
"Follow me," Jane spoke again, her childish voice a monotone. She turned her back on us and drifted silently into the dark.
Felix gestured for us to go first, smirking. Clearly, he was enjoying every bit of this.
Alice walked after the little Jane at once. I wrapped my arm around Bella's waist and pulled her along down the alley. She looked up to me with frantic eyes, so many silent and alarming questions reflected in them.
But I could not offer her any answers with our audience present so I shook my head.
"Well, Alice," I said conversationally as we walked. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you here."
I was curious, that I had to admit. Curious how Alice could have made a mistake this big. She had seen Bella jump off the cliff. But she had never seen that Bella had made it out of the ocean alive.
"It was my mistake," Alice answered in the same tone. "It was my job to set it right."
"What happened?" I asked politely, hoping I would sound casual. The last thing I needed was my anxiety as an additional reason for the Volturi guard to harm any of us. They were already listening in, weighing every word, ready to use it against us at any given chance.
"It's a long story." Alice's eyes flickered toward Bella and away. "In summary, she did jump off a cliff, but she wasn't trying to kill herself. Bella's all about the extreme sports these days."'
One peek into Alice's mind gave me the whole story. And the bottom-line of it was that I had failed. Again.
Bella had indeed jumped off a cliff because she wanted an adrenaline rush. Alice had seen this much but she had not seen the part here Bella had been rescued by Jacob Black.
The idea of him being a hero bothered me. I was grateful he had rescued Bella, of course, but through Alice's play-by-play I could sense that he was important to her.
Bella was friends with Jacob Black now, who was apparently a werewolf, too, as if things weren't already, complicated enough. I wondered why I had not seen that coming. It seemed to be the most obvious thing.
As one of Ephraim Black's descendants it made sense. I wondered briefly if Carlisle knew about this. Werewolves in Forks. This posed more trouble.
After Alice had seen Bella jump, she has assumed the worst and had misinformed Rosalie about Bella's death. When I had called the Swan residence Jacob Black – him again – had spoken of a funeral, but he never meant Bella's. Sadly, Harry Clearwater, a friend of Charlie's had died.
And then there was the biggest of my newfound concerns, apart from the ones about making it out of Volterra alive.
Victoria. She had gone to Forks after all. And she was stalking Bella now.
It had been months of Bella's wrapped in a small projection of images that lasted less than a minute. My chest silently ached at the idea that Bella had been in pain. I could see it in Alice's memories. I could feel it because it echoed my own agony.
"Hm," I said curtly - all hints of pretending to be casual gone - as I processed Alice thoughts and the images she showed me.
We had to get out of here, no matter what. There were so many things I needed to tell Bella, things I could not tell here right now. She had to know why I had left her and how sorry I was for hurting her so deeply.
We arrived at the drain that led us to the floors below street level and Alice didn't hesitate to slide through it.
Bella however protested and she clung to me as she looked down the hole.
"It's all right, Bella," I said in a low voice, hoping to sooth her. "Alice will catch you."
Bella eyed the hole doubtfully and crouched down, swinging her legs into the narrow gap.
"Alice?" she whispered, voice trembling.
"I'm right here, Bella," she reassured her.
I took Bella's wrists and lowered her into the blackness.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Drop her," Alice called.
And then I let her fall.
I crouched into the hole instantly, slid down and put my arm around Bella – towing her forward – the instant my feet hit the ground.
Bella wrapped both arms around my waist, and tripped and stumbled her way across the uneven stone surface.
The sound of the heavy grate sliding over the drain hole behind us rang with metallic finality. We were locked in.
The dim light from the street was quickly lost in the gloom. The sound of Bella's staggering footsteps echoed through the black space, along with the frantic beats of her heart.
I could hear and smell fear coming off her waves and I was certain they all could.
As we moved I realized that Bella was really here. It truly hit me then, as we were walking towards what may very well be our doom, that for the moment she was really alive and in my arms.
And so I held her tightly, reaching for her face with my free hand, so I could let my thumb get heated by her lips.
They were so soft and warm. Inviting.
I wondered if I would ever kiss those lips again. If there was time enough to do so. If she would ever let me.
Irony hit me again. Just a few hours ago I wanted everything to stop, I had hated time and all its essence and now I only wanted more of it.
I could not help but bury my face in Bella's hair, her scent attacking me violently. I welcomed it, because I was not certain how much time we'd have left and the burn on my throat was evidence that she was with me and that we were together for now.
Bella seemed to be thinking similar thoughts as she clutched herself closer to me.
I kissed her forehead and the silk of her skin brushed against my lips in tiny electric sensations. I knew she had a million questions, some of them related to what would happen to us now, while others were likely to cover my whereabouts and possible anger for leaving her.
For the time being, however, it seemed she was happy I was here and I felt no resentment as she held on to me.
We were in the low, arched tunnel again where long trails of ebony moisture seeped down the gray stones, giving the tunnel a sinister feel and smell.
Bella was shaking, her teeth starting to chatter together from the coolness of both our skins.
Her clothes were wet – I realized she must have been running through the fountain on the Piazza to get to me - and the temperature underneath the city was wintry. Me touching her wasn't helping either.
I instantly let go of Bella, keeping only my hand locked with hers because I needed some kind of connection.
"N-n-no," she chattered, throwing her arms around me straight away.
I was relieved that she needed the connection too and so I could not let her go, even though my better judgment knew I should be concerned about her health and not my own –I was selfish as ever– feelings and the longing to hold her.
I chafed my hand against Bella's arm, trying to warm her with the friction though it had little use.
Bella's slow progress irritated Felix as he sighed audibly now and then.
This – naturally - angered me and I made a mental note to take him out if things would come to an actual fight. He'd be the first on my list.
At the end of the tunnel was the grate with the iron bars and I ducked through, pulling Bella along and hurried on to the larger, brighter stone room. The grille slammed shut with a clang, followed by the snap of a lock.
More obstacles to keep us from escaping.
The heavy wooden door at the end of the hall stood open and there was no choice but to step through.
As soon as we did, I felt Bella relax, for she was surprised with the décor of the reception room. It looked friendly.
I on the other hand knew her relief was false and temporarily which made me more tense.
This was definitely not a friendly room.
This was a welcome.
To hell.
A/N: So there, they have reunited. Next up will be the chapter "Verdict", the same as the one in New Moon. The remaining chapters will all be corresponding with the remaining chapters in New Moon.
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Extra note: FH is going on a little hiatus, since I am going to be vacationing for a month. Next update will probably be Mid-July at the latest, hopefully a little sooner.