Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, the New Moon dialogues, parts of the plot and character names. All other plotlines, dialogues, characterizations, 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 16: VERDICT
The hall way was brightly lit and warmer than the tunnel below.
It was the perfect setting for a comforting welcome, serving its purpose as intended.
How little would the unknowingly understand that this was not a warm welcome in the American sense at all. The only comparison to something warm would be the resemblance to the deepest pits of hell because that was the only thing this entire place represented.
Death, despair. Immortality, brutality. And so on. Many words could describe this place and what it represented. None of them would be able to safe us, if necessary.
Bella seemed a little more at ease here though which I understood. It was physically warmer and her skin reacted to that, automatically allowing her senses to make her feel more comfortable.
It was a misapprehension, however. She shouldn't feel comfortable here.
I pulled Bella along to where Jane was waiting by the elevator while Alice walked on Bella's other side.
We looked like two bodyguards trying to guide and protect her from what was to come below. Such a small gesture compared to the things she was about to witness. It pained me that I could not properly explain to Bella about the Volturi. I had covered some of it on the night of her disastrous birthday party and I had picked up from Alice's mind that she too had informed Bella to an extent, but it would never be enough to prepare her for whatever Aro was going to do with us. Even Alice and I couldn't be sure about our fate.
Once inside the elevator, Jane, Felix and Demetri threw back their cloaks, visibly more relaxed now that they had us trapped inside their walls and they were free of risking exposure.
Bella cowered in the corner, cringing against me. Her body heat was melting me and I would have basked in it at any other time but right now I could not allow myself to become distracted by getting lost in Bella's warmth and scent.
I rubbed my hand against her arm because I needed to do something to sooth her – and myself, the touch of her skin left my fingers tingling - while I kept a close eye on Jane. I knew what she was capable of when she wanted to and I could not bear the idea of Jane hurting Bella. It was one thing for her to dispel her power onto a creature resembling her own, but using it on a human was something I could not risk. Jane's thoughts gave no indication that she in fact wanted to harm Bella - she was designed to serve; she only followed Aro's orders, she'd never act on impulse - still I could not risk it.
The elevator opened and we were in the reception area again, where Gianna sat behind her desk. I could tell Bella was momentarily surprised by the décor and the human behind the desk.
The Italian young woman smiled politely in welcome. "Good afternoon, Jane," she said, perfectly comfortable. There was no surprise in her voice or mind, she was used to these theatrics and knew how to behave in them.
Jane nodded. "Gianna." She continued toward a set of double doors in the back of the room, and we all followed.
As Felix passed the desk, he winked at Gianna, and she giggled. Silly woman. He'd kill her if he had the chance. And he was hoping for that chance. None of them were planning on changing her, no matter how much she hoped for it.
On the other side of the wooden doors was a different kind of reception when Alec came forward to meet us. He smiled, reaching for his sister, his thoughts full of genuine delight to see her.
"Jane."
"Alec," she responded, embracing the boy. They kissed each other's cheeks on both sides.
Then he looked at Alice and me, his thoughts shifting to surprise because Bella was with us. He hadn't expected that.
"They send you out for one and you come back with two… and a half," he noted, looking at Bella again. "Nice work," he said approvingly.
Jane laughed. It was an eerie sound, like a wicked baby cooing, like someone hiding their true self under a veil of fake pleasantness. There was however nothing false about her laugh which made it even more disturbing.
Alec's ruby eyes left Bella's face as he turned to me "Welcome back, Edward," he greeted me. "You seem in a better mood."
"Marginally," I agreed in a flat voice. I didn't enjoy how Alec's thoughts wrapped around Bella's presence now that he had seen her. It felt threatening and I fought against my temper and the necessity to shield Bella from Aro's guard completely. Going against my instincts was hard but it was necessary. The last thing I needed was to set the guard off by my temper.
Alec chuckled, and examined Bella once more as she clung to my side.
"And this is the cause of all the trouble?" he asked, skeptical.
I smiled, my expression contemptuous, until I heard Felix in an echo of thoughts and words spoken aloud.
"Dibs," he called casually from behind.
I turned, a low snarl building deep in my chest. I knew I was giving Felix what he wanted, that I showed him he had an affect on me but I was unable to stop it.
Felix smiled, indeed pleased at my reaction—his hand was raised, palm up; he curled his fingers twice, inviting me forward. He had been waiting for this, he was eager to finally get the chance to fight me and he knew that any threat made against Bella would set me off.
And I would have jumped on him, if Alice hadn't stopped me. She touched my arm in warning.
"Patience," she cautioned.
If you ruin it now by giving them what they want; a fight, we won't get away at all, she added silently.
We still have a chance so keep it together, was all she offered.
I took a deep breath to calm myself and turned back to Alec, ignoring Felix' taunting thoughts at my expense.
"Aro will be so pleased to see you again," Alec said, as if nothing had passed in the few moments before.
"Let's not keep him waiting," Jane suggested dryly.
I simply nodded in response.
Alec and Jane, holding hands, led the way down the hall back to the Volturi chambers.
I tried to remain calm for Bella's sake because I knew I would scare her if she noticed I was not certain we'd make it out of here alive. She was already distressed enough – her heart was hammering, echoing off the walls – and I did not want to add to it.
Once we arrived and Jane walked into the room, I could feel Aro's spirits being lifted. It was odd for I was not like Jasper; I could not sense moods around people. But there was something very obvious about the bond between Aro and Jane. It was almost familiar, like a father who worried about his daughter, wishing upon a safe return home. But then, there was also an edge. Aro would dispose of her, if there was a need to do so. The loyalty within a family was absent and that weakened their bond. Not enough to pose a threat - I could not think about anything posing a threat to the Volturi - but it left holes in their impenetrable armor.
"Jane, dear one, you've returned!" Aro cried, his voice was just a soft sighing but it sounded exuberant and happy. I tasted a hint of relief in there too, though it was hard to decipher what that possible relief was based on.
He drifted forward, gliding to Jane, took her face in his hands and kissed her lightly on her full lips before floating back a step.
"Yes, Master." Jane smiled; the expression made her look like an angelic child. "I brought him back alive, just as you wished."
"Ah, Jane." He smiled, too. "You are such a comfort to me."
He turned his eyes toward us, and the smile brightened—became ecstatic even. If I had not been able to read the real joy in his thoughts, it would have been frightening.
"And Alice and Bella, too!" he rejoiced, clapping his thin hands together. "This is a happy surprise! Wonderful!"
I hid my frown at Aro's ecstatic response. It was odd to see any of these vicious creatures expressing some sort of happiness. There was something wrong and twisted about it because it was real and not a mask of false pretenses. They lived by their own rules and most of them were not kind, but in underneath the surface there were still a few human emotions lingering.
"Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this."
"Yes, Master." Felix nodded and disappeared back the way we had come.
Aro's penetrating gaze left Felix' retreating figure and he turned to me, smiling in a patronizing way.
"You see, Edward? What did I tell you? Aren't you glad that I didn't give you what you wanted yesterday?"
Was I glad? I was not entirely convinced my death would not have been better. Yes, I was amazed and beyond grateful for Bella's presence close to me, her heart pounding in my ears, her scent filling my nostrils - it was almost a miraculous experience. But what would be the cost? The Volturi never left anyone unpunished and I was not about to delude myself thinking that there was going to be a happy ending.
Hell didn't have happy endings.
"Yes, Aro, I am," I agreed, tightening my arm around Bella's waist for emphasis. It wasn't a lie. I was happy to have Bella close to me, to have a world in which Bella existed, even if the cost of being here might end up being a very high price to pay.
"I love a happy ending." Aro sighed. "They are so rare. But I want the whole story. How did this happen? Alice?"
He turned to gaze at Alice with curious, misty eyes. "Your brother seemed to think you infallible, but apparently there was some mistake."
A mistake indeed, although that was certainly an understatement. It would have been more prudent if I had checked with Alice before going to Volterra instead of believing Rosalie's words and those of Jacob Black blindly - but they had confirmed my worst fears at the time and I had acted on impulse after hearing them, my mind unable to find reason in the aftermath of dealing. And maybe Alice should've been more careful informing the family about what she had seen, knowing how Rosalie would have explained her vision. But my fault or hers, it didn't matter now. The damage was done and we were all here, dealing with the outcome as well as we could manage. All we could hope for was mercy. And frail as that hope might be, we all had to hold on to something.
"Oh, I'm far from infallible." Alice flashed a dazzling smile in response to Aro's remark
And she looked perfectly at ease, except that her hands were balled into tight little fists. I knew my sister, she was tense. She was only smiling to give off the impression she was calm. In her mind her thoughts were filled with escape plans and lots of Jasper. I decided to tune her out a little - only focusing on any thoughts directed at me or Bella, wanting to give her that privacy. And her thoughts were fuzzy because she was anxious underneath her composed façade.
"As you can see today, I cause problems as often as I cure them," Alice pointed out.
"You're too modest," Aro chided. "I've seen some of your more amazing exploits, and I must admit I've never observed anything like your talent. Wonderful!"
Alice flickered a questioning glance at me. One that Aro did not miss, of course.
"I'm sorry; we haven't been introduced properly at all, have we? It's just that I feel like I know you already, and I tend get ahead of myself. Your brother introduced us yesterday, in a peculiar way. You see, I share some of your brother's talent, only I am limited in a way that he is not."
Aro shook his head; his tone was envious. While his gift was stronger than mine, his was useless without physical contact. This did make mine pretty impressive, I supposed. Still, to hear one's every thought ever that was power on an entirely different level. I could hear thoughts but they were fleeting and while my memory was flawless and I usually remembered every thought I had picked up on, I couldn't go back in time the way Aro could and have thoughts replay themselves to me back to back.
"And also exponentially more powerful," I added dryly, pointing out to Alice and Bella how powerful Aro was.
I looked at Alice as I quickly explained. "Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts, but he hears much more than I do. You know I can only hear what's passing through your head in the moment. Aro hears every thought your mind has ever had."
Alice raised her eyebrows, asking me silent questions.
Every thought?
I nodded slightly.
"But to be able to hear from a distance…" Aro sighed. "That would be so convenient."
His mind flashed back to the request he had made earlier when he had offered me to join his guard. He regretted the fact I had declined and he was still hoping I would reconsider. He briefly pondered on asking Alice to join, but then his mindset was interrupted as he looked over our shoulders. All the other heads turned in the same direction, including Jane, Alec, and Demetri, who stood silently beside us.
Felix was back with Marcus and Caius.
Whatever Aro had been doing up until now - perhaps making small talk, or simply being hospitable - was shifting now.
The air was becoming thick with strange anticipation. The Guard hoped for blood, Aro looked for peace. Marcus and Caius were undecided for now and their thoughts gave little away about the course of action they'd ultimately take. Alice remained calm but her mind displayed lots of images of Jasper, which meant she was preparing for a possible execution.
Bella's mind was silent, but heart and occasional shallow breathing gave away that she too feared what was to come next.
"Marcus, Caius, look!" Aro crooned. "Bella is alive after all, and Alice is here with her! Isn't that wonderful?"
Neither of the other two looked as if wonderful would be their first choice of words and their thoughts resembled that. There was a hint of curiosity with Marcus, but Caius was only interested in settling on a punishment. He was not one for details; he just knew the one law vampires had, was broken: someone – a human no less - knew about our existence and that was a death sentence.
"Let us have the story," Aro demanded from Marcus, who paused beside Aro, reaching his hand out while Caius glided toward one of the wooden thrones.
As Aro briefly touched his brother's hand, Marcus showed him the depth of the relationship between Bella and me. I could sense that Bella was fascinated by their encounter – momentarily overruling her fears - although her mind stayed as inaccessible to me as ever.
"Thank you, Marcus," Aro said. "That's quite interesting."
Marcus was surprised by what he had sensed.
It's very rare, very intense. A genuine true love.
It makes me sick.
I had to snort at that, causing Alice to look at me in wonder again.
Aro was shaking his head, sharing Marcus' surprise without the resentment
"Amazing," he said. "Absolutely amazing."
Alice's expression was frustrated now.
What are they doing?
I turned to her and explained.
"Marcus sees relationships. He's surprised by the intensity of ours."
Aro smiled. "So convenient," he repeated to himself. Then he spoke to us. "It takes quite a bit to surprise Marcus, I can assure you."
Marcus' face remained stone like illustrating what Aro had said.
"It's just so difficult to understand, even now," Aro mused, staring at how I held Bella close. He didn't understand it, but he was fascinated by it.
"How can you stand so close to her like that?"
"It's not without effort," I answered calmly.
"But still—la tua cantante! What a waste!"
La tua cantante. My singer. Bella's blood sang to me, according to Aro. My mind took one second to go back to the first time I had smelled her and how badly I had wanted to kill her after that. Her blood had sung to me from the moment we met and still did, though it had never been as painful again as it had been that day. Not even when I had tasted her to suck the venom out when James had bit her. My body was used to self preservation as much as it had adapted to the instinct of keeping Bella safe. Even if it meant the thirst would not be quenched.
I chuckled once without humor. "I look at it more as a price."
It was a price. For a soulless being like me, it was a gift, a reward to have found my true love, even if it had been a struggle NOT to kill her.
Aro was skeptical. "A very high price."
"Opportunity cost."
Aro laughed. "If I hadn't smelled her through your memories, I wouldn't have believed the call of anyone's blood could be so strong. I've never felt anything like it myself. Most of us would trade much for such a gift, and yet you…"
"Waste it," I finished his sentence in a sarcastic tone.
It made sense that Aro would find Bella's blood a gift, while I found her blood - or at least the smell of it - the torment that came with the gift of her life.
Aro laughed again. "Ah, how I miss my friend Carlisle! You remind me of him—only he was not so angry."
"Carlisle outshines me in many other ways as well."
"I certainly never thought to see Carlisle bested for self-control of all things, but you put him to shame."
"Hardly," I spoke.
I was getting tired of this. It was one thing to chit-chat but the reality was there this was a sentencing, no matter how nice and curious Aro behaved. Marcus' thoughts seemed neutral still with only the slightest of fascination– he didn't care about our fate one way or the other, while Caius watched and debated what would be an appropriate way of dealing with the situation. It seemed innocent but it was undeniable that this was a setting where we'd be trialed and rather sooner than later I wanted to know what would happen to us so I could concentrate on a way to get Bella – and hopefully Alice and myself – out of here.
Aro would have none of it though and seemed in no hurry to speed things along or simply get to the point. I was not certain if he would not change his mind later, but for the moment he actually leaned towards letting us live and I knew that this was a fragile decision, that setting him or any of the others off could change it in a heartbeat.
Figure of speech.
"I am gratified by his success," Aro mused. "Your memories of him are quite a gift for me, though they astonish me exceedingly. I am surprised by how it… pleases me, his success in this unorthodox path he's chosen. I expected that he would waste, weaken with time. I'd scoffed at his plan to find others who would share his peculiar vision. Yet, somehow, I'm happy to be wrong."
"But your restraint!" Aro sighed. "I did not know such strength was possible. To inure yourself against such a siren call, not just once but again and again—if I had not felt it myself, I would not have believed."
I held Bella tight as I listened to Aro's musings. I knew he could smell her - we all could - and that the wetness of her clothes strengthened her scent even more.
"Just remembering how she appeals to you…" Aro chuckled. "It makes me thirsty."
I tensed at his words.
"Don't be disturbed," Aro reassured me, picking up on my discomfort. "I mean her no harm. But I am so curious, about one thing in particular."
I'd like to read her thoughts. I am curious to see if I can access them.
He eyed Bella with bright, almost childlike interest. "May I?" he asked eagerly, lifting one hand in her direction, while directing the question at me.
"Ask her," I suggested in a flat voice.
I didn't want him to touch her. One, I knew his skin felt delicate and that Bella would feel uncomfortable touching him and I didn't want to put her through that. But also, a sense of possible envy came over me as I thought of the possibility that he could access her every thought whereas I could not even access one. I didn't want him to be the one to read her mind, her every thought ever. Then there was the idea that I could read her thoughts in Aro's mind as he let them pass. I didn't know if I wanted to invade her privacy like that, even unintentionally.
But I knew there was very little choice, for as Bella would probably not want to anger Aro by declining. This was a good thing too; pleasing him so far seemed the only ticket out of here.
"Of course, how rude of me!" Aro exclaimed. "Bella," he addressed her directly now. "I'm fascinated that you are the one exception to Edward's impressive talent—so very interesting that such a thing should occur! And I was wondering, since our talents are similar in many ways, if you would be so kind as to allow me to try—to see if you are an exception for me, as well?"
Like I had expected, Bella's eyes flashed up to mine in terror. I nodded in encouragement, believing it was better to indulge Aro and get it over with.
Bella turned back to Aro and raised her hand slowly. It was trembling.
Aro glided closer and reached out, as if to shake her hand, and then pressed his skin against hers.
Aro's face altered as I watched. The confidence wavered and became first doubt and then incredulity before he molded it back into a friendly mask.
Nothing. He could read nothing.
I was relieved to know it was not just a glitch in my power, but also his. And it was reassuring to know he could not read Bella's thoughts and possibly use them against her.
"So very interesting," he said as he released Bella's hand and drifted back. Bella looked up at me and I stared back for a moment before refocusing on Aro.
He was quiet for a moment, his eyes flickering between the three of us. Then, he shook his head as if trying to shake it off but I knew better. Before he spoke the words, the thoughts of what he wanted to try next flashed in his mind and they hit me like a ton of bricks.
"A first," he said to himself "I wonder if she is immune to our other talents… Jane, dear?"
Jane's power. It was one thing to try and read someone's thoughts, but Jane's power was physical. She could cause vampires great mental pain, which meant she could do even more damage with a human. I felt partially stupid for not anticipating Aro's test – so to speak – but the horror of having Bella experience that grabbed me and forced me to get violently protective.
"No!" I snarled the word. Alice grabbed my arm with a restraining hand but I shook her off.
Jane smiled up happily at Aro. "Yes, Master?"
I snarled again, hissing and growling at Jane, the sound ripping causing the room to become instantly quiet. I knew what I did was dangerous because I was on the verge of attacking anyone in the guard or even the Volturi themselves if I had to, which was be a death sentence regardless. But if it prevented Jane from torturing Bella, then I would gladly take the risk.
Felix was ready to jump me, but Aro stopped him before he could.
Then he spoke to Jane. "I was wondering, my dear one, if Bella is immune to you."
I growled again, the sound rolling off the thick walls like thunder. I sprung into a coil and while Jane stared at Bella with an inhumane terrifying smile, I launched myself at her.
"Don't!" Alice cried as I moved.
And then I was on the ground, a million tiny pricks of a needle penetrating my skin. Sharp blades cutting through my flesh, bullets tearing my muscles.
With Jane it was all psychological, I knew the pain wasn't real, but that didn't make it hurt any less. It was like slowly being killed, without actually dying.
There was nothing but endless agony.
"Stop!" Bella shrieked, her voice faintly echoing in the silence. I vaguely noticed how she tried to jump between me and Jane - sacrificing herself again, like she had with James - but Alice threw her arms around Bella in an unbreakable grasp before she could.
"Jane," Aro recalled her in a tranquil voice. She looked up quickly, still smiling with pleasure, her eyes questioning. As soon as Jane looked away from me, I was still.
The pain was gone but the aftermath had me breathing heavily and I momentarily felt too weak to fight Jane's attempt to put Bella through the same torment, watching powerlessly as the little girl focused her eyes on Bella.
"He's fine," Alice whispered to Bella in a tight voice.
I sprang to my feet and Bella didn't even seem to realize what Jane was doing as her eyes locked in with mine and I wished more than ever that I could read her thoughts and protect her from this.
I looked at Bella and then at Jane and I knew that Jane was trying to penetrate whatever pain barrier there was between her and Bella.
Nothing happened.
I moved to Bella's side, touched Alice 's arm, and she surrendered her to me.
Aro started to laugh. "Ha, ha. ha," he chuckled. "This is wonderful!"
Jane hissed in frustration, leaning forward like she was preparing to spring.
"Don't be put out, dear one," Aro said in a comforting tone, placing a powder-light hand on her shoulder.
"She confounds us all."
I didn't have much time to ponder on what this meant but made a mental note to talk to Carlisle about this. It was beyond remarkable that Bella did seem immune to certain powers but not to all.
"Ha, ha, ha," Aro chortled again. "You're very brave, Edward, to endure in silence. I asked Jane to do that to me once—just out of curiosity." He shook his head in admiration.
I glared, disgusted.
"So what do we do with you now?" Aro sighed.
I stiffened and Alice did the same. This was what we had been waiting for and while Aro's musings had delayed the inevitable, the final ruling was here.
"I don't suppose there's any chance that you've changed your mind?" Aro asked me hopefully.
"Your talent would be an excellent addition to our little company."
I hesitated. Not because I wanted to join - I had no intention of doing that, ever. But there was something to Aro's offer.
It was manipulation. They were using the law to their own benefit. If it gained them something they were willing to overlook things. It wasn't a surprise, but I wondered if I could use it as an advantage, perhaps. The law was the one thing they truly respected, even if they bend the rules occassionally. I just needed the chance to point out their hypocrisy - while a risky move - it would be the kind of reasoning they could not ignore.
"I'd… rather… not." I said, speaking each word with preciseness.
"Alice?" Aro asked, still hopeful. "Would you perhaps be interested in joining with us?"
"No, thank you," Alice said.
"And you, Bella?" Aro raised his eyebrows.
This threw me, for I had not expected it. It wasn't a request to stay for dinner - and be the main course - Aro was actually thinking about turning Bella into a vampire for his guard because he was impressed by her power.
Before my disapproving hiss could set off the Guard, it was Caius who broke the silence in surprise.
"What?" he demanded of Aro; his voice, though no more than a whisper.
"Caius, surely you see the potential," Aro chided him affectionately. "I haven't seen a prospective talent so promising since we found Jane and Alec. Can you imagine the possibilities when she is one of us?"
Caius looked away with a caustic expression. Jane's eyes sparked with indignation at the comparison.
The anger and the absurdity rumbled in my chest, ready to explode in a fierce growl but Bella's whispered "No, thank you," stopped me before I could.
Aro sighed. "That's unfortunate. Such a waste."
I had been right. They were willing to bend the rules if it gained them powerful vampires.
"Join or die, is that it?" I hissed. "I suspected as much when we were brought to this room. So much for your laws."
"Of course not." Aro blinked, astonished. "We were already convened here, Edward, awaiting Heidi's return. Not for you."
Right, they were waiting for dinner. A gourmet of unsuspecting tourists was about to come up. No wonder they wanted to wrap this up so suddenly.
"Aro," Caius hissed. "The law claims them."
They exposed us; the law upholds that we terminate them for it.
I glared at Caius. "How so?" I demanded, responding to his thoughts, demanding him to speak them aloud so I could make my move.
Caius pointed at Bella. "She knows too much. You have exposed our secrets."
"There are a few humans in on your charade here, as well," I reminded him coolly.
Caius smirked at my words, leaving my attempt to argue the sentence unsuccesful.
"Yes," he agreed. "But when they are no longer useful to us, they will serve to sustain us. That is not your plan for this one. If she betrays our secrets, are you prepared to destroy her? I think not," he scoffed.
DDamn it, he had a point that I could not argue with.
"I wouldn't—," Bella began, still whispering but Caius silenced her with an icy glare.
"Nor do you intend to make her one of us," Caius continued. "Therefore, she is a vulnerability. Though it is true, for this, only her life is forfeit. You may leave if you wish."
Of course. They would not kill us all, just the human, since it was only their humans who would meet the same fate if they'd become a liability. Also, Caius did see the potential of Alice or me joining the Volturi someday the same way Aro did and killing us two was not preferable because of it.
I bared my teeth at Caius, who seemed unimpressed by my threat.
"That's what I thought," Caius said, with something akin to pleasure. Felix leaned forward, eager.
"Unless…" Aro interrupted. He looked unhappy with the way the conversation had gone. He wanted all of us to live, ironically. Or rather he wanted Bella to become one of us.
"Unless you do intend to give her immortality?"
Immortality. The price to pay for getting out of here alive. Bella would not die at the teeth of the Volturi, but she would die nonetheless. That seemed like an unfair trade.
But it would mean I would get to keep her forever which was better than her actual death.
I hesitated before answering, thinking of earlier when she had come to save me, when heaven had been in my grip, an angel in my arms. An afterlife with Bella.
What if it could become forever with Bella? Was I willing to risk her soul for that?
There was no fair answer, only a selfish one.
I was.
"And if I do?"
Aro smiled, happy again. "Why, then you would be free to go home and give my regards to my friend Carlisle." His expression turned more hesitant. "But I'm afraid you would have to mean it."
Aro raised his hand in front of me, eager to read my thoughts to see if I was going to mean it.
Caius, who had begun to scowl furiously, relaxed. He was certain I didn't mean it.
I stared at Bella and she stared back, her eyes pleading.
"Mean it," she whispered. "Please."
I tried to decipher if she pleaded with me, so that her life would be spared - for now- or if she was serious about her request. Did she want forever with me? Or did she think the life of an immortal was that appealing?
I knew she had expressed her desire to become a vampire before and that her devotion to me had been genuine but things had changed. I had left her for months and appeared to have broken her in the process of acting on my own stupidity. Alice's visions had shown me glimpses of the pain and the depression she had been in, though it was filtered through Charlie's eyes, meaning it was probably worse than what Alice had showed me.
That pain, pain I had caused, could be reason enough for her to hate me. But she didn't. She held on to me like a lifeline. Like she still wanted me. Forever even. Though could it be the idea of forever was more appealing than spending it with me? I didn't want to believe that - Bella loved me as much as humanly possible - but her eagerness to give up her human life was strange to me.
I was still torn between what was right – keeping her human, because she shouldn't be trapped in an endless life - although right now it seemed like she didn't have much time left anyway - and my selfish desire to be with her always.
And then, before I could settle on a decision Alice stepped away from us, forward toward Aro. We turned to watch her. Her hand was raised like his and Aro waved off his anxious guard as they moved to block her approach. Aro met her halfway, and took her hand with an eager, acquisitive glint in his eyes.
He bent his head over their touching hands, his eyes closing as he concentrated. Alice was motionless, her face blank.
My teeth snapped together at what she showed him. It was the vision I had seen more than once and yet I could still not process it without feeling anger and sadness wash over me. Bella's ruby eyes, the look of a newborn, her body made of marble, her face frozen in time. Alice teeth delicately sinking into her neck, because she had promised Bella she would change her.
I fumed at whatever had made Alice decide this – apparently she was tired of all the drama surrounding the decision, I'd gathered from her thoughts, also knowing she had kept this from me before when she had conveniently hid behind the preoccupation of dealing with the Volturi.
Also, her visions were as subjective as ever and what she showed Aro didn't have to come to pass if Alice would break her promise. I was not certain what bothered me more; Alice's promise; it was not hers to make or the fact she may be giving Bella false hope which could crush her if Alice decided not to follow through. Not to mention the possibility Alice was using her decision to try and get me to do it.
I ached at the certainty in the pictures, frame after frame showing me the inevitability of Bella's future, whether she wanted it or not. Whether she wanted me or not.
She would become one of us. And there was a part of me which welcomed this so much. Perhaps that disgusted me the most. I had already broken Bella more than once, time after time I endangered her and still I wanted the very essence of her: her life. I didn't deserve it.
Aro's voice broke the silence.
"Ha, ha, ha," he laughed, his head still bent forward. He looked up slowly, his eyes bright with excitement. "That was fascinating!"
Alice smiled dryly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"To see the things you've seen—especially the ones that haven't happened yet!" He shook his head in wonder.
"But that will," she reminded him, voice calm.
"Yes, yes, it's quite determined. Certainly there's no problem."
Caius looked bitterly disappointed—a feeling he seemed to share with Felix and Jane.
"Aro," Caius complained.
"Dear Caius," Aro smiled. "Do not fret. Think of the possibilities! They do not join us today, but we can always hope for the future. Imagine the joy young Alice alone would bring to our little household… Besides, I'm so terribly curious to see how Bella turns out!"
We were free to leave, now that it appeared that Bella would become an immortal and Aro still had his chance to have us join his coven someday. He held onto that and his curiosity on how the future would play itself out. Ironically curiosity wasn't killing the cat today. It saved us.
Aro seemed convinced, for now and that was enough. Marcus cared too little and Caius was not going against Aro, surprisingly.
"Then we are free to go now?" I asked in an even voice.
"Yes, yes," Aro said pleasantly. "But please visit again. It's been absolutely enthralling!"
"And we will visit you as well," Caius promised darkly. "To be sure that you follow through on your side. Were I you, I would not delay too long. We do not offer second chances."
I nodded once, knowing he was completely serious. I couldn't bring myself to care much though; I was only focused on getting out of here as soon as - humanly - possible.
Caius smirked and drifted back to where Marcus still sat, unmoving and uninterested.
Felix groaned in disappointment.
"Ah, Felix." Aro smiled, amused. "Heidi will be here at any moment. Patience."
Humans, I could smell them faintly but the scent was getting stronger, because they were approaching rather fast. I did not want Bella to witness that. Nor did I want the frenzy that was about to erupt in this room to become a problem and jeopardize her.
"Hmm. In that case, perhaps we'd better leave sooner rather than later," I urged.
"Yes," Aro agreed. "That's a good idea. Accidents do happen. Please wait below until after dark, though, if you don't mind."
"Of course," I agreed.
"And here," Aro added, motioning to Felix with one finger. Felix came forward at once, and Aro unfastened the gray cloak he wore, pulling from his shoulders. He tossed it to me.
"Take this. You're a little conspicuous."
I put the long cloak on, leaving the hood down. The fabric felt unnatural against my skin, because I knew what Aro would see. A future member of his coven.
Aro sighed and spoke the words I expected. "It suits you."
I chuckled once because I had been right about my assumption at Aro's pleasure to see me wear this, but as I could hear human thoughts and smell human scents drift closer I became anxious to leave.
"Thank you, Aro. We'll wait below."
"Goodbye, young friends," Aro said, his eyes bright as he stared in the same direction.
"Let's go," I said, pulling Bella along, while Demetri gestured that we should follow, and then headed the way we'd come in.
"Not fast enough," Alice muttered. I could see the images of death exploding in her mind; innocent humans paying the price for their curiosity. Someone had to, today it seemed.
Bella stared up at my sister, frightened and curious, her eyes full of silent questions, worry and exhaustion. We had to move fast, because Bella was not going to last much longer. Her body was already slightly slumping and her emotions were about to break free. I didn't want her to fall apart here.
"Well this is unusual," a man's coarse voice boomed through the hall way. Their thoughts were becoming louder so they were definitely getting closer and fast. It would be near impossible to miss them.
It looks suspicious. This better not be one of this property money scams.
"So medieval," an unpleasantly shrill, female voice gushed back.
It's nice but chilly.
A large crowd was coming through the little door, filling the small stone chamber. Most of the thoughts remained relatively calm, only some were becoming worried or suspicious. None of them were prepared for what would be their final moments and we could not even safe them, because it would instantly revoke the decision to let us go.
Bella's safety matters, only hers, I told myself as the humans approached us. It was sad that these people were going to get killed and we would likely audibly witness this, but for once I felt my selfishness was justified.
Demetri motioned for us to make room so that the humans could pass. We pressed back against the cold wall to let them.
The couple in front, Americans from the sound of them, glanced around themselves with appraising eyes.
"Welcome, guests! Welcome to Volterra!" I could hear Aro sing from the big turret room.
The rest of them, maybe forty or more, filed in after the couple. Some studied the setting like tourists. A few even snapped pictures. Others looked confused, as if the story that had led them to this room was not making sense anymore.
Bella looked surprised and scared and I pulled her face against my chest as if that would protect her from what was going to happen in that room.
But she already understood and her heart picked up speed and her breath labored in fear and as soon as the smallest break appeared, I pushed Bella quickly toward the door.
The hallway was quiet and empty except for Heidi, one of the vampire guards, the one who had brought the humans in. She had mahogany hair and her eyes were violet—a color that resulting from blue-tinted contacts over red irises. I supposed she was considered beautiful by humans; the perfect bait, as well as the fisherman.
She stared at us curiously; Bella in particular, wondering if she too was intended to be brought in there and slightly disappointed to realize we were on our way out and not staying for dinner.
"Welcome home, Heidi," Demetri greeted her from behind us.
Heidi smiled absently as Bella stared at her.
"Demetri," she responded, her eyes flickering between Bella's face and my gray cloak.
"Nice fishing," Demetri complimented her.
"Thanks." She flashed a superior smile. "Aren't you coming?"
"In a minute. Save a few for me."
Heidi nodded and ducked through the door with one last curious look at Bella.
I tried to set a pace that had Bella almost running, wanting to prevent her from experiencing the horror that was about to unfold.
We pushed through the door at the end of the hallway - but not before the screaming started, causing Bella to start trembling.
I pulled her along, keeping her as close as I could, leaving the deepest pits of hell behind, while the sounds of mayhem and death echoed behind us.
It's been a while and we're reaching the end. I know this is not the most exciting story, because it's a story we all know. I am only trying to do Edward's voice justice and hopefully I (occasionally) succeed.
Thanks for all the support! Without it I might have given up a long time ago since this story is hard to write. But all of you who read it, make me want to keep going :)
If you like rambles and want to know when I update, follow me on Twitter: twitter(dot)com(slash)bronzehyperion
Happy weekend!