*** This story contains some mild language, suspense, romance, and some frightening images and situations—13 and older, please.

(Please scroll down to read Part II of Chapter Thirty Two –added 3/18/09)

In the Grip of Twilight

By:

Olivia Tannis Moore

Chapter Thirty Two: Part I:

Evading the Guards

I smiled at the guards as I walked up to them. "Is there a restroom close?" I rubbed my right eyelid, "I have something in my eye." It was such a human thing to say. For a second it seemed to take them off guard. But then the shorter of the two said, "There are restrooms through those doors," and he pointed to a set of doors next to the ballroom.

"Thank you," I said, and hurried off before they could question me further. I darted through the doors and found myself in another small corridor. Afraid that the guards would follow me, I opened one of the doors at random and slipped in quietly. It was a small sitting room. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it. My mind was churning; I had to get back to Edward without the guards following me back to our rooms. But how does one sneak past vampires? They were all watching me.

"Is someone bothering you again?" a voice asked; and I startled, knowing that voice at once.

Demetri was peering around the high-backed leather chair, an open book dangled from his hand.

I was both embarrassed and relieved it was Demetri and not one of the other Volturi members. With my back plastered against the wooden door, it could only look as if I were trying to escape someone.

He was on his feet and at the door in an instant. His hand reached out to open it, but I didn't move out of his way. He looked at me strangely.

"No. No one's bothering me," I said. "I just got lost." It was half of the truth, at least.

"Where is Edward?" he asked, and I got the impression he didn't approve of Edward's absence, especially after the scene earlier.

"He went to make a phone call," I lied.

He was about to say something more, but stopped, his head tilting as if he were listening to something outside the door.

Then, a few seconds later, I heard it too. It was the heavy thud of boots in the corridor; the unmistakable marching footsteps of the guard.

Demetri's eyes went to the door as if he could see beyond it into the hall, then he looked down at me. He seemed to be drawing his own conclusions. A sudden pounding on one of the doors in the hall made me flinch.

With one swift motion Demetri moved me out of the way and opened the door enough to look out.

"Can I assist you gentlemen?" Demetri said in an annoyed tone.

Immediately the two guards went rigid and clicked the heels of their boots into formation.

"We were just looking for Miss Swan. Master Aro doesn't want her to go unattended," the taller guard said.

Demetri raised an eyebrow. "She's not unattended. She's with me," he said taking my arm and bringing me into view of the guards.

The guards looked sideways at one another. "Yes, sir. We're sorry, sir," they said at once. Then with one more fleeting glance and a sly grin, they turned and left the hall.

Demetri closed the door. He looked at me long and hard as if there was more to the situation than I was letting on.

"I should probably turn in," I said. "I've caused enough trouble for one night."

"You're no trouble." He said it in such a way that I flushed and looked down.

"Come on, I'll walk you to your room," he said. And I couldn't believe my luck. With Demetri escorting me there would be no need for the guards to follow. Maybe, if my luck held out, I could even say goodnight at the crosswalk, eliminating the need for him to escort me to my door.

I nodded. "Thank you."

We were passing the ballroom entrance when a young man came running up behind us.

"Marcus would like a word with you, sir. He wants you to wait for him in the ballroom."

I groaned inwardly at the thought of another delay.

Demetri nodded and looked down at me. "It shouldn't take long," he said, and I followed him into the ballroom where we sat on the same sofa I had sat with Edward earlier.

A saxophonist was ripping/playing a solo for the few remaining guests. We sat there for an awkward moment. I was trying not to fidget, or show my anxiousness to get back to my room. But I was replaying in my mind those horrible moments when I was with Edward the night he fought so hard against the virus. I felt I was letting him down, even betraying him somehow, as I sat there with Demetri.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked.

"If you had ever seen me dance you wouldn't ask me that." Besides, I couldn't imagine dancing, not with Edward back in his room in agony.

He shrugged. "I ask because that dress you're wearing looks like it's made for dancing—and you look beautiful in it."

"Yes, well, when you're as pale as I am, it probably shouldn't be your first choice to wear," I gazed around the room at the pale-skinned vampires, "or black or red…"

For the first time he genuinely laughed. The remaining guests turned and stared in our direction.

"You must not laugh very often," I said, indicating the faces that were curiously looking our way.

"I don't," he said, shaking his head as if he was surprised at himself. "Not since…" and he fell quiet.

But he didn't have to finish. "Who was she?" I asked. If I looked like this woman, smelled like her, I figured I had the right to know.

He seemed stunned that I'd guessed it was a woman who'd stolen his happiness. For a moment I didn't think he was going to answer, but then he said, "The only person who ever had the power to hurt me."

"And did she? …hurt you?"

"Just once," he replied.

"When she left you?"

He seemed unbearably sad as he appeared to be looking back in time. "Yes," he nodded, "when she left me."

I couldn't help my curiosity. "Was she human?"

He nodded. "We both were at the time. We'd known one another since childhood and we were to be married when I returned from battle. But it was a long brutal affair and I was wounded on the battlefield. That's where I was changed. I guess technically I died there."

"Oh…Which war was that?" I was thinking French Revolution, maybe, or something along that time period.

"Battle of Hastings."

"Dear God…" I mumbled. "But that was—"

"1066," he finished. "I was twenty-eight."

I couldn't believe that he was still carrying a torch for this woman after a millennium. But then I thought of Edward, and suddenly it didn't seem so impossible.

"Did she desert you while you were away in battle?" I couldn't bring myself to ask if she'd run off with another man.

He shook his head slowly. "I couldn't get to her in time. All this speed, this strength, and it didn't change a thing; I was still too late. They plundered her father's village, the castle, and then set everything afire. She didn't get out. I guess, in a way, we were both murdered."

"I suppose you found out who did it…"

"I did," he said flatly.

That didn't surprise me in the slightest. There was a restrained deadliness about him. He was well over six feet, with a lean, chiseled strength that promised speed and agility. And he was second only to Aro of vampires I wouldn't want to see Edward fight.

***

(I'll add to this chapter tomorrow as I've run out of time today. Thank you for your comments—I wanted to stay on the right track and it seems I have. See you tomorrow. And…thanks for reading! –OTM )

Chapter Thirty Two

Part II

"But I don't want to talk about vengeance and retribution…" he said. "My life with the Volturi is filled with such things."

He picked up my hand, and before I could pull away, put his lips to my fingers; they were warm. "How?" I wondered aloud.

He allowed my hand to slip away; my awe seemed to charm him. "It's only an illusion, a suggestion planted in your mind…see?" he whispered, but his lips did not move.

"So that's your talent…" I mused.

"Yes, that and I can pick a fly off a horse's tail at 200 yards…with bow and arrow."

"Impressive," I nodded. Then, my face grew hot, "Wait, does that mean you can read my mind?"

"Would I be impressive if I could read your mind?" he asked humorously.

"Of course. None of your kind has been able to do that. Not even Aro."

"Then I'm not impressive," he admitted. "Actually, I've never been good at reading others' thoughts—just imposing my will on their thoughts. I suppose it strikes a nice balance."

My eyes narrowed. "Did you do that to Edward? You two seem to be on better terms lately."

"No. My skills have a short affect." He shook his head, "That would've been exhausting. I just let him know that we both have your best interest at heart…and I apologized for being a jealous buffoon when we first met." He looked at me intently. "I have nothing against Edward personally—besides the fact that he found you first, in this lifetime at least."

Abruptly he stood, and when I looked up questioningly, he smiled. "Marcus is about to walk through the door," he told me. By the time I'd turned my head, Marcus was in the ballroom.

Demetri left me sitting on the sofa and went to Marcus. I looked at my wristwatch; it had only been fifteen minutes since I left Edward, but it seemed an eternity. What would I find when I went back to the room? But I shook those thoughts away—Edward wouldn't submit to the virus. He was too strong willed.

My attention was suddenly drawn back to Demetri and Marcus. Something had changed. Demetri's relaxed stance had turned rigid and he was scowling. Marcus seemed to be impassive; he shook his head, and then held something out to Demetri. For a long moment Demetri made no attempt to take the item that Marcus was trying to give him; he turned and met my eyes across the room, his face grim. My heart jumped inside my chest—whatever they were arguing about, I was certain it had to do with me. Then, he turned back to Marcus and snatched it from his hand.

Demetri stalked back to the sofa and I stood. "What's going on?"

Demetri wouldn't look at me. He sighed and grasped my upper arm. "Come on, I'm taking you back to your room."

"Is something wrong?" my voice wavered.

Again he didn't answer me. I nearly tripped as I tried to keep up with his pace as he led me from the ballroom and down the long hall. When we reached the glass-enclosed crosswalk, I looked up at him; his face was emotionless.

"I can find my way back to my room from here," I said, attempting to pull my arm away.

But he would have none of it. "I'm taking you to your room. Those are my orders."

"Why won't you tell me what's going on?" I asked. "Is it Edward?"

He walked faster and I had to run to keep up.

And then we were outside my door. I prayed that Edward would hear us and try to keep silent. Demetri's gaze swept from one end of the hall to the other as if he were making sure we were alone. "Go inside, Bella," he said, wearily.

I hung my head and whispered, "I can't. Edward has both our keys." I took a step toward Edward's door. But Demetri halted me with one arm and then reached down and turned the knob with the other. The door swung open. I knew I had locked it before leaving for the ballroom. I looked up at him. "You'd better tell me what's going on," I said, anger replacing the fear.

He put his finger to his mouth for me to be quiet, and then I heard his voice in my head.

"We're at war with the Lycans now. It's been officially declared." He hesitated, looking down at the floor. "I'm sorry, Bella. I swear to you—it wasn't my doing. But the Volturi have taken Edward. They're holding Edward as a traitor."

"No," I said, ending my agreement to remain silent. "No!" and then I was pushing at him.

In a flash he picked me up off my feet and I found myself deposited on my bed, and then he was back in the hall before I could gather my breath to scream again. I heard the lock's metallic click and knew that it was my key Marcus had given Demetri.

I was now their prisoner.

***

(Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow.—OTM )