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

In the Grip of Twilight

By:

Olivia Tannis Moore

Chapter Seventy Eight:

Back to Volturi Castle: Part One

Reforming Adel had taken longer than I'd expected, and now I felt more like an intruder as Zeke's face held a peace and love that I found myself envying. I suddenly wished that all that still awaited me at the Volturi Castle was already finished, that Alice was back with the Jasper and the Cullens, and all I had to do was walk back to Muriel's and gather Edward in my arms and go home. I was eager to talk to Edward and share with him Adel's miraculous change, as I was proud of my first reformation, triumphant actually, as it gave me a boost of confidence that Aro could be defeated. But that conversation would have to wait.

Now that the peculiar weakness had passed, I felt more like myself. My legs and arms were stronger and I rose from the grass feeling more like myself. Zeke opened the door and we went inside the dark cottage.

I checked in on Adel before I left Zeke's cottage; she was sleeping, which was exactly what she should've been doing after such a traumatic and exhausting experience. She didn't stir when I smoothed her long red hair back away from her face and gently kissed her cheek. And as I hurried down the path on my way back to Muriel's cottage, I thought about Adel and the reformation process I'd just preformed. After discovering Adel's true nature and finding it angelically sweet, I could consider myself very lucky, for there was a window of time there when Aro could have transformed me with his evil venom. Like Zeke, I considered Aro's venom to be vile and evil; I believed it destroyed everything and everybody it came into contact with—and more, I believed it empowered Aro when it did destroy, even when it destroyed something he supposedly loved, if he even knew what love meant, which I doubted.

I inhaled deeply. My most difficult task was still ahead. There was no doubt in my mind that Aro had imprisoned Alice somewhere in the castle. But why? Why not imprison all the Cullens? Did Alice do something? Stumble onto something? Did she somehow pose a threat we weren't aware of?

I wondered, miserably, if I was being too optimistic about Alice…Aro could've easily eliminated her by now. But my mind was unwilling to go down that dark avenue. I never wanted to see the look on Jasper's face if someone had to tell him that Alice was no longer with us. God help us all if that ever came to pass.

I pushed those thoughts away and sprinted faster through the forest, the speed allowing my legs to stretch and the briars to fall away to the side.

When I emerged from the path my eyes were drawn to the red handkerchief Muriel was wearing over her hair. She stood on the narrow front porch as if she expecting me, hands on her hips, face passive except for the hint of a smile on her lips. "You did well, Halfling," she said as I approached the porch, "I knew you could do it."

"I still could've used your support," I mumbled irritably.

Muriel shook her head. "I couldn't leave…there was unfinished business here, some final runes to cast."

Those runes again. I sighed but didn't say anything more.

"Besides," she continued, "I'm more concerned with your activities tonight."

I froze; Muriel was concerned? My heart seemed to skip a beat. "What do you mean? Did you see something in the runes?"

Her eyes flickered and then became guarded. "It's a dangerous mission even without trying to secure the God's Eye. That's all you need to know."

I stomped my foot against the porch floor. "If you know something at least have the decency to tell Dimetri—he's the one that's going after your God's Eye."

She glared at me, clearly annoyed with my angry outburst. "I was too late to tell Dimetri anything. When I came back from casting the runes, he'd already gone."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Gone? He's left to go back to the castle?"

"I suppose he has," Muriel said flatly. "I thought he was going to wait until sundown, but the afternoon sun was still above the horizon."

My jaw dropped. Did he leave early on purpose? Did he somehow know that I would try and follow him? Was I that transparent? I thought I had been pretty discrete, but evidently, not.

I looked at the closed door and the pulled curtains. "Don't tell anyone where I've gone," I told her. "I'll explain everything when I get back."

"And what about Edward?" Muriel's tone was scolding. "Will you keep him in the dark, as well?"

I straightened and looked her in the eye. "I plan on explaining everything to Edward when I get back.

Her face softened a bit. "Good," she murmured. "Because I hate to see him suffering so."

"Suffering?" I said, wondering if Muriel would ever lose the ability to catch me off-guard.

"He knows something is going on with you, Halfling. He's just waiting around for you to tell him just what that something is." She fixed me with her ancient eyes. "And he's been more patient than you probably deserve."

My breath caught in my throat. "I was trying to protect him—"

Muriel's voice was a mere whisper, "From what? Or should I ask, from whom?"

I turned away from her and looked up at the trees. "It doesn't matter…" I said vaguely, turning in the direction of Volterra. "I've gotta go."

I didn't turn to look back, not even when Muriel softly called out, "West side…go to the west side of the castle to get in. That's where he was heading…"

***

(Thanks for reading. See you next week. OTM)