*** 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 Nine:

Back to Volturi Castle: Part Two

The west side of the castle wasn't easy to get to. Once within the city, a labyrinth of narrow alleys seemed to close in, or abruptly end, as if trying to confuse the traveler, or at the very least make it an unsettling journey. As I made my way through this maze, I looked for drainage tunnels. These Volturi rabbit holes that marked an entrance into the castle were deliberately hard to find, and I lingered longer than necessary along each stretch of new passageway searching the ground and walls. But I didn't find a single rabbit hole.

I was beginning to think I had made a wrong turn somewhere. The alleyways had increasingly narrowed until I could touch each side of the brick walls with my outstretched hands. But then, just when I thought the passageways couldn't get any narrower, and I must be on the wrong path…the alley emptied into a deserted courtyard.

Banked against a looming brick wall, this portion of the castle was ancient and crumbly, more so than the decrepit stone staircase on the southeast side that I was more familiar with. Rubble piles littered the ground where it appeared someone had started to repair the walls and simply given up, only to leave it in a state worse than before… and to my disgust, everywhere clouds of black flies buzzed noisily in the air.

I slapped at the flies as they found me and hovered around my head, relentless in their pesky droning and desire to crawl upon my skin. I covered my ears picked my way carefully across these mounds of rubble to the walls of the castle. Here on the ground, it was a startling contrast; I had only to look up to see the new and ultra-modern additions to the castle the Volturi had built on top of the ruined, the glass and steel towers, the gleaming catwalk that led to the ballroom...

It was shocking—the Volturis with all their money and influence had neglected this portion of the castle. It was as if they had forgotten it ever existed. Here on the ground level, years of erosion had worn away at the mottled grey stone as if some places a gigantic rat had tried to nibble its way through. In spite of this, there was still no opening into the interior of the castle; it was still impenetrable. I would have to find another way inside.

Surely there was an easier way to find the entrance, I thought, slapping wildly at the swarm of flies. I sighed heavily. I was suddenly sure the entrance wasn't here at the wall. It would be too easy. If only I hadn't missed Dimetri's departure—he had probably slipped into the castle effortlessly even from this point; the captain of the guard would know every crevice and secret entrance to the compound.

The minutes flew by as I searched the ground for evidence of a trap door similar to the ones that led to and from the underground tunnels. But I found nothing but cobble stone and asphalt underneath my feet. It was nearly completely dark now, with just a sliver of the moon poking through the thick clouds to light my way as I continued to search the length of the stone walls.

I stopped my search and looked at my watch. Already I'd been here in the decrepit courtyard for over an hour and was no closer than before to finding a way inside. Frustrated and running out of options, I leaned against the wall and rubbed my eyes. I couldn't waste any more time. As much as I wanted to do this on my own, I had to have his help.

My thoughts went forth like tendrils of smoke, Dimetri?

There was no answer, only that strange static of a phone left out of its cradle.

I concentrated and tried again. Dimetri? In the quiet, I sensed he heard me, just as I sensed a tension coming from his end. For the briefest of moments, I felt the flurry of panic build inside him before it stopped cold in its tracks, and I knew he was attempting to hide something from me. What's the matter? I asked. Unease crept into my thoughts before my own sheer panic followed, fed by his fear, and prompting me to say anxiously, Come on, answer me, damn it!

And then, as if from some distant place—the moon for all I knew—his voice came through faint and hazy… and infinitely sad. Go back, Isabeau. Go back to Muriel's and don't come back.

Something wasn't right. Beyond the sadness in Dimetri's voice, there was a distinct warning.

A shiver raced down my spine. I knew the answer even before I asked the question. He has you, doesn't he? He's captured you. He knows!

It was then that I felt the bolt of pain rack his body, and Dimetri trying in vain to block its transmission to me. He didn't want me to know. It was bad, I thought, real bad.

No…no… he whispered. It took a second for me to realize that he wasn't speaking to me. There was a hazy image of Aro's long spidery fingers grazing Dimetri's forehead, attempting to probe for the information hidden there…and Dimetri turning his head from side to side to evade his probe. His jaws clenched so tightly against Aro's mental assault that I could see the muscles bulge and hear his teeth grind together.

I shuddered, hoping Aro wasn't witness to our communication. Hang on, just hang on, I told him feverishly. I'm coming for you.

No. Go…home. It seemed his words took superhuman effort. I felt guilty as it seemed he was trying to fight off Aro and my appearance at the castle at the same time.

I bit my lip. Going home was out of the question. I couldn't leave him behind in Aro's clutches. And there was Alice…

Dimetri? Is Alice with you? Is she near?

Silence.

I don't think I expected an answer; his conscious mind was hanging by a mere thread, and slipping further and further away. It was like asking a sleepwalker a question.

But then, a voice whispered, Alice….sweet Alice…Such a joy to have her here.

It wasn't Dimetri's voice, too thin and slithery…and icy for his voice. I shuddered violently as my heart banged against my ribcage. It was as I had feared all along…Aro had Alice.

The swarming flies suddenly picked up their assault; they dove and collided with my head, their insistent buzzing louder and louder until I was closing my eyes and covering my ears again.

But my efforts didn't drown out the voice inside my head. It kept coming like a dark mist seeping in from beneath the door.

Come join us, Isabella, Aro's voice cajoled. We're waiting for you.

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(Sorry if there's a little too much description this time. I think I may have been too heavy handed in that department with this chapter—in relation to previous chapters. I'll count on you guys to let me know. Thanks for reading. OTM)