Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Stephenie Meyer created it all.
I am honored to say that I have received several nominations over at the Shimmer Awards. Harvest Moon was nominated for the Adonis Award – Best Use of Edward. Full Moon Rising has been nominated for the Pawn Award – Best Post Breaking Dawn. Unloved Unwanted was nominated for The Tale Award (Best AU). Thank you to the reader(s) that nominated me. You blow me away! Seriously…I was shocked and actually asked if they had gotten the wrong author. Smile.
The site is: http:/ shimmerawards(dot)blogspot(dot)com/
Voting started February 1, 2011.
Aro POV
The fire crackled in the grate merrily, mocking the mood I felt. The melancholy and rage I was experiencing were better suited to the rain pouring down in sheets outside the windows.
Isabella was in her room, conspiring with Jacob and his friends. Deep within, ancient prejudices summoned up derogatory terms in conjunction with his name, but he deserved better. He'd brought my daughter back from the brink of death, for certainly she would have remained immobile until she slowly slipped away from us. For that alone, I would forever be in his debt. I would be penning a proclamation to be sent out to the vampire world. Like Carlisle, I would now honor the treaty that he'd made with the Quileute people. Vampires would face the wrath of the Volturi if that tribe was disturbed, and the western coast of Washington would be forbidden ground for vampires. Carlisle would need to determine what to do with his residence, but other than the Cullen family, I would destroy any of our kind that set foot near their reservation.
Of course, my magnanimous gesture was not solely a matter of gratitude. Since taking on the leadership of the vampire realm, few if any of my decisions had not been self-serving in at least some aspect, and this time was no different. The Quileute tribe had done me and mine a great service, and deserved to be rewarded, but that didn't change the fact that their kind was potentially a deadly threat to both our kind and our secret. I was granting them a lifetime of peace, in the hopes that they could return to their human lives and make the most of it, but in the absence of a vampiric catalyst, the shape-shifting gift in their bloodline could potentially recess and die out completely. Carlisle had only allowed two generations between returning. It might take centuries or even millennia for such a dominant trait to become extinct, but I had nothing but time. It was a good decision, one that I could rationalize.
My plan for Jacob was a fine one. I was more in a quandary about what to do with Isabella. The walls of her room were covered in sheets of paper which were full of any and all details she could uncover about the Romanians. Although I could not say what she thought she could do with the information, I could admire her tenacity and ingenuity. She'd interrogated every Guard member in the castle for information, as well as those guests of our kind that had visited in the last week since Stefan and Vladimir's messenger had left. I knew most believed her mad from grief. I was tempted to agree, except her eyes did not reflect the crazed look of a lunatic. Instead, they were the windows to her soul, blazing with determination.
For the first time in my life, I felt useless to help. What I wanted to do would be by far the most selfish thing I could ever do. The mantle of my responsibilities gripped at my throat, choking me, attempting to forestall the longing of my personal desires. It was impossible. I could not devote the resources of the kingdom solely based upon my own wants. While attacking established covens to acquire talented vampires was an onerous task, it was necessary for the Volturi to possess the best and brightest. And the most powerful. After all, how else could we enforce the law if the rest of our kind did not fear our overwhelming power? While considered barbaric by most, as far as I was concerned, the end justified the means.
The youngest vampires, those who had begun their human lives in the modern age of democracy and freedom, chafed under the rules of the Volturi, but my brothers and I were of a different time, a time when the common folk were little more than assets to be expended in the service of the whole. Even those in power, the rulers, had duties and responsibilities, managing their lands in time of peace and leading their people in time of war. Others of our kind, jealous and resentful, accused us of claiming power for selfish reasons. I wouldn't deny that selfishness had played a roll in our decision, but when Marcus, Caius and I took our first steps toward world domination, the deciding question had been, "If not us, then who?" We had no satisfactory answer, beyond our mutual belief that the survival of vampires as a race was depended on secrecy, and our absolute belief that no one vampire could hold such power uncorrupted. And so we three had stepped into the role that we had filled for almost three thousand years. We of the Volturi might enjoy our fineries and the various trappings of power, but we had never shirked our responsibilities.
As to war, attacking an established coven that threatened our existence was not only tactically and strategically sound; it was common sense. We, the Volturi, were the absolute rulers of our kind, and we could not permit the vampire populace to even think we had gone soft or weak. Attacking the Romanians, a coven that we had practically exterminated centuries before, would be little more than light exercise for the Guard, as their forces couldn't possibly present more than an annoyance. An overwhelming attack would be personal and solely for my own sense of retribution. I wanted to let Isabella know my thoughts, hoping that it would help her to see that I too was affected by Edward's death. For I was… Not only because his destruction was tearing Carlisle apart, but for the fact that I'd grown to respect the boy Carlisle had fashioned, both by venom and nurturance. A man, really…a man that no longer existed.
I caught Sulpicia's scent before she entered the room. I wanted to turn and fall into her arms, begging for comfort, but I didn't know if she would welcome me or not. She loved me, and certainly she would hold me. But, I knew that, at this moment in time, I was not a man that she respected. The realization was devastating.
She and I had both lived by standards that most would not understand. Such was the result of living several millennia together while ruling a group of blood thirsty savages. We'd weathered many difficult times together, but other than Didyme, this loss was the one that had been closest to our hearts. She'd understood my decision about Didyme, even though it had pained her. She'd loved Marcus as much as his mate and had understood my belief that I was protecting Marcus, since I could not control Didyme. Had the situation been what we'd believed, my decision would have been rational, at least to us. Upon discovering my horrible mistake, Sulpicia had held me while we both grieved. I knew that this time, though, she felt a degree of distaste at my decision to send Edward alone. I could have sent more guard members, but I'd truly only seen this assignment as a fact finding mission. I'd miscalculated again, but this time, unlike with Didyme, my miscalculation had not been one of protection, but greed. I'd desired for Edward to not be distracted while he pilfered through Agoston's mind. In addition, Agoston's coven had been small, and I had been afraid that by overwhelming them with multiple guard members, that the leader would focus more on maintaining his leadership position than the information I desired. I'd hoped that he would be lured into a relaxed stance by Edward's angelic features. I would never know if my thoughts had been accurate.
Sulpicia moved behind me. Her delay at touching me was only for a second, but it was telling. She'd never hesitated before.
Aro, the others want to discuss Isabella with you. They will be here in mere seconds. Felix and Jane are taking her away from here under the pretense of allowing the shifters to obtain human food.
In fact, we heard them departing as Sulpicia silently communicated with me. I heard Felix mention the Fortezza Medicea, the Italian Justice Department's prison in Volterra, with an on-site restaurant staffed by the prison's inmates. He must have pulled a favor from the Ministry to get them in. It wasn't hard to imagine; the civic leadership of Volterra did not know what we really were, but they knew enough to be afraid of us, and Felix relished their fear. I was grateful for his preparation; a dining experience there should give us several hours to discuss Isabella without her being underfoot.
Caius and Athenodora entered first with Marcus directly behind them. Within a few minutes, Carlisle and Esme found their way through the door. He was being very obedient in regards to the training we were giving him, but I knew that his presence at this meeting was more about his son and daughter, than any call to leadership. The compassion in Carlisle's eyes almost undid me. How could he stand to even look at me? It was at that moment I made my decision. As soon as they were all seated, I turned to look Sulpicia in the eyes for the first time since Agoston's man had brought us proof of Edward's death. She stood a little straighter, seeing the fire in my eyes. I wasn't sure that she understood where I was going, but she was clearly going to stand by me.
I moved to take off the robe I almost always wore within the castle walls, and heard their gasp as I went further taking off my rings. I felt as if a horrible weight was lifted from me as the symbols of my position fell from me.
"I find myself in an irresolvable conflict of interest between my duties as a leader and my personal desires. As such, I am abdicating my position as a leader of the Volturi."
The roar of Caius' and Marcus' voices as they rose to their feet and the gasps throughout the castle almost overwhelmed what I said further. "Caius, you will serve as the ruler, Carlisle can be the third vote to help in the matters of decision making."
Through the chaos around me, I felt the one thing that could keep me grounded…the one thing that let me know I was doing the right thing. Sulpicia linked her fingers with mine and squeezed slightly. Her love flowed through the connection. She knew why I was doing this.
"Explain yourself," Caius snarled from beside me. His eyes were narrowed on my face.
"There is something I must do, but I cannot in good conscience risk the lives of yourselves and our Guard on a personal mission of vengeance."
"Aro?" Marcus questioned me. He had a curious look on his face. It was something close to anticipation.
"I'm going after Stefan and Vladimir. I accept full responsibility for the consequences of the decisions I have made, but without their interference at critical moments in our history, we would not be where we are today. Marcus, Carlisle, words cannot express my sorrow for my involvement in both of your losses. I shouldn't have left them alive in the first place. My miscalculations have cost you both immensely. However, I am not going for redemption, I am going for revenge."
Caius began laughing and sat down on the couch behind him. When he was able to speak, he harshly uttered a single word.
"FINALLY!"
"What do you mean?" I growled, not quite understanding his statement.
Instead of attempting to explain, he just threw out his hand. As I took it, I was overwhelmed by what I saw. Knowing that Caius was the most bloodthirsty of our group and his hatred of werewolves, member after member of my guard had approached him asking whether we might be preparing for war. It would seem that they were ready to mobilize for nothing more than revenge, even if I hadn't been.
I tore my hand away from him. "It is not a rational decision, Caius. There is nothing to gain here, other than the satisfaction. I planned to ask a few to go with me, but solely as volunteers, nothing more. It is likely that those that chose to do so will have to step away from the Volturi with me."
"I never thought you so foolish, my brother, but incredibly you have surprised me once again. The vampire world doesn't operate under the parameters that you have prescribed yourself to. Other than Carlisle, no other vampire hesitates to utilize violence as they see fit. It will be an accepted move on our part for what was taken, and quite honestly, the common knowledge that you will not hesitate to use violence will only solidify your position. They've come to expect your manipulations, but to act with such vigor outside of the parameters you've set for us…well, it will be particularly satisfying and will shock and subdue those around us. I have long believed that Stefan and Vladimir have utilized our diplomacy against us, intentionally acting in a manner just below the threshold that would invite our intervention. It is time." He rose quickly and moved swiftly across the room. "I will ready the Guard. We will be ready quickly…before you change your mind." He stopped suddenly at the door and spun to glare at me, his white hair swinging with the movement. "Put the damn robe back on…you aren't getting out of your responsibilities that easily. And, if you ever do think to do that again, I will personally order Jane to burn the hell out of you." He slammed the door on the way out.
I hissed at his insolence. Letting go of my feelings of authority was harder to accomplish than just the shedding of the cloak I'd discarded.
Marcus moved to just in front of me. "I, of course, will accompany you, whether we go as the Volturi or just two deluded fools with a vendetta. I now have two reasons to exact my own retribution. Isabella will never be the same without him. You are going to need my help controlling her, because there is no way you are going to keep her from going with you. Her room is a veritable war room. You would probably be well advised to spend some time with your daughter." His eyes crackled with a zealous light and for a moment I saw my brother-in-law again.
He turned and came to stand beside Athenodora. "Athenodora, my dear, it would seem that Caius was so anxious to start a war that he left you behind. May I escort you?"
Caius' wife rose regally and nodded to him. "I suspect he will be nothing but distracted over the next few days, Marcus. I should begin to practice my long suffering expression." She looked to me as they passed. "Do not think that he will be going anywhere without me."
With that they left, but they had to stop in the doorway because it was blocked with Carlisle and Esme's children. Emmett vibrated with energy, while Jasper had a look I recognized. He was already in his planning mode…sketching out strategy and weighing the consequences. Their mates stood to their sides, determination etched into their faces. All four looked to the man who sat on the couch across from me. Esme held his hand tightly.
Carlisle's face was turned toward the floor, his expression one of resigned anguish. Long minutes passed as the leader of the Cullen coven contemplated the demise of his way of life. I couldn't stand the pain I saw on his face. I moved to place my hand on him in comfort.
"Carlisle, I'm not sure that Edward would…"
"Hush, Aro. " Carlisle reached up and placed his hand in mine.
I saw the memories of Edward's life with him race through his mind. I also saw when he determined that if there was a fight that should be fought…this was it. I was astounded to see that he still held out hope, just like Isabella. He distinctly told me that one of the Romanians was his before he turned to speak. "Alice?" he asked softly attempting to get feedback on his decision from his talented daughter.
"I can't see anything. Why can't I see anything?" she groaned.
"It's the wolves, Alice," a soft voice called from behind us. "I knew there was some reason that Felix was so adamant that we go out to dinner, which is why I decided to come back here even though he attempted to stop me." Isabella entered the room with Jacob directly behind her. "I do not appreciate your scheming behind my back. What is Alice looking for? What are you planning?" she hissed. Her eyes jerked between the individuals in the room. "Are you planning to have me committed? Is there such a thing as a vampire psych ward?"
She was building herself up into a fine newborn fit. I quickly moved toward her. What would she think, I wondered? She would not be going, neither would Sulpicia. I wanted to know if I died during the battle that I'd left them behind to comfort each other.
She allowed me to put my hands on her shoulders, and I could feel the tension she so tightly contained.
"Isabella. Please calm down for a few moments and listen."
When I could see her finally settle, I took a deep breath. "I'm going after Stefan and Vladimir. There may be a few from the guard that will accompany me, but Carlisle was contemplating whether or not he will join me…"
"Whether or not we will all join him," Jasper said in a commanding voice. He turned his gaze from where I held a speechless Isabella back to his father. He knew Carlisle well enough to interpret his facial expression. When he turned with military precision to exit the room, Emmett uttered "HOT DAMN" and quickly followed.
Isabella began to tremble beneath my hands. "Thank you," she hoarsely whispered. "I know you don't believe he is still alive, but I do. And don't think I'm staying here. I need to be there for when we find him. You'll need me anyway, for my shield."
As I attempted to figure how to tell her that would be unacceptable, I heard Jacob Black speak beside me. "I can't speak for the others, but there is no way you're keeping me out of this. I've never had the chance to actually fight a vampire, and now it sounds like I might get a chance to match myself up against a werewolf, too."
"Father, come see what I've put together," Bella said, and pulled me by the arm into the hallway.
.
Didyme POV
It had been a week and a half since they'd resurrected the young vampire and he'd shocked me by calling me by my name. For a moment, I had cherished the sound, but I was no longer Didyme. That woman had died long ago, tortured to death by the separation from her beloved and the abuse heaped upon her by the men who'd captured her.
I was now Narcisa. It was a name given as a slap in the face. For years, they'd called me nothing, preferring to shout out "woman" whenever I was needed. When Vladimir had made the comment that I was as numb as the stories indicated Marcus was…he'd laughed at his own wit at selecting the new name. It was meant to remind me every day that my mistakes had ruined my and my love's happiness. I was like Narcissus, numbing those around me with my lack of emotion. Not that it mattered; I had only been allowed contact with the Romanian devils, and a select few of their servants, so I could care less if my attitude was less than jovial. I was the protected secret, kept under figurative lock and key on the top floor of the castle. They kept me under constant guard, but that was unnecessary now; where did I have to run to? I could never face Marcus, couldn't face the disgust that would surely appear in his face when he saw what I'd become. It was better to do what I did every morning and evening…which was wish to the fates that my beloved would find happiness again with another.
At first, I'd been held because it had pleased Stefan and Vladimir to know that they held the key to Aro and Marcus happiness. They'd enjoyed the agony that my love and my brother suffered at my loss. Then they'd gloried in the reports that Aro and Marcus were at each other's throats. They'd gloated in relaying the stories to me. Although they never said the words, I knew they also enjoyed the fact that they desecrated me daily; treating what Aro and Marcus had so loved with contempt.
"We had a decoy that we'd soaked in your venom. We'd planned to kill and burn her for them to find, but at the last moment an incredible opportunity presented itself. It would seem that your loving brother sent someone to destroy you. He saw you as a threat to your mate. How does it feel to know that he was willing to sacrifice you to save the one for which he still had some use?"
"Grateful," I had replied rebelliously. They beat me savagely in retaliation
I'd realized too late the trap they'd been setting for us…just as Aro had attempted to convince me. Thank the gods that my brother was wiser than me. For hundreds of years, they'd lived on the high of knowing that Aro had assumed responsibility and that Marcus had hated him for it. Then Carlisle Cullen had come to Volterra, and their revenge had dimmed. Those years had passed in a dark haze for me. I'd been the recipient of their wrath. It was worth it, and I owed young Edward's sire for making my brother's and mate's lives better.
Which was why I was flirting with danger right now.
They'd been taking turns for the last hour beating him. The boy had taken the abuse without sound. I couldn't stand it. I was going to deflect their anger one way or the other.
I slammed the door open and glared at them.
Edward was strung up, suspended in mid air by ropes at his wrists that attached to matching eye-bolts in the ceiling. His feet were in turn bound at the ankles, tied loosely to a similar bolt on the floor. It was a deceptively simple binding, and many a vampire had found to their chagrin that it was for more capable than it looked. Aribert had put a lot of thought and experimentation into this room, and the results spoke for themselves.
Suspended in mid-air, our vast strength was rendered impotent without a solid object to push against. The ankle bindings were loose enough that he could move his legs, but not so loose that he could move his legs to any useful position to gain leverage. The eyebolts and their reinforcements were made of the strongest industrial alloys, and sunk and counter-sunk meters deep into the surrounding rock, and the ghastly rope was even less likely to break than the eyebolts.
Given time alone and the will to resist sufficient pain, a vampire could theoretically break free, but this binding was intended only for vampires suffering under Stefan and Vladimir's personal attention. There were other, more secure methods of holding vampires long-term.
At least they'd finally given him his arms and legs back, if only so they could have something with which to tie him up. It did him little good, though; he was as bound now as he would be without them.
"What the hell do you think you are doing in here?" Stefan growled out at me, his fist cocked before the boy's head.
"They have returned. I believe you mentioned that you to leave as soon as they arrived."
I knew I was in trouble when they both turned toward me. "Certainly, that was our plan."
I saw the boy's head drop as Vladimir released his hair. I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief when I saw the cracks in his face begin to heal almost instantly. I would have to expedite the process and get him some blood as soon as they left. Vladimir grabbed my hair as he passed by me, pulling me with him. I tried to not make any noise, but I wasn't successful, and I saw Edward attempt to raise his head. He hissed when he jerked against the ropes in an attempt to interfere with their treatment of me, and Stefan enjoyed the sound.
"Put him in the Iron Maiden," Vladimir ordered the two vampires in the hallway as they pulled me toward the room between their suites.
.
An hour later, they finally left me on the floor. I heard them inform the guard that Edward was not to be released while they were gone. I was however allowed to feed him. It was another punishment for me, because they knew I wouldn't want to force human blood on him. I could care less about my punishment…I did feel sorry for him. I didn't know much about the man who'd helped Aro and Marcus, but the tales of his strange beliefs had reached us here. I waited to move until I felt my abused body heal itself.
.
Edward's red eyes jerked to me when I opened the door. He seemed to struggle with something before compassion took over. He was now caged in one of Aribert's favorite torture devices, and he still had the audacity to feel sorry for me. I hated him for a moment. I knew what I was; he didn't need to feel sorry for me. He didn't deserve my hatred though…only I deserved that.
"You didn't have to divert their attention from me, Didyme. Knowing what they were doing to you was far worse than the abuse I was experiencing. Please don't do that again. You have no idea how much it troubles me."
I huffed at his insistence at calling me my former name, but this was not the time to argue. "I've brought you some blood. You need to feed, to help the healing…"
He interrupted me, "Have you fed? You are in need of healing as well." His statement seemed to have many layers of meaning.
"Drink, Edward. I know it isn't enough. They will keep you weak by offering only so much."
"You first," he barely forced out.
I huffed. "I've already fed. Are you always this stubborn?"
His slight chuckle was my only answer. I took it as a yes. I moved to feed him and he didn't argue. I'd heard about his golden eyes, so when he finally finished and looked at me, I wondered what he looked like with them. Familiar red eyes stared back at me now.
Vladimir and Stefan had made sure to leave him locked into a modified Iron Maiden during their absence. The only thing that was left unbound from the metal body piece was his face and hands. Aribert had lined the interior with werewolf teeth. He'd finally perfected the trap, but had savaged many vampires in the process. When closed, the werewolf fangs dug into a vampire's skin. A vampire was strong enough to break open the reinforced metal skin of the Iron Maiden, but to do so would require that they deliberately impale themselves on the dozens of fangs imbedded in the inner walls. Most began immediately struggling until the pain from the multitude of gashes in their skin rendered them motionless. One poor soul had been forced to remain in the device until she slowly starved to death. It had been excruciating to watch. When the hunger had almost driven her insane, she lunged and the smell of the venom leaking from her wounds had infused the air.
I'd been the victim of this device as well, when I'd displeased them with my attitude.
"This contraption I get, but what were those ropes made out of?" he finally asked.
"Werewolf gut. The sharp pieces that bite into your skin are shards of their teeth and bones. They use intact fangs to line your trap. Aribert has done quite a bit of experimentation since Stefan and Vladimir acquired him in the 1960's. "
I saw the dawn of recognition on his face. "Aribert Heim!" he gasped.
"The one and only. Stefan and Vladimir thought his expertise in medical experimentation and torture fit their bill."
"But he…"
"A human they paid handsomely to live out the façade in Egypt. I've often wondered why? I suppose I'll never have an answer. He could have disappeared like so many of the other German officers, with no one the wiser. I think they just like to know that they perpetuated another farce."
Aribert had developed many cruel inventions for use on other vampires, helped along by his discovery of the durability and strength of materials drawn from the corpses of werewolves. He had been sadistically cruel in his experiments on concentration camp prisoners in Nazi Germany; if anything, being changed into a vampire had only refined his cruelty.
We sat for several moments in the silence. I wondered if he realized he would never escape from here, yet. I wondered as well about the mate he'd left behind when I saw him wince and flex his left hand. It had to be agonizing. I saw the clear signs that he'd struggled against the Iron Maiden when I viewed the healing gashes at his wrist.
"Where are they?" he asked softly.
"Gone. They've taken the werewolves to go to a canyon several miles from here for training."
I thought I'd seen glorious smiles before, but what passed across Edward Cullen's face far surpassed anything other than my memories of Marcus.
"Didyme, stay with me for a little while," he pleaded. There was nothing else for me to do.
.
Edward POV
I'd known from the thoughts surrounding me that the Romanians had left with the werewolves. The absence of their elevated heartbeats confirmed the information, but I'd asked Didyme because I wanted to hear her thoughts on it. First, I wanted to know just how far they would be traveling, because I hadn't been able to decipher that information from the minds around me. Secondly, I wanted to get a better sense of her inner motivations and feelings.
I believed her to be exactly the same woman who Marcus so adamantly loved, but somehow Didyme had been held under the control of the Romanians for over a thousand years. Much could change in that length of time, and I needed to be sure that she was in fact still the same woman.
She was, but at a staggering price.
She had endured horrific circumstances during her time here. The Romanians had beaten her into submission of a sort, through a calculated barrage of mental and physical abuse. However, she still loved Marcus and Aro, and harbored plans to help her loved ones in any way she could. I'd seen her plan as it flashed through her mind. She planned, if they ever went to war, to find any way she could to destroy the vampire that controlled the werewolves. Without that control, she knew that the wolves would be as likely to turn on the Romanian troops as they were to fight the Volturi. In fact, she believed they would be more likely to attack the Romanians due to the level of abuse they had experienced at the leaders' orders. The wolves were human, after all, and resented the hell to which they'd been confined. They all particularly hated Aribert, having heard of the atrocities he had continued upon their kind since his change.
I wasn't stupid. I wasn't going to assume that I could trust her with my gift. It was my secret weapon. I also wasn't going to let her know that we needed to get the werewolves away from us. I'd asked her to stay with me, so that if Alice was able to get a glimpse of me, that she would, in addition, see Didyme.
Through long experience, I knew how Alice's gift work almost as well as she herself. All I had to do was decide to tell her the details of my captivity the next time I saw her, and she would have a vision to that effect. All it would take was the werewolves being far enough away that their presence would stop blocking Alice's sight. I couldn't say for sure when or if she would see me, so I would have to repeat myself over and over at every possible opportunity. Hopefully, the results of my espionage would soon be part of the Volturi's battle plans.
I would have to ask someone to replay in their minds the moment that Marcus was made aware of Didyme's existence. It would be nice to see pure joy upon his face. That look would only be replaced by the one I expected the day they were finally reunited. Marcus would still have some work ahead of him, as Didyme did not think she was worthy of him any longer. Even bound in an unbelievable vampire trap, recovering from a severe beating, and unsure of my future, I wanted to laugh at the fact that Didyme had a little Edward in her, so self sacrificing and morose.
She began collecting the cups from which she'd fed me, stacking them on a platter and setting them out into the hallway. I assume someone would come to pick them up since she was not allowed off this floor. Stefan and Vladimir did it intentionally, limiting access to Didyme to conceal her identity. They did not want her image falling into Aro's hands. The underlings in the castle knew that they had a woman that they shared, but most believed she thought she was too good to mingle with the "commoners." It was an image that Stefan and Vladimir had cultivated. Didyme had also limited her contact with anyone other than the few…because she too did not want Aro and Marcus to know she existed. I was going to have to sic Jasper on her as soon as I could, to break through the depression that held her captive.
At first, I had wondered why she had moved me to the top floor. Her certainty that I would never leave here was the answer. That, and her loneliness.
"Marcus and my mate have grown close. In fact, she helped bring him out of the reclusive lifestyle he'd adopted." I heard her thoughts, but chose to respond to her facial expressions. "No, I don't believe they would ever mate if we don't get out of here, but I wouldn't be opposed to it. I think they could bring each other comfort. He loves you unconditionally; anything but you would just be settling…even Bella. It would be the same for her."
She pulled a chair over to sit beside me.
"I cannot believe that Aribert has come up with something that will restrain a vampire," I said, looking down at the metal that surrounded me. Though my face was exposed, my head was wreathed in a veritable crown of thorns, along with the rest of my body.
"His mind is a cesspool of evil that no one can comprehend," Didyme responded. "He's done multiple experimentations, most of which have failed, but he has had two successes: one being the rope, and the other being your current accommodations. Don't fight against it; stronger vampires than you have tried. Save your energy for healing."
Even through the horror, I was still amazed. I hadn't been able to feel any give in the eyebolts, and when I'd pulled on the rope, the jagged shards embedded in it had dug into my skin, inflicting agony above and beyond the beating I had endured. Now, this medieval torture device held me practically immobile. There was no natural material strong enough to contain a vampire, but time, ingenuity and the supernatural had borne obvious fruit.
We spent the rest of the day in soft discussion and silence. Mostly silence, since it quickly became clear that she'd fallen out of the habit of carrying on a conversation. I gave her tidbits about Marcus, being careful to not overwhelm her. I could hear her internal struggle…wanting to hear about him and the resulting need to put her hands over her ears to block out the words and the pain they caused.
It was enough, I hoped. Alice, my little sister, please be bouncing around like a hyperactive pixie…
.
Bella POV
Since his startling announcement, Aro had spent his days with me and with the guard. He'd called everyone together; because of course they'd heard his shocking attempt to abdicate authority. No one had paid any attention to his continued insistence that he would not lead a charge as the leader of the Volturi. It was a mute point anyway. When he'd explained his plan, they all pledged their desire to go. Every last one of them.
I was the only one who truly felt like we were on a rescue mission, even though Carlisle continued to hold out hope. The rest of the Cullens and the wolves weren't far behind, but I knew their dedication was more out of love for me than true belief. It was fine. We'd prove them all wrong. For now, I didn't care, because the Volturi were mobilizing for war.
Jasper, Felix, and Caius had taken most of the Guard outside of the city to property they owned between Volterra and Mazzolla. It was easily protected from human interference, and they had open lands to practice. Emmett was practically bursting with excitement. You would think the man didn't have a brain cell in his head. He was actually energized about the possibility of getting to fight, and continued to ignore the true possibility that we may lose someone. Emmett had answered by saying, "Bella-baby, have faith in your older brother. Felix and I have this thing covered. It's going to be Clash of the Titans worthy."
Jane and Alec had remained with me as had Jacob, Seth, and Leah. I wanted to practice with my shield. I was worried I wouldn't be able to hold my focus on the individual Guard members during a confusing melee of hand-to-hand combat. Focusing on vampires that were relatively motionless during a court session was one thing. Following blurring bodies during a fight would be another.
So to help me, Jacob phased into his werewolf body and dashed around the outer garden. I found it ridiculously easy to follow him even at his accelerated speed. Jane focused hard, but nothing came through.
Being macho man, Jacob further offered to be a guinea pig for the next experiment I had in mind.
When I told her my plan, Jane smirked. "Can I really give him a shock, Isabella? He needs to be taken down a little. I have to admit that face of his is just a little too handsome, particularly when he snarls at me. If he weren't a wolf, I think I might just have to take him on as a lover. I could teach him a thing or two that he could carry back to the States with him," she insinuated, a leering look on her face.
"I admit, he is very sexy, but you have Felix now…which, by the way, we still haven't spoken about. Don't think I've just let that slide," I said with great pleasure. "Just make it tingle just a little when we practice."
Leah shifted into wolf shape and stood off against Jacob. I had to focus intensely to wrap my shield around her and leave him unprotected as they tussled across the yard. It was hard, but I was able to do it. I quickly realized that, rather than trying to track her with my physical senses, the trick was to focus on the blazing red spark that signified her presence under my shield. As long as I focused on Leah's essence, my shield wrapped around her effortlessly. I grew nervous when I heard Jane mumble in an evil tone, "This might hurt a little."
Jake growled, Leah did not. Jane and I both turned to smile at each other in exultation. We practiced a few more times. Jake attempted his best to continue his stoic manner, but he did yelp once or twice when I guessed Jane added just a little more juice. I didn't know who he was angrier at, Jane or Leah, who was making a grunting noise that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle. Her tongue lolled out of a curiously wolf-like smile.
But, the logical next step was to see if I could do it for more than one.
Seth insisted on participating and asked to go up against Alec. "Promise I won't do more than just nip," he teased Jane's taciturn brother.
So Alec and Seth circled each other as did Jacob and Leah. I chose to protect Alec and Leah, not letting Jane know who I'd chosen. I ignored the idea that I needed to follow them with my eyes and instead continued to focus on keeping the auras under my shield that I associated with them both. Suddenly, I heard two distinct yelps, one just a few seconds after the other, and knew I'd been able to do it.
Jane chose to harass her brother at the moment, and threw out, "How does it feel to need the protection of a woman, brother?"
My eyes popped open at the insult. I laughed out loud even though I knew I shouldn't. Alec had been nothing but respectful to me, but the look of disgust on his face had been too funny. He narrowed his eyes at me, and I felt the cloying, Novocain-like numbing sensation of Alec's gift against my personal shields…
And Leah dropped to the floor, unmoving.
I screamed out as she hit the collapsed. "What happened?" I yelled, running toward her. I could have sworn I still had Leah under my protection.
"I didn't do anything!" Jane swore, joining me beside the female wolf.
Leah's change had been triggered by whatever happened, so she lay naked on the ground. I covered her quickly with the cloak Jane offered.
"It didn't hurt," Leah mumbled. "I just suddenly felt numb."
Jane's eyes jerked toward her brother. "Did you use her gift on her, Alec?"
Alec was staring at Leah, almost in shock. "No. I tried to use it on Bella."
"But it didn't work…Isabella's shield contained it…"
"…instead, it affected Leah. And she was the only one under my shield, apart from me and Alec," I finished her thought.
The significance of the moment was like a mounting wave, building to crash on a beach. If I could practice…if I could expand this…Alec's gift, which normally took some time to take effect, could be focused instantly to immobilize a large group of vampires. Yes, it had taken just a moment for his gift to work, but we could work this to our advantage. Then the reality dawned on Jane and I both…
What if it wasn't just Alec's gift?
"Stand up," she yelled at all of them, including Aro and Marcus who had entered the garden just a few minutes previously and sat watching us from the sidelines. "I'll only make it tingle, but we have to try."
"Isabella, putting everyone under your shield, including me" she instructed. "Ready?" she asked. When I nodded my head, she focused.
Vampire and wolf alike shook their limbs. "It's like my arm has fallen asleep," Marcus indicated.
"A little higher, Jane," Aro ordered. And, before anyone could argue, they all swore or growled out. "Isabella, take some of us out of your shield," he ordered and I obeyed, removing my shield from Aro, Marcus and Leah. "Jane," he said simply.
Jake, Seth, and Alec winced and swore in pain.
I lowered myself to the ground in disbelief.
"Do you have any idea what this means, Isabella," Jane said from beside me.
I looked toward my father as the realization struck him. Before this moment, he'd been swearing that I was not going on his mission. After this, he knew he'd lost that battle.
Leah had pulled her clothes on under the cover of the cloak, and I was shocked when she came to stand beside Jane and mumbled, "You know, witch, I think I'm starting to like you."
"The feeling is mutual, bitch," Jane muttered back.
"Jane, do they have a technical name for what you can do?" Leah asked curiously.
"Well, Marcus looked it up once. The Greek translation for causing pain from a distance is either teleodyne or psychoodyne. They're both a bit of a mouthful, and no one really bothers any more." She was silent for a long moment, as her lip curled in an evil smile.
"What happened?" Leah prompted.
Jane grinned. "I caught one of the Guard saying that psychoodyne was the perfect gift for a psychopath. By the time I was done with him, no one was really interested in hanging a name on what I can do. They just wanted to make sure I didn't use it on them."
Raindrops began to splash across the ground, and we moved inside, figuring that the others would have already started toward the castle. Aro led us to the throne room to await their return. He sat casually on the stairs, and motioned me over to him. He wrapped his arms around me in a loving manner, and began running his hand down my hair.
"Isabella, I do not want you to go, even with our newest discovery."
"Whatever, Father. Let's not go there right now. We'll just see who wins in the end."
He huffed in exasperation at my stubbornness and stood to begin pacing, something he'd been doing a lot in my presence lately. Whatever he was going to say next was cut short by the noise that came from the outer bailey. The troops had returned, and they were in a "tizzy." I heard them yelling even from here, and it seemed they were all focused on one individual…Alice. They were all either muttering or shouting her name.
I heard the outer door slam open and within moments Alice tore into the room, dragging Jasper and Carlisle behind her. The others crowded in directly behind them.
"HE'S ALIVE!" she shouted as she released her hold on her mate and her father. She slid to her knees before Aro, throwing her hand up to him. Her eyes were locked on mine. Joy radiated out from the golden depths. "He's locked inside something that looks like an Iron Maiden, but he's alive," she said, practically vibrating in place.
The family all sighed in relief, and I heard Esme begin sobbing in joy from across the room. Carlisle looked like he was in prayer as he wrapped her into an embrace. Emmett hugged Rosalie, and then captured Jasper in his arms, squeezing Rosalie between them. Jasper batted at Emmett's hands, but it was only playfully. He couldn't contain the smile that split his face.
"Alice…vampires cannot be bound by such," Aro started patiently.
He must have thought she too had gone crazy. Here, however, was what I needed: proof for them that Edward was alive. Now, maybe they would believe me.
She tore her gaze from mine and looked up at him. "I know it doesn't make sense, but I swear that's exactly what I saw. There's more," she said with an impish cast to her face. "Do you want to see? I promise you won't be nay-saying afterward…or maybe you will…because it is truly unbelievable."
She raised her eyebrows at him in challenge, and if there was one thing that Aro had never done, it was back down from a challenge. He reached out and took her hand.
Before that moment, I had never seen a vampire blanch.
Aro stumbled backwards, falling to the floor and Sulpicia raced across the room to him. Marcus, however, beat us all, having been seated beside me. He caught his brother before Aro could hit the marble tile.
We all waited for Aro to tell us exactly what Alice had seen. Alice fluffed her hair as if she was preparing for a spotlight to fall on her. I wanted to strangle her, and she obviously knew it. The smile that sliced across her face was brilliant.
At the same time as Aro whispered "Did…," Alice took pity on us all.
"Didyme is alive," she announced, "and she is with Edward."
Marcus went as still as a statue as a collective gasp went through the room.
Jacob, as always, could be trusted to provide the comic relief.
"So? Are we gonna go to war or what?"
I could not do this without a wonderful beta:
Crmcneill – Thanks for putting up with me, and my less than stellar comma skills. I've learned what screaming looks like over a PM. Trust me the man can scream.