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'm just so grateful she allows us to play around with her characters.
Thanks to all of you that went over to The Vampies to vote. Unloved Unwanted did not win in the "I Can't Believe it's Not Sparkly" category, but I am honored to say that my other story Harvest Moon did. It is hard to be disappointed when I was so honored by the readers.
I also want to thank several readers who have featured this story on their blogs. This chapter is dedicated to them: To Katiecav1989 who did a fantastic job on Twific Reviews, KT8812 of Twi Muses Fame – you rock my dear, and Jasper's Izzy over on Darkest Temptations.
I'm actually excited to announce I'll be hanging out over on the Darkest Temptations as a contributor, so if you have any really good stories to recommend to me, please let me know. I'm frying my brain to come up with some good ideas, so I'll be worthy of Izzy, Jasper's Sex Kitten, Cullen 818, Edward's Chipper, and GemmaLisaX.
Also, I totally forgot to mention a shout out to ibly5. She emailed me weeks ago with the thought I was bringing Didyme back. That was long before it was even mentioned in the story, and I was totally stunned she'd figured it out!
Edward's POV
Bella's soft hand smoothed over my face, tracing the skin across my cheekbones. "I dreamed about you so many times, of us being like this…together," she whispered softly. I smiled gently, enjoying the feel of her fingers skimming across my features.
We hadn't made it out of the bathroom before I'd attacked her again. She growled possessively at me after I'd pledged to her that I could survive anything as long as I knew she was waiting, and her feral, possessive snarl had electrified me. I'd snatched her to me, and we'd fallen to the floor. Our coupling had been frantic, and I'd actually laughed out loud at the sheer enthusiasm at which we'd gone at each other. Bella was enjoying her ability to overpower me, and I thrilled a little in it, too.
We'd yet to make it off the floor, and it was cool against my skin, if unyielding. I felt the heat of her body as she knelt beside me skimming her hands along my ribs.
"The nights you spent beside me were torture, Edward. I wanted to touch you, but you didn't want me…"
"Stop…" I hissed "…you have no idea how much I wanted you, but I wasn't strong enough. My passion would have caused me to hurt you…or at least that was what I was afraid of. But Bella, I wouldn't trade those chaste moments in your bed for anything, even the sex."
"What?" she asked incredulously, drawing my attention. I smirked at the astonishment on her face.
"I grew to know you during those times…really know you. That is when I heard your dreams and hopes and desires. I listened to your heartbeat and memorized the rhythm as you dreamed. I learned of your intelligence; how you felt about the classics and the not so classics. I might have missed the fact that you snorted a little when you laughed at me." She pinched my side hard almost like she was attempting to punish me, causing me to hiss slightly. "Or the adorable way you used to scrunch your nose. Had I known the true delectable feeling of being buried within you, I would have kept you naked every moment of the night…figuratively sucking the strength out of you." Then I got honest, looking at the line of her neck. "Possibly even literally."
I shuddered thinking of the smell of her blood and forced myself back to the amazing things I'd learned about my wife.
"I learned the true level of your loyalty and the depth of your compassion and love. Had I given in to my desire to make love to you, I would have missed out on it, Bella." I looked to her at that moment hoping she could see my sincerity. "I crave you…I can't exist without you. And as compelling as this need is…as wonderful as it is to be able to mate with your body…I know that a good majority of the reason it is so powerful is because of those chaste moments in that twin bed in Forks."
I paused to give the next words I wanted to speak the weight they deserved.
"Thank you for allowing me to court you, Bella," I said solemnly, nodding my head at my crimson-eyed bride.
Her eyes seemed to mist over as the venom filled them. She grew determined to "court me," I could tell.
"Don't look," she'd directed, so I'd obeyed and closed my eyes.
She skimmed her hand across my face and then down my neck tantalizing me. I felt my skin pebble in reaction as I felt her hair skim across me. Her hands became frantic, and I felt the burn of my passion flash across my skin. It began to build across my chest, almost painfully so, and I felt Bella pat at my cheeks again.
Why was I feeling the burn on my chest, if she was cradling my face so gently? The smolder intensified and I began shifting uncomfortably attempting to open my eyes. Then I panicked when I felt like I couldn't gain control over them. Agony poured across my chest and I moaned, this time in pain not passion.
"Edward!" her voice called me frantically. I felt her hands begin to smack at my face, and the uncertainty broke through me.
"Come on Edward, don't give up! Work your way out of it," she swore beside me, her hand going down to my chest and I jerked when she passed over the burn. "I'm so sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't mean to touch you…"
What! When had she ever apologized for touching me?
I finally gained control over my eyes and forced them opened. I saw an unfamiliar ceiling. I was puzzled, and I turned my head toward the heat beside me to ask Bella what was happening. Reality hit me. Didyme's frantic face met my eyes.
A dream…a memory of what had been…that was all it had been.
"Oh, thank the gods," Didyme sobbed, putting her fists to her eyes and drawing deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself. My protective instincts rose, and I attempted to sit up to pull her into my arms.
I hissed feeling the agony race through me.
"Please don't move," she begged. "Let me move you. They cut you deeply, and you are still healing because they've been starving you. I brought blood for you. You need it," she said. "Besides, I don't want the bastards to get the satisfaction of hearing you cry out." She looked at me with a curious mixture of dread and pride. "You didn't let out a sound, and it angered them."
"You do not tell the truth, Didyme. I heard myself screaming for mercy," I said in a hoarse voice, unwilling to let her believe I was a hero. I'd heard the loud shrieks that had filled the room and echoed off the walls.
Her head jerked up; she'd been pouring said blood into a cup. Her eyes widened in horror. "That was me, Edward, not you. They made me watch when I stormed into the room to stop them." She shook. "Quickly, please drink this. It is extra and if they come back I don't want them to know that you had it." She spoke very softly in order to keep our conversation private.
She was sacrificing her own feeding to supply me. I saw her killing the human in her thoughts, and attempted to ignore the image. I wondered when I was going to be forced into that situation. It was too perfect of an opportunity for them to pass up, and in the name of torture it was the ideal one to utilize against me. They would punish her if they found out what she'd done, but she believed she'd covered her steps well, and honestly it did seem she had. I started to refuse, knowing she needed to eat as her eyes were already darkening, but at the same time I saw her stubbornness. I was too weak to fight her on it. The monster inside me relished the blood that was about to be poured down my throat, while at the same time as my conscience berated me.
Go away… I screamed internally. Let me get out of this alive, and I'll make amends somehow. One fight at a time...
We'd been left in the care of the guards again; the Romanians had left with Aribert, believing I'd be writhing in pain for at least another day or so. I was free from the death contraption, and it would have felt wonderful to stretch, but I was curled in a fetal position in reaction to the pain. She reached behind me and pulled me up. I stiffened at the feeling of her skin on mine. No one had touched my skin other than Bella.
"I removed your shirt because there wasn't much left of it, and it was coated in venom," she explained.
My reaction had caused her hand to shake. The Romanians had really done a number on her.
I looked down to see I still had the nasty pants on that I'd been captured in. My shirt was gone, revealing the angry red welts of the slashes across my chest. I saw her look down at the floor and caught a vision of myself in her mind. They'd had Aribert carve their initials in my flesh as if they'd branded me as their slave. They thought that would be my place with them. I would die trying to get out of here. I did not plan to become a possession for them.
SV… They could have done worse.
I calmed myself, wanting to make up for scaring her. I wanted to scream from the agony I felt as I moved my hand to help steady hers. "I'm sorry, Didyme. I didn't mean to scare you. Please don't attempt to coddle me. I know I probably cried like a baby. That was far worse than even the change," I admitted in a shaky voice.
Her thoughts were scattered while she forced the blood down my throat. My eyes were quickly as red as the marking I'd now carry for eternity. I thought about Bella's tattoos. We would both now carry scars of my actions. I didn't know if it was because they'd only allowed me a small amount of blood over the past days or not, but I quickly felt full.
"More," she said forcefully, tipping the cup up again.
I managed another one in before turning my lips away. I could already feel the human blood filling my body with new strength. I feared that I was going to have a hard time breaking away from its lure again. I knew Carlisle would be patient and supportive, but my weaning before had been torturous.
"That's fine. Your body is going to devour it. You'll want more in a minute," she said sincerely. "I don't think I can justify another human, so I'll have to call the guard in a little to bring your normal ration. They'll call them to notify that you are awake. Which means you only have this day…"
She stopped for a moment, considering how to scold me. I wanted to chuckle at the energy she put into the process, but I wasn't willing yet to give away my secret. She finally decided to just be blunt. "Edward, are you stubborn by nature? Or, are you just being purposely antagonistic? You've only served to fuel the fire by being silent. No one has ever been silent when Aribert did that. It thrilled him and made his determination rise to a new level. I'm afraid that they are going to allow him to use fire next."
"Are you suggesting that I give them information that would allow them to attack Volterra and our leaders…our family?" I asked in a stronger voice than I felt. I was not a masochist; I did not enjoy pain.
She sobbed. "No! I don't know what to tell you to do. They knew I didn't have any more information than what they'd already obtained. Their treatment of me is just for their own enjoyment. You are fueling not only Aribert's desires, but Vladimir and Stefan's anger by remaining quiet. Please, do something to save yourself," she begged.
Didyme did not want to be left here alone, and I was a connection, albeit weak, to the family she loved.
"Trust me, Didyme. Please, just trust me," I said softly before she was putting the blood to my lips again.
"You have to stay here, Edward. Act as if you are in great pain when they arrive, but utilize this time to gain your strength," she forced out all but pouring the salty liquid down my throat.
I made the decision to ask just a second before doing it, hoping Alice would see the conversation.
"How long are they gone this time?"
"Once the guard informs them that you are awake…most likely just until the morning. Then in one week, one of the others will be taking a good many of the wolves to the Ukraine near Kiev to feed. The other half will go the next week to another location. We'll be heavily watched then because their forces will be divided."
"How many, Didyme?" I asked, getting excited at this information, and she recognized it for what it was.
"Edward, there will still be at least half of them here. We can't escape; it is futile to even consider it. They keep the vampire that controls them here, and send the others with another they trust. They divide the wolves that have relationships in order to keep the groups under control, knowing they will not rebel as long as their 'loved ones' are here."
She had no clue that she was feeding me (and hopefully others), the information we needed. Could they prepare to attack in a week? Could I survive that long if Vladimir and Stefan decided to increase the torture? Had Alice even heard me? For a moment, despair threatened to overwhelm me but I pushed it aside. I did not have time to fall prey to its whims. She laid me back down on the floor, and I forced my long limbs straight. Even through the hell of the sting, I felt joy in the simple pleasure of being able to stretch. It was amazing what you took for granted, and what you grew to appreciate when it was withheld from you.
I realized that the feeling of being on the hard floor must have sparked the brief memory of my and Bella's lovemaking. A suspicion snuck into my brain.
"Did you pinch my side?" I asked her incredulously.
I swear she almost blushed.
"I was attempting to rouse you," she said defensively. "I finally resorting to slapping you," she admitted.
"Bella is going to like you," I laughed out a little.
I heard her almost correct me. She truly had no hope. Then she stopped, figuring to leave me to my "delusions" for now, taking pity on me. She was focused on getting me stronger in hopes that what they did next to me wouldn't destroy me. I asked innocuous sounding questions of her, things that might help us, hoping against all odds that Alice was listening.
I learned that not all of the werewolves were loyal and that many of them chafed against their imprisonment by the gifted vampire. I also learned that in the past some vampires had been discovered to be disloyal to Stefan and Vladimir. They'd been utilized as training activities for the werewolves…having been released with a head start before a pack of the Children of the Moon were freed to find them. As far as Didyme knew, no vampire had made it to their freedom, instead becoming "chew toys" for the animals. I wondered if those unfortunates had truly been disloyal or if Stefan and Vladimir had just been culling out the weak. Survival of the fittest, so to speak. I wouldn't put it past them.
I saw myself writhing on the floor through her memories, and that Vladimir and Stefan had stepped over me like a pile of refuse. I saw the unholy fascination in Aribert's face as he'd carved my chest. I was surprised to see that I didn't scream as Didyme had indicated. They'd had other vampires to come in to hold my arms; in the delirium induced by the poisonous werewolf blood, I'd fought them. I was fearful though that I'd made a critical mistake during my semiconscious state, in that, I'd begun fighting in earnest when Stefan had wrenched Didyme's arm and she'd cried out in response. Both of my fathers had taught me to respect and honor women. My disrespect of Bella and her wishes had been the worst I'd ever treated a woman…other than the evil ones I'd fed off of.
I asked who were the vampires in charge, hoping that Alice would take down the names. If I was afforded the opportunity, I would attempt to decipher which ones they were, so that I could draw their faces for the group in Volterra to see. I'd learned at the master's feet. Jasper had spoken many times about armies dissolving because those in charge had been annihilated first. I continued on with my madness, attempting to wring every piece of information I could out of Didyme.
She left late evening, unsure as to when they would return, and it was then that the doubts and pain began to assail me. What if Alice hadn't heard me? Even if she did see us, what if the Volturi were unwilling to mount a rescue? I knew Marcus and Bella; they would be coming, one way or the other. Nothing this side of Hell was going to stop them. Carlisle and Esme…and my brothers and sisters would come for me, I knew. Which meant my family could be walking into an unwinnable fight. Would Aro come after his sister? I couldn't see him not waging the war, but I was unclear if he would risk the entire Guard for us? The questions and fears hounded me while my body ached.
When the blood finally won the battle with my poison riddled body, I exhaled in exhaustion. I didn't even know that vampires could feel this way…the legends were true. It was truly an excruciating experience. But the blood filling my body caused the ache from my chest to be replaced by the searing pain in my left hand. My body was compelling me to find my ring finger. It was a manner of self preservation for the body to repair itself…driving the vampire mad with pain until the missing part was located. I'd trade that pain any day for the agony induced by the werewolf poison, because in some way it made me feel closer to Bella. Because I knew, I knew she held that part of me close to her in some way.
Even though I knew it would most likely lead to a very embarrassing situation, I allowed my mind to start where my memory had stopped. The feel of the cold floor and my perfect memory made it entirely too easy to recreate.
"Don't look," she'd directed, so I'd obeyed and closed my eyes.
She skimmed her hand across my face and then down my neck tantalizing me. I felt my skin pebble in reaction as I felt her hair skim across me. Her hands became more forcefully, and I felt the burn of my passion flash across my skin. I gasped as she surrounded me with her hand. But my hips rose from the floor when I felt the heat of her mouth.
"Bella!" I swore out.
"Hmmm…" she hummed around me, making me see stars.
Pleasure began to course through me as I lived out my memory, replacing the pain of my hand and the loneliness and panic.
I heard them return the next morning. I'd remained on the floor as I'd been thrown and quickly rolled into the fetal position I'd been left in. I wanted to curse out loud when I heard their thoughts. They were coming directly for me, and they were bringing company. One week, I swore. Hopefully, I only had one week. Please, I begged whatever existed in the universe. Let me please survive just a little longer. I couldn't have been brought this far for everything to be jerked out from under me.
The door slammed open, and I was incredibly thankful for my gift, which had prepared me not to give my status away.
"Well, look, Stefan. He's just were we left him," Vladimir murmured with great pleasure.
Four werewolves stepped in behind them.
"I'm beginning to recognize what Aro saw in you, young one. I don't believe I've ever seen anyone survive the werewolf blood without breaking." He began laughing hysterically. "Of course, most just don't survive, particularly considering how much was introduced into your system." He kicked me in the side, sending my body rolling over. "Get up! You reek. The young women here will be taking you to shower. Don't think you can overwhelm them. I've given them orders to tear you to pieces if you try," he noted.
Pushing to my hands I sat up and then rose to a stand. I was actually unsteady for the first time in my vampiric life. I didn't have to fake the feral snarl that came out of me from the pull of my skin against the now rapidly healing wounds. Vladimir stepped back from me, a little in fear, and a little in disgust. I almost…almost felt a slight bit of humor. I didn't smell good. Alice would have had a hissy fit.
He thought to embarrass me by sending four women to watch over my cleansing. Little did he know I'd been putting up with human lust for decades. The thoughts coming of the women was no different that what I'd put up with in the past.
I almost gave myself away though, when I startled, catching the thoughts of one of the girls. Yes, she'd acknowledged I was attractive, but she was actually being somewhat respectful and had turned her gaze from me. I caught a quick look at her from the corner of my eyes. My eyes widened slightly. She was stunning. Swedish I was guessing. Emmett would have most likely flirted with her…well if she was a vampire. She was a werewolf though, and the silver blond hair, light skin, and bright blue eyes housed a creature that would even give my big brother a run for his money. Her thoughts, though, were what captured my attention. She absolutely hated Stefan and Vladimir and actually felt disgust at what they'd done to me…well, that combined with the natural disgust she held for us all…her mortal enemies.
I wasn't about to argue with Vladimir or Stefan's offer. I knew they were just prettying me up for the next round of whatever they had planned. For now, I couldn't catch those plans in their thoughts though.
"This way," the girl who had caught my attention said, pointing out the door. She grabbed a package as we left, and I had to admit I was hoping it was clean clothes. I did see a towel and reasoned I would take what I could get. I'd just wash the pants out in the shower if I needed to do so.
I looked around as we went down the stairs and out into the courtyard. My appearance caused a stir, and I grabbed as much information as I could from the commotion. I heard the girl beside me called Evelina, and I saw that she was a leader. She had a natural instinct for keeping the others organized.
"In here," she pointed to a stone building, and I followed her direction.
It was a bath house, a long open room that would provide no privacy. She motioned toward the shower heads along the wall.
"I have no desire to watch you, but don't believe that just because we have our backs to you that we can't change on the fly and tear you to pieces," she threatened.
Little did she know that, though I could annihilate the four of them without much effort, I wouldn't do so. Even if I could make it out and avoid capture, I wouldn't leave Didyme.
She held the package up towards me, and I smiled softly, seeing it was clothing. It stunk of werewolf, but beggars couldn't be choosers. Her eyes dilated when I smiled. C'mon now. Impress me with your immunity to me, I thought. I saw her shake herself. Good girl.
"Thank you," I said politely and heard all four minds acknowledge the sound of my voice. Really! It was just a fucking voice…just like the face.
"Turn around," she ordered the others, and they reluctantly obeyed.
I took one of the quickest showers known to man or vampire, scrubbing thoroughly with the soap and shampoo that had been provided. There was a degree of perverseness in the fact that I was probably readying myself for more torture. Within a minute, I murmured to the leader, "I'm finished."
She huffed, seeing one of the others that had slyly watched me turn around. "Follow me," she ordered.
She'd been instructed to bring me back to the castle and place me into the Iron Maiden again. She was going to follow orders; her brother's life depended on it. He was being held away from here, in the caves. He was their trump card so to speak, what they utilized to keep her in line. I saw him in her mind.
I heard Stefan and Vladimir's thoughts, and I knew I had lost. My time was up. They'd picked the one thing that would break me. I was right; I'd given too much away. As one part of my brain began deciding what information to give up initially, the other prayed that once Didyme learned of my gift that she would forgive my allowing even a fraction of what was about to happen. I would need to be very careful. I could not just go into this and concede immediately.
Evelina led me into the room and immediately forced me toward the torture device where several vampires stood to bind me. Stefan held Didyme by the throat not far from the thing. I heard the derision in my wolf escort's mind; she obviously knew from past practices what they had planned. I heard her as she left.
I hope one day someone takes these bloodsucker's down. Of course, they are only torturing another of their kind, so what do I care?
An errant thought, apropos of nothing. Jacob would like this girl.
Didyme's terrified eyes met mine as I was strapped in. I barely suppressed the groan as the fangs bit into my chest around the lacerations. Vladimir walked to stand before me.
"Stefan and I had a little discussion while we were away. Perhaps we have been going about this all wrong. Stefan?"
My eyes never left Vladimir's as Stefan ripped Didyme's clothes to shreds. I didn't have to fake the large gulp. Venom poured into my mouth as I prepared to fight. Didyme tried, but she couldn't hold back the sobs that began as she realized they were prepared for Stefan to rape her in front of me. I also couldn't hold back the fruitless struggle and a multitude of stabbing pains assaulted me as I fought against the metal coffin. Stefan pushed her to the floor, and I couldn't stop the word that tore from me. "STOP!"
"Hmm…" Vladimir grinned maliciously. "I don't believe I heard you correctly."
Stefan shed his robe, and I was afraid that his excitement would be such that he would not stop even with my words.
"Stop, please," I conceded.
"Much better," Vladimir hissed in satisfaction.
Stefan didn't even fasten the robe he'd retrieved; stepping over Didyme's shivering body. "Don't hurt him," she bravely whispered.
"Well, well, well," Stefan chanted. "Our little Narcisa has a weak spot; as do you, it seems. I told you we only had to find the right key," he said looking to Vladimir. He slapped me hard causing my head to lurch and the teeth surrounding the collar to dig deeply into my flesh. "Next time you displease me, I won't stop until she is screaming."
He meant it. One week…I chanted. Just one week. Please!
"Now tell us, the witch Jane, is she still Aro's pet?" They murmured in eerie unison.
Jasper POV
Like wraiths, we stole through Serbia moving into Romania. I momentarily looked to the forces beside and behind me remembering Master Caius' words.
They are yours, Jasper Cullen. Now show me the prowess you are so famed for.
That had been all that he'd said to me, but it was all that was needed. I was not a popular person right now, but I didn't care. They were as ready as I could get them in one week. So what if they'd had to give up sex and play time; it enhanced their aggression. I'd needed the time to train them, and it was the least they could do.
One week!
I could still remember the look on Alice's face as Aro murmured the words. I'd known something was wrong as he said it, but I knew my mate better than I knew myself. She didn't want to talk about it in front of the others, which meant that something was very, very wrong. I'd felt her agony, and knew I was right.
"Jazz, I don't know if he is going to survive that long," she'd sobbed as we sat on the edge of Le Balze and looked over the chasm in the earth. "They're torturing him. It's horrible," she said, balling her tiny fists and pressing them to her eyes as if she wanted to wipe the image from them. I wrapped her in my arms, trying to soothe her, but when I attempted to calm her with my gift, she became angry. "I don't deserve comfort right now. What I'm feeling is ridiculously minor in comparison to what he is going through."
She looked at me then and her face fell. "I'm sorry, Jazz. I didn't mean to snap. It is just unbearable to know what they're doing. I don't want the last memory of my brother to be what I've been seeing, even if he is being incredibly brave through all of it." She was quiet for a time before she began speaking again. This time there was a deadly serious expression on her face. "You're going to have to help him, when we get him back. You're the one who has suffered the longest from the blood lust and he'll be able to talk with you about it without embarrassment," she said, looking to me from under her long lashes. I liked that she was thinking of what would occur when he was rescued, even if her announcement scared me.
Actually, the thought terrified me. He'd been my bedrock for what had happened over the years, all the mistakes I'd made. Ironically, his unending patience with me had been a contributing factor as to why I'd felt so unworthy, and why I'd been so upset with what happened with Bella. To think that the tables would be turned was nearly inconceivable.
At this point, I just didn't care. I wanted my baby brother back, and I wanted to see Bella smile again. His mind could heal from what had been done and his body as well, even if he would carry marks to testify to what had occurred. Scars weren't a bad thing…they gave you character. Somehow, I knew that Edward would care less about how he looked if he could just get back home.
That was our mission, to retrieve Edward and Didyme.
I looked to my side and saw the determination on Bella and Marcus' faces. One way or another, they would not be returning without their mates…they would either join them in celebration in Volterra or in death in the wilds of Romania. It was a realization I'd come to early on in the week, during a time when I'd been feeling little hope. Right now, if all had gone according to plan, our enemy was divided, but if the group that was supposed to be near Kiev caught wind of what we were doing, we could be surrounded. It would be a cataclysmic disaster, and we would be destroyed.
The arrival of our cousins from Alaska had given us hope. Tanya (bless her ever loving cougar heart) had come as soon as Carlisle described the situation to Eleazar. As the coven leader of the Denali group, she'd taken upon herself to offer their assistance. Bella and she had developed a grudging respect for each other during the time Edward had been gone with Marcus, and Tanya had caused us to all laugh out loud when she swept into the castle and bowed at Bella's feet.
In confusion, Bella had belted out, "What the hell?"
Tanya had snickered and stated simply. "I am bowing at the feet of greatness. You deflowered Edward Cullen. For that and that alone, you are worthy to follow. Let's go get that man back, and maybe, if you are gracious enough, you'll let me try him out?" She'd raised her eyebrow just slightly, and it was just enough to be challenging.
Bella had surprised us. She'd burst out laughing, slapping her hands against her thighs and chuckling, to which Tanya had responded in the same vein. It was an offer of friendship, I realized, for Tanya to tease Bella in such a manner.
But Tanya had gone even further. Our cousins had brought along some of our friends. Kachiri, Senna, and Zafrina from the Amazon. Maggie, Siobahn, and Liam from Ireland. They'd even been able to track down Peter and Charlotte. Seeing my old friend and his mate had rejuvenated my spirits. Peter had, in turn, found a few nomads, Garrett, Charles, and Makenna. The combined covens and nomads would serve as our blocking force in the Ukraine, with Zafrina, Kate, and Siobhan's gifts to keep the wolves away from the castle in the Romanian Mountains while the Volturi Guard did what it did best. Peter was surprisingly in his element; decades of warfare at my side made him the perfect leader for the blocking force. There was a sense of personal satisfaction in seeing him directing those that had been placed under his control. Their orders were simple - keep the werewolves occupied until we could take out the vampire that held them bound. We were all hoping that they would at least turn against the vampires that enslaved them first before coming after us.
If the information Edward had fed us was correct, each group was still up against at least fifty adversaries, so the blocking force would not engage their targets unless absolutely necessary, and they would engage in a fighting retreat if pressed. Our group, on the other hand, had a war to wage. Our primary targets…the one that controlled the wolves, Stefan, Vladimir, and Aribert. There had been thirty four Volturi before we came. Adding the seven from our family (yes, I was including Bella in my count) and the three wolves brought us close to an even fight. Of course, this didn't include our secret weapon within their midst. Edward could be unstoppable in a battle. I just hope he had the energy, considering what Alice had seen, to help when we arrived.
So yes, I was feeling hopeful. We had a formidable warrior within their midst, and the deadly combination of Bella, Jane, and Alec on our side. I wondered as well if the presence of Jacob, Seth, and Leah wouldn't give us an advantage. I was hoping that it would confound the werewolves, but my fear was that they would target our three friends. However, the Quileute had made informed decisions and remained adamant about coming with us. I marveled at the relationship that had developed between my brother and Jacob Black. I knew he was doing this as much for his respect for Edward, as his love for Bella.
So one week later, we were ghosting our way through Romania, heading for the castle. Those two words just kept haunting me. It hadn't been long enough, but it was all we had. I wanted to catch the werewolves before they'd fed, hoping that it would weaken them, as hunger did us. The eyes that surrounded me now glowed bright red, or deeply golden depending on their drink of choice.
For a moment, panic rushed through me…and I began doubting myself. They'd followed me unfailingly, believing in my abilities, and I wondered suddenly if they'd misplaced their trust. I was unwilling to consider any result other than one where we would all return after destroying those that had challenged us. It was exactly the ending I'd asked Siobahn to envision.
Every man, woman, and wolf running beside or behind me…their fate resided in my hands.
Demetri was the only person out of rank, running slightly ahead, using his gift to guide us.
I'd caught his eyes several times during the journey. It was such a small indulgence that I hoped no one noticed. I needed his reassurance that he still felt Edward. So far, so good. I was worried about Didyme as well, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that she was primary in my thoughts. She had survived this long, and it was unlikely that Stefan and Vladimir would destroy her on a whim after all this time.
The leaders…I would have much preferred them to stay back in Volturi, but at least they were well protected, with Jane, Alec, and Felix surrounded the elders behind me as we moved through the countryside.
We were getting close. I could tell by the tension in Demetri's body.
Think through it all again, one more time Jasper, I told myself.
Emmett and Felix would be by my side as we went up the cliff. I was worried about Alice…her fighting skill relied a good deal on her psychic ability, which was pretty much nonexistent thanks to the interference of the wolves. She and Rosalie would be sticking together, I knew. Esme and Carlisle wouldn't separate, and I knew they would protect each other's backs. Aro, Sulpicia, Caius, and Athenodora…well, interestingly enough they would be mere immortals in this fight, and I wondered how that made them feel. Aro's mind reading skills really wouldn't provide us much during the upcoming battle. Surprisingly a look of glee had been permanently etched on his face over the last week; he was looking forward to this. It was more than evident. I'd seen him fight, and the man was deadly…anyone who made the mistake of believing he was an ancient relic was in for a surprise. Renata would be by the leader's side whether he wanted it or not. I hoped she would make the difference for him. The vampire world would still need their leader if we were able to come out of this intact.
The others would follow us, but I'd had to lecture both Bella and Marcus on thinking before they acted. They were the wild cards. I needed Bella to focus. I needed her shield to maximize Jane and Alec's powers. The combination of the twins and Bella was our most powerful weapon, but it also made them the prime target for the opposing forces. I needed her to remain calm; so that she could do what she would be most useful doing, and so we could protect them while they did it. I'd pushed Marcus hard over the last few days, so much so that the ancient one had finally cracked.
"Listen to me, Jasper Cullen. You are bordering on impertinence. You've thrown me in the dirt and beaten me senseless, and I've put up with it all because I knew you could make me a better warrior, but you are going too far. I will make sure that the twins and Bella are protected. I know they are our greatest chance of coming out of this intact. Go insult someone else's intelligence, young pup."
And that had been that. I'd scurried away from him like the puppy he'd insinuated I was.
A formidable vampire had emerged from the hollow shell that had merely existed for the last millennium. It was true what they said about brave and strong things rising from refining fires. Marcus reminded me of the Phoenix so legendary in many Native American stories. The fire of the last thousand or so years had created a strong and determined creature, one that commanded my respect. Intense was the only way I could describe him. He was going to destroy someone, there was no doubt, and I had my suspicions just who Marcus would target.
But at least for the beginning of the battle, I needed him to protect Bella, Alec, and Jane, and I'd convinced him that he was the right person. I would guess that anyone that came up against Marcus would quickly meet their maker. I was very, very happy with that. My plan was for Bella, Alec, and Jane to take out as many as they were capable of. Had we had time, I was certain that Bella could have refined her gift enough that Jane and Alec could have just dropped everyone within the grounds of the castle. Such a simple solution, and one that would have made this easy. But, we'd run out of time, so as it stood, Bella could cover a large area, but nothing close to the entire castle. We would take what we could get.
Now, I just had to figure out a way to get up the cliffs and over the stone walls without our people being picked off one by one.
Demetri slowed to a walk, and we all followed suit. He stopped so that I could step beside him. "Jasper. They are less than five miles north. This shallow valley begins to grow steeper as we go further. We will have to refrain from speaking from here on to avoid their sentries."
He was right. We could move silently, but any verbal communication would be heard.
I stepped ahead staring into the valley ahead of us. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me, a softly accented female voice echoed in my head. I wanted to believe it was my mother's, probably an auditory memory I held from my childhood. How appropriate it seemed for the situation we found ourselves in.
Spinning on my heel, I turned to look at the group that gathered before me…the ones that were "with me." I would fear no evil. Forty four vampires and three Quileute wolves faced me. Tongue lolling out of his mouth, Jacob yipped at me capturing my attention. I swear it looked like he was looking forward to this fight. Knowing him, he probably was. Looking at their faces, I recalled the final briefing I'd given before the assembled army of vampires just before we left Volterra.
I placed my hands behind my back and assumed the posture that Emmett had mocked throughout the week.
"Some of you have been doing this for a thousand years or more, so I hope you'll bear with me."
"At no point in its history has the Volturi Guard ever faced such a formidable foe. The Volturi have always been the strong ones; the ones that the criminals of our kind feared. Others fight for their own ends, to further their own goals. We fight to preserve a way of life for all vampires, even against the most deadly of opponents."
"You all have heard some of my history, and I am not so far removed from Confederate roots it does not grieve me to quote an enemy, but Ulysses Grant said something once that we need to keep in mind. In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins. We are the Volturi. We are the power that holds our world together. To quote Grant again, the art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Then, strike him as hard as you can. That is what we must do now, or else one day Vladimir and Stefan will lead their wolves here in search of us. I've worked you hard this past week, and I can honestly say that there is no better army anywhere in all of history than that which is in this room right now."
Aro moved to the front of the line, I felt his determination and wondered at the emotion. Alice grinned endearingly at me and winked. I attempted to control my smirk but lost the battle. Aro's eyes monitored my expression as he stole my thoughts. He then shook his head and rolled his eyes in a way that was all too familiar.
I chuckled before saying, "My baby sister is rubbing off on you entirely too much."
"Your baby sister?" he said softly. "My daughter," he murmured emphasizing that "Isabella" belonged to him as well.
He was saying something much deeper and I understood the message. He was right, we were inseparable now.
Aro turned to face those that stood before us. "To quote the man that Jasper seems so enthralled with…" Emmett snickered at the fact he would insinuate I would be enchanted with a Yankee "…The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity. Give Jasper your undivided loyalty and obedience," he said simply giving me the final authority over them all. He then stepped back, taking Sulpicia's hand in his.
The memory passed through my mind in a fraction of a second before I ruthlessly quashed it.
"Silence from this point onward. You all know what to do. Watch for my signals, and above all make sure to protect Bella, Alec, and Jane."
I heard Jane snarl at the implication she needed safeguarding, but I knew she would do exactly what she'd been told. Felix rubbed her shoulder affectionately, and she calmed at his touch. I knew she would enjoy what was to come, having taken immense pleasure at the exercises where large groups of vampires dropped to the ground at the combination of her and Bella's gift. I was not surprised to see Jacob, Leah, and Seth move into place around the three. Perfect!
"Let's go," I said finally, there was nothing more that could be done.
It seemed that the last leg of the journey flew by, and soon we could see the castle silhouetted against the sky ahead of us.
Silence…it might actually give us away. We were ghost-like in our movement, and I doubted that anyone from the castle would even suspect we were here, but I worried that the sudden stillness of the forest around us would stir the alarm. Luckily we were moving in at dusk, so perhaps we would go without notice. This was the time of day that animals did begin their preparation for rest.
I couldn't look at Demetri until we reached the dense forest at the base of the mountain. The castle rose above us high on the cliff. We stilled, listening to see if a cry of alarm had been sent out. When nothing was heard, it was then that I looked over to Demetri, and his lips twisted quickly into a smile. Hope flowing into me, I did what I'd wanted to do since this hell started. I spoke with my brother.
"Edward!" I screamed in my head.
Silence.
C'mon. C'mon. C'mon.
"Damn it, bro, we are all here and ready for this. Let me know that you can hear me."
Then the most wondrous sound wafted down from above. I heard shouting and then the sounds of a struggle and underlying grunts of pain. I didn't want to know why. Marcus shivered beside me when we heard a door open and then a woman's voice shouting Edward's name. The love and joy that flowed over me told me I'd just been graced to hear Didyme's voice. I actually swayed under the emotions and felt Caius steady me as Aro did the same for his brother in law.
"Edward, stop now!" she screamed. "You can't escape it. PLEASE!"
Then came the sound of the door slamming open this time and two oily voices. From the corner of my eye, I saw Aro's hand clench against Marcus' shoulder. Vladimir and Stefan, I would presume.
"Something is wrong with him, get him out now. I don't want my pretty to destroy himself this quickly." A different voice…a German accent. Carlisle tensed this time.
The unmistakable sound of metal scraping against metal came down through the air, and then what I could only assume was a vampire body falling to the stone floor.
"Are you insane?" An unidentified female voice muttered.
"Edward, what are you doing?" Didyme's voice came out in a horrified sound.
There was the sound of some sort of scuffle and then Didyme's gasp. The unmistakable sound of stone crumbling then a loud pop. Vladimir and Stefan began screaming, "Get them!"
"What are you doing, Edward?" Didyme gasped again, but much closer to us.
The most beautiful sound in the entire world responded. "I'm giving you your life back," Edward's velvet voice came down to us through the growing darkness.
Then Didyme was screaming over the snarls of numerous vampires and werewolves from above us.
In an instance, I knew exactly what had happened. Edward had leapt from the window or balcony of whatever room he'd been held in, taking Didyme with him. After making his announcement to her, he'd proceeded to throw Didyme over the edge. Marcus' love was literally about to fall into his arms.
As I heard her rapidly approaching shrieks of anger at my brother mixed with the shouted orders of Vladimir and Stefan from above, I felt something clearly. Confusion and chaos. It was music to my ears.
Through the melee, I heard Vladimir and Stefan order a dozen werewolves to exit the castle and track down Didyme, while at the same time I heard the shriek of stone on stone and the voice of an unfamiliar vampire screeching in pain. The Romanians were finally getting to meet the real Edward Cullen, devious, powerful, cunning and absolutely ruthless in a battle. I was going to kiss him when I finally got my hands on him. In one fell swoop move, Edward had freed Didyme, divided the Romanians forces yet again, and provided us a distraction so that we could scale the walls.
It was time to fight.
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.