-:- PART III -:-
"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."
—Albert Einstein
CHAPTER 33
-:- You Can't Get Blood Out of a Stone -:-
THE WAITING WAS OVER. The Volturi would arrive before the afternoon. It took two days to hear from Carmen and Eleazar. Our kind was good with waiting—time was endless—but the two days were trying at best. The house was too crowded, keeping everyone on edge which made it difficult to have a conversation without an argument ensuing. Esme was ready to rip our throats out if the Volturi didn't beat her to it. We all just wanted the visit—or confrontation—over with, but now that the time had arrived we felt like it wasn't enough.
We chose to meet the Volturi and their guard beyond the house at our football field, the same field we had played a game in the mud not too long ago and forgot all of our troubles for a few hours. Esme didn't want the Volturi near the house, so it was the only viable option large enough where no one would feel plagued by the amount of vampires we expected to gather in one location.
It was raining this early morning, something we hadn't anticipated, but there was nothing to be done about it. If anything, it would wash away the lingering smells of the humans from the compound, and of course the wolves.
I hadn't spoken with Carlisle again since the other night. The house was too busy with everyone rushing around. We'd only managed to have one final family meeting to discuss our strategy, and it was decided Carlisle would speak for us, and I would help provide any of the missing details the Volturi did not wish to share openly. The two of us would stand united with the rest behind us, and Garrett and Bella remaining at the back. It was a struggle to get Bella to agree, but since Garrett had no wish to call attention to himself, she reluctantly decided to stay with him.
While we awaited their arrival, I cast one last glance at Bella. The rain had plastered her hair to her head, as well as her clothes to her body. She stood with her back straight and her shoulders square with her arms resting at her sides. It wasn't hard to miss the clenched fists or the determination in her stance. She was staring straight ahead through to the woods—the same spot everyone else was watching. She hadn't noticed my gaze, and I was eternally grateful for the stolen moment. Dressed in a blood red, long-sleeved T-shirt, she stood out from everyone else who chose shades of grey and black to wear. She had planned this, I realized, as a message to me. Although she had consented to stand in the back with the others, she wouldn't blend in. She wouldn't sit back and let us make all of the decisions. The red was to draw attention to herself without going back on her promise to me. She was clever. Fierce. With black pants curving her figure, hugging tightly to her legs and tucked into a pair of black boots that came up just past her ankles, she was ready for anything that would come her way. Still and unyielding, carved like the chess piece in Carlisle's study, she really was a warrior. A true queen and we were her pawns.
I committed the vision to memory.
Feeling my eyes on her, her focus changed to me, and then she gave me the most heartbreaking of smiles. I committed that vision to memory as well. Neither of us said the words; we didn't need to when our eyes said everything. My chest swelled with pride and with the love I had for this equal of mine. I would follow her anywhere. With one last silent promise, we both turned our attentions to the sounds coming from the tree line across the field.
I wasn't sure what I expected. Maybe I anticipated pageantry and beauty, or a solid force marching in step. The Volturi were none of these things. They came through the trees walking as any one of us would have walked. Maybe I had expected them to be our saviors, regal with savoir-faire, but it was clear the Volturi had taken their knocks over the years. Gone was the uniformity Aro and his brothers prided themselves on. The mass walked with slow, deliberate movements, and to a casual observer they would have seemed ragged, or downtrodden, but perhaps this was their ruse just as the Humvees mounted with guns had been ours. There were more of them than we thought would have come, and their numbers helped to solidify the strength of their deadly force if their appearance hadn't.
As they spread out—matching our line—they doubled us, and we knew they would have more from where they came from. The Volturi had been recruiting, that much was obvious. Carlisle recognized half of the faces, only the ones closest to Aro, Caius and Marcus—the once leaders of our race. Their personal guards surrounded them, wearing black cloaks, cowled and shadowed, while the rest were dressed with mismatched clothing of what I could only assume was from their victims. Even in the rain I could see the few dark cloaks were tattered, and not the lush, thick velvet the guard had worn for centuries.
The Volturi may not have looked as formidable as they once were, but the voices inside their heads definitely were. The one thing which remained consistent amongst our visitors was the scowls on their faces. None of them looked happy to be here. None except Aro.
"Carlisle, my old friend." Aro held his hand out expecting Carlisle to greet him, but Carlisle did not accept his offer, instead he greeted him from where he stood. It was what we discussed in the family meeting. One touch from Aro and he would know all of our secrets. We weren't prepared to show him our strategy this early, and only would if it was absolutely necessary.
"Aro, it's good to see you." Carlisle smiled. It was unexpectedly genuine. He was glad to see Aro alive and well. "I can't say I'm surprised you survived, but I am surprised you're here on this side of the world with your guard, and your wife." He nodded to the cloaked figure at the back of the column who was heavily surrounded by more guards. My family's thoughts were curious about her, no one—apart from Carlisle—had seen the infamous wives of the Volturi. "What has happened to Volterra?"
"Our sanctuary was decimated, burned to the ground. We lost half of our guard, my brother," he motioned to Caius, "lost his wife when she would not leave our beloved city. So many shared her fate." He turned to the vampires standing next to him. I recognized Jane and Alec as they lifted their hoods, but the woman standing next to him, I did not know. In his thoughts, he called her Renata, his personal protection from what I could ascertain.
"Caius and his wife refused to believe your little seer," Aro said. My eyes turned to the grieving man, but he wasn't just grieving for the loss of his wife and his city, there was more to his thoughts. He wanted revenge, and our family was the target of that revenge. Even though Alice had tried to warn them, Caius still blamed us for the destruction. This meeting was not going to go how we had hoped, not when Caius was out for blood.
"He paid for his cynicism dearly." Aro's gaze still remained on Carlisle, but in his mind he was seeing everything and everyone. I could learn a lot from this man and his seamless observations. Nothing had escaped Aro. Our numbers, the state of our clothing, the color of our eyes, he had taken it all in, and drew one conclusion as to who was responsible for our relative good fortune.
Searching Aro's mind, I saw what had become of their city and most of the inhabitants. Europe hadn't faired any better than North America, worse actually, which was why they had crossed the ocean years ago. Aro had come here for one purpose only: to seek out Alice. She was a prize he was determined to have and he wouldn't stop until he had her by his side sharing what the fates had laid out for him and his brothers.
With a slight nod and a finger signal to Jasper and Carlisle, I confirmed our earlier suspicions. It was the future Aro wanted, and he would have Alice give it to him.
"And yet you believed," Carlisle said.
"I've always believed in this one." His eyes narrowed in on Alice. Jasper instinctively stepped in front of her, feeling the animosity rolling off of Caius and some of the guard. From the corner of my eye, I caught Jane's smirk.
Turning his lips up into a tight smile, Aro leered at Alice as he clasped his hands together. "Tell us, dear Alice, what does the future hold for us now?" Jasper took another step forward, but Carlisle raised his hand to stop him.
Laughing, Aro said, "This must be Jasper. I've heard so much about you, as well. You interest me, not as much as young Edward, or Alice, but enough to warrant a demonstration. What say you, Jasper?" He smiled wickedly and mused, "Manipulate me."
There was an absolute silence which stretched to an eerie, uncomfortable state while the family watched Jasper through guarded eyes wondering if he was going to take the bait. Alice slipped her hand in Jasper's, squeezing tight until his shoulders relaxed. We all felt the effect she had on him.
"Oh! How fascinating. Did you feel that?" Aro turned to Marcus, his expression solemn and bored. "Carlisle, it seems your family is rather wary of me. They have nothing to fear from me. We are all that is left. We all want the same thing."
"And what exactly is that, Aro?"
"Why, to restore order, of course. Isn't that why you sought us out? You want our help. If we had known you would have returned here so soon, we would have visited earlier." At his words, I heard Jacob's uneasy voice in my head coming from the direction of the trees. Downwind and hiding near the cliffs, the wolf pack had not kept to their part of the bargain to stay away like we'd asked of them. Apart from me, no one had discovered their presence… yet.
We're just curious, Edward. Looking to see what we're up against, Jacob said in my head. It was his way of apologizing for breaking their word. If only my powers worked both ways, I could have demanded they leave before it went too far. This was another complication we didn't need.
Consider us your backup, said Quil.
What is it, Edward? It only took a subtle nod toward the trees and Carlisle understood. Jacob? he asked, followed by some curses. It had been a long time since I heard him speak like that, and it proved difficult to keep my reaction in check along with his. Masking his own emotions, Carlisle carefully chose his next words for Aro, making sure to leave any accusation out of his voice. "You know what's been happening, then?"
"Oh, for some time now," Aro said. "We've been monitoring the situation. We have a few spies in the rebels' midst. Maria has always been troublesome. We should have destroyed her the first time, but she will serve her purpose." With his eyes gleaming, there was no mistaking what purpose Maria would serve even with access to his thoughts.
"Purpose?" Jasper asked.
Aro laughed in return, a deep roar straight from his stomach, igniting a few more snickers from the rest of his guard. "Yes... that's right. You have quite the history with her, young one. Don't worry, she's not a threat at the moment."
"Not a threat?" Jasper started to become agitated. "When was the last time you heard from your so called spies?"
Aro wasn't going to divulge that information, so I answered for him. "It's been over two years."
"My people are loyal to me," Aro said with a threat behind his words. "Two years is nothing in this lifetime."
"They're probably dead," Jasper said.
"True, I suppose, but how does this really concern us? What does your little one see?" He looked over Jasper's shoulder at Alice with his eyes wide from excitement. He held out his hand to her. "May I?" At least he had asked, I thought, but I saw what was in his head, and he had no idea what Maria had been doing, nor did he care. His spies had not offered any of the details Garrett and Bella had lived through.
"He doesn't know," I said to my family, trying to deflect his interest in Alice. "His spies only informed him of the raids, nothing else. He knows nothing of what's happening deep within Maria's caves, or what she's planning."
To the rest of my family, Aro's expression hadn't changed. It was a mask of indifference, but inside his head there was a war going on. He didn't like being played a fool, which made him angry for not having the upper hand.
Easy, Edward, Carlisle said.
"We can rectify this," Aro said. "Just one simple touch. Harmless. All of this secrecy and doubt can be washed away."
Caius was smiling—if that man could smile.
Aro had moved his chess piece thinking he had control of the board by forcing us into a position with no viable option other than allowing his touch. The lack of faith would show the Volturi we were not to be trusted. Caius would refuse to believe anything we had to say without the proof he needed, and to do that, one of us would have to let Aro have access to every thought we ever had.
He was eyeing Alice—the future was enticing to him—especially the future of our family. Aro wanted to see how capable she was, and he was more than pleased with how this was playing out. They could go back to where they came from without a second thought, letting Maria wipe out our family—everyone but Alice, of course.
"Jasper," I said, "you're going to have to show him." I could hear the protests of my family loud and clear. Jasper was hesitant, unsure he was the one to do this, but he knew it was better than letting Aro have access to Alice. We didn't know how he would react to hearing the news of her… disability. It was a dangerous game we were playing, but Alice was the only leverage we had. If he knew she no longer had her visions, then we had nothing to bargain with to get their help.
I don't think I can hold back things we want to keep private.
"There's no other way," I said, looking at Jasper. "He needs to see for himself. We don't have a choice."
Can I break it off before it goes too far? Jasper was worried about Bella and what her relationship with Maria was.
I shook my head. It didn't work like that. With one touch Aro would know every single thought Jasper ever had. If only it was like a computer, uploading things in sequence not all at once, I could monitor it and pull him free before he got to Alice, the wolves and Bella. It was a big if and, from what Carlisle had told us, wasn't how it worked. Hopefully in this particular case, the ends would have to justify the means.
"And why does this one offer himself to me?" Aro asked, disappointed it wouldn't be his coveted prize.
"I've been in the caves. I was with Maria, so I know what she's been doing."
"Full of surprises..." Aro said. He lifted his hand again, expecting Jasper to come forth to bridge the distance.
Alice clutched his arm, refusing to let him go. Leaning down, he gave her a quick kiss, placing his palm over the necklace the humans at the compound had given her. The two were never one for words, not when Jasper could sense what Alice was feeling. He smiled, gracing her with one last kiss before moving toward Aro. The guard visibly tensed, and Jane was especially hostile as Jasper approached her master.
Let's hope it doesn't get too far, Jasper said to me before taking hold of Aro's hand.
An onslaught of images and thoughts streamed from Jasper's mind—all in the blink of an eye—and at that precise moment, I tackled him to the ground clearing him of Aro's reach. I was quick, but not quick enough. It was too late to hide Bella from Aro, and too late for the wolves, which brought a whole new complication to this endeavor. Luckily, Jasper hadn't known the wolves were waiting in the wings, so to speak.
Aro was outraged by my interference, even if his face didn't show it. I had confirmed we were hiding things from him, and now he was about to show us who were the rulers here. There was no doubt I had just made matters worse, but when I caught a glimpse of Bella's face in the caves, something in me broke. I reacted without thinking.
Edward! What have you done? Carlisle's voice—along with those of my family—rang out in my head.
I could feel Jane's penetrating glare waiting for the order from her master.
"Don't do this," Carlisle pleaded as he moved to stand in front of Aro. His hands were raised in peace while trying to protect me and Jasper as we slowly stood up. Looking over my shoulder to Jacob, I willed him to stay with a slight shake of the head. He was itching to run, ready to explode through the trees and finally have a chance at destroying some vampires.
"Jane, dear one," it was all that was needed from Aro for Jane to step back in line with the others, "not yet," he said with a warning. The tension was building between everyone, it was charged like electricity in the air. One false move and lightning would strike. Despite the strain and the betrayal Aro was feeling, what he had seen from Jasper had revealed a lot. It had unnerved him. It didn't show on his expression, but the images with Maria were clearly astonishing and overwhelming. Jasper could feel his apprehension as well. Aro hadn't expected to see the 'cavalry' she had been building.
"She's been keeping her numbers well hidden from us," Aro eventually said. "This is an unexpected turn of events. But it seems you, Carlisle, have secrets as well."
"We're willing to be open and honest with you, Aro. We all have a common goal."
"What exactly is your goal, old friend?" He tilted his head, and both Carlisle and I knew where this was going to go.
"To restore order to our kind," Carlisle said, choosing his words carefully. "Maria's gone past all reasoning. There is and always will be a delicate balance between us and the humans. It's a food chain like anything else. Disrupt the order and no one survives."
"Except you and your family." Aro held out his arm, sweeping over Eleazar's family as well. "You would have us change our ways. Rule our kind differently."
"I cannot change what is in our nature. I only offer a choice. We do not wish to change anyone."
"Such a pacifist, dear Carlisle. If your heart could bleed it would for these humans."
"It would bleed for all living things."
"But we are not living, are we? By the very definition of your chosen profession, Doctor."
"Regardless what I believe or not, it will come down to numbers. It may take decades, but at the alarming rate she is destroying life and creating newborns, it will happen. Humans will be outnumbered. The population was decimated, and your food source will continue to diminish."
"We've survived thousands of years. This is yet another blip on the earth's timeline. A significant blip, but still a blip," Caius said, waving his hand in dismissal, but Aro was smart enough to contemplate Carlisle's words. I saw the numbers he had. He still maintained a substantial amount of guard, continually recruiting more into his circle, and all of them kept to the old ways. They were looking for a new 'home,' a new place to reign and rebuild what they had in Volterra. He would be happy enough to let Maria wipe out Carlisle and the rest of us so he could take over this continent. What he couldn't decide was who the bigger threat was.
His eyes glanced to the two families who had merged into one strong coven. We were a definite risk. Our power lay in our relationships which was obvious to him. Reaching his hand out in invitation to Marcus, he wanted to confirm the strength of the bonds that bound all of us to one another. As Marcus placed his hand in Aro's, his callous eyes sought me out. He was aware I could read his thoughts and he wanted me to see what he saw.
At first I wasn't sure what I was observing. It was like a haze drifting over the field, or wisps of fog encasing each person. As I looked closer at the mist I saw it was offset with the subtlest of colors, like a kaleidoscope of brilliant bursts of light, and then I realized each of the colors led to a person: Red for Rosalie, blue for Alice, pink for Esme and so many more. I raised my own hand, and there in the palm was a shade of translucent violet, but it wasn't alone. All of the shades surrounded it, but closest to the violet was a soft, royal color of gold, which I saw hovering around Bella's frame. There were a myriad of colors and strands connecting each of my family, all blending into one tendril of incandescent light and it glowed brightly. Every relationship was highlighted as though there was a road map to navigating our family and what we meant to one another. Not one was weaker than another. Each was strong and pulsating in its own way. These were the 'bonds' Marcus could see, and now he had allowed me to see them too.
Aro has eyes, but he does not see. He never has. Marcus had let go of Aro's hand but his eyes remained focused on mine. He showed me again what his powers could do and how they worked, but this time he turned his attentions to the Volturi. The tendrils were there, reaching out to each of them, binding them together, but they were clouded with darker shades of grays and browns, not the bright and lively iridescence that was found amongst my family. There were some stronger, brighter ones, but for the most part the connections seemed weak and dull, far from glowing in comparison.
We had a vampire who bound us, but she was destroyed in the fires with Caius' wife. With her destruction, the loyalty she forged as the truth died with her.
If what Marcus was saying was genuine, and I had no reason to doubt him, then Aro would view us as a far greater threat than Maria and her army.
Only once have I seen a bond such as you and the one dressed in red you hide in the back. Treasure it. With a face filled with apathy and repugnance, Marcus finally looked away from me. His dead expression said nothing of what Jasper felt coming from him, or what I witnessed in his exchange. I didn't know why he revealed all that he had, but there was a profound sadness in him.
Aro smiled. "As I'm sure you've noticed, Edward," he nodded, "even Marcus is surprised by what you've created here."
Looking over at Bella, I saw our colors bound tightly around us in a halo. It was for the span of a breath and then the unified light was gone.
She was watching me, and with her eyes she was asking me if I was okay.
Nodding, I gave her a brief smile before turning back to Marcus, but he had no further interest in me. It was obvious Aro knew who Bella was and what she meant to me, Marcus would have shown him. The panic started to settle in as I focused my attentions back to Aro and Carlisle.
"It looks to me like you don't need the help we can offer you," Aro said.
"We cannot defeat her on our own. Her numbers are too great," Carlisle said. "We're asking for your assistance. What can we do to gain your favor?"
Aro chuckled, amused as though he was a child picking from a bag full of candy. "Just an errant thought," he said, and his attentions turned to Alice again.
"My family?" Carlisle said. "They aren't possessions. You've never understood that. Every one of them is free to make their own choice. We are together because we love each other."
"Love?" We all watched Aro's face. It seemed he was fascinated, but his thoughts were bitter and cruel. "You think these immortals love you?" He continued his mocking. It was as Marcus said: he refused to see it. "That is amazing. Simply amazing. Fear binds loyalty, not love." Aro nodded to Jane and instantly Carlisle fell to his knees writhing in pain. Jane stood smiling at Aro's side while Carlisle's entire body was clenched in agony with his fingers locked tight, just like his jaw.
Running to Carlisle, I tried to shield him from Jane's gaze while Jasper went for Jane. He dropped like Carlisle had, and the pain reverberated through the rest of us as Jane narrowed her focus on Jasper. Carlisle had stilled, but we all felt Jasper's pain as Jane continued her assault on him. It happened fast, but I was one step ahead of everyone with access to their thoughts.
"Emmett, stay back!" I yelled. "Rosalie, grab Alice. Everyone, stay back." I didn't think I could handle seeing Alice fall under Jane's torture if she rushed to Jasper's side. His pain was seething through each of us only making everything worse. We couldn't afford to take on the Volturi, not when Maria would be breathing down our necks soon. We needed all of us alive and healthy, and we needed them on our side.
"Aro, please, we can—" I was next, falling to my knees while the pain raked through my body as though every nerve ending was on fire. Screaming as the burning spread, the agony tore through me making it unbearable to think of anything but making it end any way possible. As quick as my wishes came, the pain ceased.
"Enough!" Bella cried out, and my heart clenched knowing what this meant. Before I could stop her, Jane flew backward from the force of Bella's power, landing a few feet away on her backside. Rolling, Jane jumped to her feet in a fighter's stance poised for attack. She sought out the person behind the voice, and when her eyes caught sight of Bella who was being held back by Garrett, I leapt in front of Jane shielding Bella as best I could.
"Oh, how wonderful!" Aro clapped his hands together. His joy was somewhat of a surprise to all of us, even his brothers. They gawked while my family slowly recovered.
Alice had her arms wrapped tightly around Jasper. Her thoughts were murderous toward Jane. The family was in one piece for the most part, but Alice vowed to see Jane dead after all this was done, unless Esme beat her to it. Dropping to Carlisle's side—who seemed to have gotten the brunt of Jane's force—Esme helped him stand while letting him rest his weight on her.
I had heard tales of what Jane could do, but never thought I'd get to feel it, or see the man I thought of as my father succumb to her torture. He was shaken, but seemed unharmed. We all were.
I'm okay, he managed to say to me. Don't let Aro see what Bella can do.
"Who is this marvelous creature?" Having now started to process through Jasper's thoughts and memories, he knew who Bella was and he was engrossed by her. "You've been so quiet standing back there with the Revolutionary at your side. One would think Carlisle was trying to hide you from me." Aro had taken notice of Bella at the time of their arrival just like she had hoped. "Come forward, child. No one will harm you." Straightening up with my jaw clenched, I stepped directly in front of her path to him. Aro asked Jane to stand down, and she obeyed, hissing her disapproval at me with promises of having her way with me and the woman I was trying to protect.
"This is Bella, our daughter," Carlisle's voice was shaky, but he gripped Esme's hand as they both stood tall and proud.
"Another one," Aro mused, eyeing Bella carefully. His eyes snapped to me. "Isabella? Fascinating. Just fascinating. There were rumors of you, once upon a time. She is but a decade old?" He noticed the scars on her neck. "I see it was a long decade for you. I must know the story behind this." He looked directly at me. "She is yours, is she not?"
"I am no one's," Bella said, stepping out from behind me.
Aro laughed deeply, his hands moving to his mouth in surprise. His face was politely amused. He turned to Jane, and with one look, she silently attacked Bella to no avail. Jane hissed in frustration, but continued her assault. Bella was immune to Jane. It was something Carlisle had wondered, but neither of us was willing to have that theory tested. Now it looked like we didn't have to.
I gave Bella a quick smile, before turning back to Jane. "Stop it," I growled. "Turn off your guard dog, Aro."
"Wonderful! She's impervious to you, dear one." Stepping forward with his personal guard following close behind, Aro held out his hand toward her. "I simply must know who this beauty is."
"No." I shook my head, and moved in front of Bella again.
Glaring at me, Aro called to Jane, but Bella pushed me aside before Jane could get to me. "You'll not harm any of them again," she bargained.
"Very well, then." Aro turned his hand over, palm up, and with the slightest gesture of his fingers, he beckoned her forward, waiting for Bella to place her hand in his. When she did, his face registered his shock. For once his expression matched that of his thoughts. He was astounded by Bella. "I must know the extent of your power."
"What I can and cannot do," Bella said, "is not important right now." The wind took that opportune moment to pick up, whipping Bella's hair up and around her making it seem as though she had done it herself which added to the threat behind her words. It was impressive whether she'd done it intentionally or not. The rest of the guard tensed as all eyes were on Bella, waiting and wondering what exactly this vampire—who could withstand Jane and Aro—would do.
I didn't need Garrett screaming in my head to tell me Bella was standing at the edge of a precipice, dangerously close to going over. I knew that look on Bella's face and the hostility in her posture to know she was channeling her own inner demons, trying to control her anger and eclipse the heat building inside of her. This was exactly what Carlisle and I had been worried about. Bella, or this Phoenix, was a wildcard. She was a newborn without a lot of control, especially when it came to dealing with ancient ones like Aro.
Reaching out, I grasped her fist, coaxing her fingers to relax and hold tight to my hand instead. She breathed deeply, closing her eyes while her hand squeezed my own. Seconds, which felt like minutes, passed while I waited for my Bella to return to me. When she opened her eyes, it was her I saw, not her other self. She was back in control. I didn't need to read her mind to see the apology in her eyes. If it wasn't for Aro's watchful gaze, scrutinizing every one of our actions, I would have leaned down to capture her lips with mine. We were getting good at this silent communication, and this new connection we had between the two of us was beyond what I ever hoped for.
From Aro's thoughts, I had expected him to be smiling, but when I turned to him he was anything but. The look in his eyes was calculating. He wanted Bella, and he would not be denied her. The monster inside me started to rear its ugly head. I didn't realize I was growling until Bella had placed her hand on my chest, soothing me just as I had soothed her. We all had our inner demons, and mine could be just as deadly as the others, if not more so when it came to threats against Bella.
"Carlisle, this family," Aro said, spitting the word out while his eyes were still trained on me, "you pride yourself on, has some disciplinary issues. You need to train them better." He turned to glare at Carlisle, and Jane's gaze followed with his. "Do you disagree?"
Another test from Aro, but Carlisle knew Aro. His time with the Volturi centuries ago had taught him a lesson in futility. "Aro, please accept my deepest apologies for their behavior. They are still young, they do not know our ways, or of the respect you deserve. Much has happened in the last decade." Carlisle bowed his head, and it angered me as well as the rest of the family to have to give in to the Volturi like this.
"So much they would forget with whom they are speaking with?" Caius snapped back. "They should be destroyed for their insolence alone."
"Caius..." Aro held his hand up.
"What's to stop us from killing you all, right now?" Caius asked.
"Me," Bella said simply.
The Volturi laughed, every one of them but Marcus and Aro.
"You've only seen a small portion of what I can do." There was no mistaking the threat behind Bella's words, and both Carlisle and I sucked in air at her blatant animosity toward them.
"Brother," Caius said, "it is obvious they do not need our help. Not with a grand one such as this in their midst." Caius mocked, gesturing to the guard to join him in his mirth. "Clearly, this gifted one can fight their battles for them." He turned back to Aro. "I tire of this, let us be on our way."
Aro's eyes never left Bella, still as calculating as ever. "Well, Carlisle, what have you to say? Why do you seek our assistance?"
Edward, Bella is strong. I have no doubt she could destroy most of them, but we need them. Carlisle looked at me in silence, his face unresponsive and grave but his thoughts rang loud and clear. After a few seconds I flinched away. I was to keep Bella in check, letting him speak for all of us. It was Carlisle's turn to break through their line of defense and equalize the board, or at the least end this confrontation in a draw.
"Maria has a vampire with her," Carlisle began. "A newborn who can neutralize the gifts we've been graced with. I'm not sure exactly how it works, since I've not experienced it but Jasper and Bella have. If I'm to understand them," he turned to Jasper, "it's like she can draw it out, filling the space inside with a black cloud, a void, where the power should be. Bella's ability doesn't work when she's near her. She's vulnerable, as are the rest of us. The only advantage in this kind of fighting is strength and numbers, which Maria clearly has. We need help destroying this vampire."
I squeezed Bella's hand again, hoping she had understood Carlisle's relayed message. Her eyelids fluttered, as she bit her lip trying to control her anger. She wanted to defend herself, I could see it in her face, but she also wanted to make Carlisle proud, so she raised her head, setting her shoulders in place while she waited for Aro's relentless scrutiny.
His eyes lit up at hearing about a vampire with so much power. He smiled, but we could all see the evil behind it. "The yin to your yang," he said to Bella. "How interesting. I would like to see this vampire, see the two of you together. Destroying one who would be so useful seems like such a waste, Carlisle. Unnecessary."
"It's necessary." Carlisle stepped forward. "There's one more thing," he said, piquing Aro's curiosity. "This vampire, Emilia, is an immortal child." We heard the gasps through the guard, and the murmurs of disbelief. "Maria has created a half dozen or so. She'll create more."
"Lies! Immortal children are forbidden," Caius said. "They spin tales to gain our favor."
Aro knew we were telling the truth, he had searched through his mind looking for Jasper's thoughts to confirm it, but he wasn't ready to let the others know. The child intrigued him.
"Aro," Marcus' voice was quiet, weak, but his eyes were telling a different story. There was a strength there, hidden behind his indifference. "Immortal children must all be destroyed. It is our way."
Aro paused while he contemplated his next move. To disagree with Marcus would cause discord amongst his guard. For thousands of years, the laws against Immortal Children were governed by the Volturi. To let Emilia, and the rest of her kind, live because of her abilities would go against everything the Volturi stood for. He had to tread lightly and carefully if he was to maintain the order he desired.
"My brother has spoken," Aro said. "We will help you destroy the children. Our laws are our laws." I saw the thoughts turning in his head, while the corner of his lip turned up. "Of course, we'll require a deposit for our aid. We have much to lose as well."
"Never," I growled, my fists clenched in anger knowing the payment he wanted.
"Now, Edward, there is room for the both of you. I wouldn't dream of separating you. Marcus has shown me it would be impossible."
"What is it?" Bella asked, linking her arm around mine.
"He wants us all," I said, my eyes never leaving Aro's. "Jasper, Alice, Kate, but mostly he wants you. We're to join the Volturi guard."
"Aro," there was fear in Carlisle's voice, "they are my family."
"And from what you've told me today, there won't be much of them left when Maria comes for you, will there?"
"Please," Esme pleaded, "we just got them back. Don't take them from me."
"They will serve their time, help us establish our rule to make our presence known again, and then they will be free to go. One hundred years." His tone was victorious, knowing he had us, and enjoying the upper hand he had once again established. "The price of our help is great, Mrs. Cullen, but your need of our help is greater."
"Am I that much of a threat to you, Aro? Is that it?" Carlisle's calm demeanor and patience had reached its limit. Anger raged through him. "Kill me then, if what I represent is such a threat to you and your ways, then take me. I'm yours, but you will leave my family alone."
As expected, the family erupted with cries of protest as each of them expressed their disagreement with Carlisle's plea.
Chaos and cries were everywhere; I was hearing it from all sides. The air was thick with tension as everyone poised to fight. I watched as the Volturi ranks closed in to surround the three ancient ones. They were getting ready to attack; it was exactly what Caius had been hoping for.
Emmett took it upon himself to verbally attack the guard, Demetri, who had been silently standing watch over Aro's wife. Eying him up, he was challenging him to a fight. I could feel Bella's shield envelope each of us, protecting us from Jane or any of the others in their guard. My only hope was she was strong enough to protect us all.
"—Just me! Will you be satisfied with just me?" Bella yelled at Aro.
"—Edward! Don't let her do it."
"—Stay where you are, Emmett! He's baiting you into a fight."
"—One step, and I'll rip your throat and take that pretty blonde wife of yours for my own."
"—Not yet, Jane."
Thoughts and voices were all around me, speaking over one another, shouting to make each other listen, but there was only one voice I chose to focus on.
Jasper was busy with Jane, squaring off with her, waiting for what she had to offer, he hadn't noticed Alice clutching her head in her hands. She was being assaulted with image after image just as she had over a decade ago. I was at her side in an instant, trying to help with the burden of pain the simultaneous visions were causing her.
"Alice," I said, holding her in my arms. It was a constant flow of impressions of each of our family falling at the hands of Maria's newborns. One after the other until all of us lay dead in the desert, and eventually the humans we were trying to protect were taken. The world shifted to darkness while Maria's plague spread across the country. Death and destruction was just the beginning.
Then the images switched to a battlefield somewhere in the south with the Volturi on our side, defeating Maria's army, but not without cost. Carlisle fell. Esme, Emmett, Tanya, Carmen and even Garrett, all dead, but Maria was destroyed. The image changed to Bella, her eyes blood red again, cowled in a black hood with me by her side and similar eyes and hood. Alice was being held by two of the Volturi guards who towered over her. She looked broken, as though she had lost all hope, but still she struggled against her captors. Surrounded by stone and death, the old church acted as a throne room with the Volturi serving as judge and jury while Jasper knelt before them waiting for their verdict. Alice went still when they tore his head from his shoulders.
Gasping, Alice crumpled over in pain as we came out of the trance. We locked eyes and I saw the panic in her eyes which must have mirrored my own.
"Edward," she said, her bottom lip trembling.
"Try it again."
Alice's visions of the future had returned, and they had picked the most inopportune time to make an appearance. She tried it again, making the decision to turn down the Volturi's help. The same images came at me, hard. Everyone dead. Then she made the decision to accept their help, and again the vision finished with the ending of Jasper's life while we stood by and watched, helpless to do anything to stop it.
"You're back," I said, cupping her cheek as she laughed out of sheer terror. It was wrong of us to smile, but both of us couldn't stop ourselves. I'm sure if we were human, we would have been crying. She tried it again, but the same outcomes appeared.
Alice was no longer broken, and we were all going to die.
"What is it?" Bella asked, putting her arm around Alice. The look on Alice's face warranted a hug—that was for sure—so I put my arms around the both of them. It wasn't long before the rest of the family stopped their arguing, and watched us in silence.
"Alice!" Jasper said, in frantic desperation.
"I'm okay," she said, launching herself into his arms. Seeing his life taken from him in a vision was almost the same as seeing the real thing. Alice squeezed him tightly until he started to protest, and looked to me for an explanation.
"Her visions are back."
"Permanently?" he asked, setting her down so he could see her eyes. "From the look and feel of you, I'd say it wasn't a good one." He smiled, placing his hands on her cheeks, and then grazed her forehead with a light kiss. "I take it I didn't make it?" He tried to make light of a serious situation, but it fell a little short with Alice.
"Her visions are back?" Aro interrupted. "Tell me, Alice, where had they gone?" A few snickers were heard down the line of the guards, but he silenced them with one look.
"Alice," Carlisle offered, "hasn't had a vision since the day the bombs dropped."
"And you failed to tell us this," Caius hissed. "More secrets and lies."
"I see," Aro said. He wasn't sure what to make of this new information. "Well, don't keep us in suspense, dear, tell us what you saw." He reached his hand out to her. Alice looked from me to Carlisle, and then back to me. I nodded my affirmation. He may as well see what was going to play out; there wasn't another choice to be made. Only some of the family would survive, but Maria would be dead. It was the end result Aro wanted.
When she took his hand, he smiled affectionately at her, and the light returned in his crimson eyes. This time, he really did have everything he wanted. While he processed the visions, I filled the rest of the family in on what Alice saw. None of us had time to accept what they meant, or what this war would ultimately cost us.
"Then, it's settled," Aro said to me and Bella. "You will come with us now, then meet up with the rest of your family when we travel to face Maria's army and rid this world—"
"Jacob, no!" I spun around in the direction of where the wolves had been watching and listening to the entire exchange. Revolted by Aro and his guard, they were through with being patient, and wanted to take matters into their own hands. Five of the wolves emerged from the darkness of the woods. Their massive forms were lined up in pack formation with Jacob leading in front.
"Impossible," Aro whispered. He hadn't had time to sift through all of Jasper's thoughts. The wolves were a surprise to him. "I see I've underestimated you, Carlisle." Every one of the Volturi stiffened, ready for action at the first sight of the wolves. Only Marcus and Aro seemed unaffected by their presence.
"They mean no harm," I said. At least I thought they did, and I wanted to get that out there before some of the new guards who were unpracticed in discipline reacted without a command. I raised an eyebrow to Jacob, wondering why the hell they decided to show themselves now when things were starting to progress. We always knew there would be a cost. Not everyone was going to survive, and Alice just confirmed that without the Volturi's help, no one would live.
It's a bad deal, Edward, and you know it, Jacob said. We heard you talk of Alice's visions. Ask her what happens if we go with you and fight alongside you.
I hadn't expected those words to come from him. He caught me off guard, but not enough that I didn't realize the implications behind them. "No, we can't ask that of you. It's too dangerous. Too risky," I said to him, while everyone else listened to a one sided conversation.
Why? If they help you, you die. If they don't, we all die. Isn't that what Alice saw? What happens if we all fight?
"Edward," Carlisle said. "What is it? Why are they here?"
I thought about the options. I knew as well as any of my family, the Volturi would never fight on the same side as the wolves. I also knew bringing the wolves into this was a good option, but an option we couldn't risk. They were our last defense. They were needed here when we failed.
We all die, Edward. Ask her, Jacob said again. Don't make me take human form.
"They want to fight," I spoke on his behalf, knowing he would be vulnerable as a human. The protests began throughout the Volturi guard. "Alice, he wants to know what will happen if they come with us."
Alice closed her eyes, looking for the vision just like she had minutes ago, but nothing came of it. Her eyes popped open as she looked at me with a frantic glare. She tried it again, and still there was nothing.
"Try something else." She thought of the Volturi, and the images returned. The same deaths; the same results. "No, something different...unrelated." She thought about Christmas which was only weeks away, and there was an image of Carlisle standing in our living room, bathed in candlelight reading from the bible on Christmas Eve. All of the family was there, including Charlie, and his family. It was a peaceful night filled with laughter and songs which ended with me playing the piano.
Alice tried the wolves again, but there was still nothing. She thought of them at Christmas, wondering if she was projecting the image of the family celebrating the festivities. It was empty like a black hole when it came to the wolves.
"I can't see them," she said. "Maybe my visions aren't back, only some."
"Perhaps," Carlisle said. "Perhaps not." I followed his train of thought. The wolves were our enemy. We were meant to destroy each other, our only true predator. They came to be to protect their people from us. Carlisle was thinking it was a defense mechanism, something that hid them from us.
"You dare make an alliance with their kind?" Caius said. "It seems you are full of surprises, Carlisle. You've masked your true intentions." He looked to each one of us, all fourteen and then he glanced to the five wolves. "You seek to build your own army."
"No," Carlisle said. "You're mistaken. That's not what this is. They are our friends."
Caius laughed as did the others. "Our kind has no friends. We have no need of them, and we have no need of their filthy kind."
Jacob growled, his teeth showing his discontent.
"Tame your pets, Carlisle," Caius said, snapping his teeth, "or I'll personally see to their neutering."
Bella reached up to calm Jacob, his fur had bristled at Caius' words. He flinched at her touch, but then leaned into it as she dug her fingers into his coat. If not for her tangled fingers, Jacob would have lunged for Caius' throat. Her grip and its effect did not go unnoticed by any of the Volturi.
"It seems you have all the help you need." A sneer appeared on Caius' lips.
"Carlisle, my old friend," Aro spoke up, "it pains me to see you've changed your allegiances. Are we to become enemies after all of these centuries? You know what I do with my enemies." Cocking his head to the side, he narrowed his eyes. "My brother is right. You must make your choice."
"The wolves mean you no harm. They're on our side."
"I can assure you," Caius said, "from where we're standing we know exactly whose side they are on. The stakes have changed now. You want our help? Hand over the wolves to us." Caius waved his hand in dismissal, and from his thoughts I knew he would have them destroyed. He would not suffer their kind to live.
Bella still held tight to Jacob, willing him to stay put, which he did but only to hear how Carlisle would answer.
"I can't make that bargain, Aro," Carlisle said. "The wolves are not mine to command. They do not answer to me, and as for my family, you can have me and that is all."
"You insufferable fool!" Caius snapped. "You are lucky we have let you live this long. If it was anyone else but you, we would destroy you where you stand. You forget who you are talking to!"
"No, Caius, believe me, I do not." Carlisle stepped forward, hands raised as he pleaded his forgiveness. "If there was any other way, I would seek it out. But there isn't. I know who it is I ask for help. I'm well aware of it. I hoped we had endured enough these past ten years to set aside our differences...change how we see one another. We've all had hardships."
In Aro's thoughts, he agreed with Carlisle, surprisingly, but his pride would not let him say it out loud. Aro wanted this world to change. He was tired of living the way they were. He wanted his life of luxury back, and Maria's careless ways would continue to change the world into something worse than what it already was. The Volturi were creatures of habit; they had the right to be after living on this earth for so long. They would survive no matter the cost. As far as Aro was concerned there were three threats now, which needed to be dealt with before he could have his prosperous and sedentary life back. Maria's army might solve the two he didn't have the heart to take care of.
He consulted with Marcus and Caius, but it was clear what their decision would be.
"You would choose your dogs over us, Carlisle?" Aro asked. "Is that what you are saying?"
"Not at all."
"Then hand them over to me."
"You know I can't do that."
"Then we have our answer. You do not want our help. It's a simple request which you cannot abide by. Never forget, we are the masters of our race." Aro placed his hood back over his head, and the others followed suit. Wanting Bella and Alice now more than ever, he knew he couldn't have them without a fight. He would rather see them destroyed with the rest of us than allow Carlisle to be the master of such a strong coven of talented vampires who happened to have a force of deadly wolves at their disposal. "We have no business with the southern covens. Maria is not our problem. That is the decision we have come to."
He will never see it, Edward. Much less understand what it is. Marcus's voice was grave, but his face was still impartial, lacking all emotion and bordering boredom. He was reaching out to me, and I had no idea why.
"If you survive," Aro looked Carlisle in the eye, and then his gaze turned to Bella and Jacob, "pray to your God, Carlisle, we never run into each other again."
At his words, the procession headed back the way they had come, but not without one last triumphant glance from Caius.
The next few minutes were passed in silence as we all contemplated what the hell had just happened.
"Well, that didn't go down as planned," Emmett said.
"How could you!" Rosalie directed her wrath toward Jacob. The wolves had turned back into their human form. Half-naked, they were still standing in formation with Jacob out front. "We told you to stay away. You promised us. You've ruined any chance we had! Why? Do you want us all dead? Is that it?"
I had seen Rosalie angry many times over the years, but in this moment, this far out-weighed any of the other times. She was bordering hysteria, and if it wasn't for her fear, she would have ripped out Jacob's throat.
"As I told Edward, the price was too high," Jacob said. His face was void of all emotion. He was a master of hiding it, for his thoughts were in direct contrast to his expression. It was something he had in common with Aro. "My grandfather used to say, 'You can't make a deal with the devil and expect to survive.' I always thought he meant your family. I thought he was a fool and a hypocrite to have made that treaty with you. But now I know I was wrong. I know who he meant."
"The wolf is right," Eleazar said. He pulled Carmen to his side, knowing from Alice's visions she would die with the help from the Volturi. He wasn't willing to make that deal, not if it meant losing her. "I'll take my chances with the wolves."
-:-