Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
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Prompt: Beckon

Aro stood, sputtering, his eyes going between Marcus' and the flame-thrower. Caius was more restrained. "What is the meaning of this?" Caius demanded, hands in fists, arms rigid against his body.

The warmth inside me shifted, moved and wrapped around Marcus. He blinked as if waking up, looked at our family and began to beckon to me across the field. "Come, newborn, and make your accusations." I began to tremble. It seemed they couldn't hurt me with mental gifts, but that didn't mean they couldn't tear me limb from limb. He sighed and shook his head. "You will not be harmed, little one. You have my word."

I glanced at Edward. He took a breath and nodded. "Come with me?" I asked, immediately hearing another sigh from across the field.

"He wants you to come alone, but is willing to have me accompany you," Edward replied, taking my hand. It took a moment for my feet to start moving. I took in a deep breath, a bad idea with the smell of blood from the dead man strong in the air. It burned down my throat, but I gritted my teeth. I would not hurt the other humans.

As we walked Marcus turned to the rest of the group. "Are there others who have grievances? Please come forward as well." In spite of his actions, his voice sounded breathy, as if talking were more than he wanted to do.

"Marcus, what are you about?" Caius griped. Marcus pointed the device at him. "We are your brothers!"

"It is not you I have a quarrel with, brother," Marcus replied. "Please don't push me."

"Me?" Aro asked, spreading his arms out wide. "What have I done?"

"I have my spies, too. I intend to find out if what they told me is true." Marcus turned to Edward. "You can read minds like Aro?"

"No, only what they are thinking the moment they are thinking it," he replied.

"So you can't tell me if it's true?"

Edward shook his head. "Not unless he thinks about it."

"Hmm, I had such hopes…" Marcus turned back to Aro. "I am tired of life, especially without your sister."

Edward gasped. "He killed her."

There was no warmth in Marcus' smile. "As I thought." With that he shot a tongue of flame at Aro. It surprised me how quickly he caught fire.

The woman began to scream again. The vampire who held her dropped her to defend his master, but Marcus was faster and turned the flame on him. Charlie ran to grab the woman, teetering as he struggled with his balance. I saw him wrap and arm around her and grab for the child, pull him away from captor, and take off for the woods.

"Marcus!" Caius screamed, his eyes flickering between the smoke that was once Aro and the flame-thrower. "We can rule together now. Aro no longer controls us!"

"No." Marcus' voice was barely a whisper. He lifted the device and looked at it closely. "Carlisle, my old friend, a favor?"

"It doesn't have to be this way," Edward said. "It's been centuries…"

"Too long to live without the one you love." Marcus smiled down on me. "Imagine life without her. Actually you can't. As much as it pains you to consider it, it is nothing in comparison to the real thing." He took a step and reached out a hand to stroke my hair. "I leave Caius up to you. Kill him or let him live. It doesn't matter." He looked beyond me to where Carlisle drug his feet. "Please, friend."

Carlisle walked past me and embraced him. "I am loathe to do this."

"Then imagine life without your Esme and spare me that misery. You have let humans die, mercifully ending their suffering. This is no different." Marcus pulled back. "I only ask that you take over, and rule in Aro's place."

Carlisle shook his bowed head, increasing the speed as Marcus spoke. "I've only ended pain, never their lives." He straightened his shoulders and looked Marcus squarely in the eye. "I will not rule. It isn't what I want."

"I will be no more, so it matters not to me." Marcus let go, opened his arms wide and took a few steps back. "End my pain." A sob escaped Carlisle as the flame shot out.

People were falling, writhing in pain. Where they weren't falling I felt the sharp stabbing again. I couldn't move fast enough as Jane spun around, attacking the vampires converging on her, Caius and Alex. "Get them! Stop them!" Caius screamed. "Renata, protect me!"

Carlisle was knocked to the ground by one of the witnesses, the device flying from his fingers. Another vampire grabbed for it, spun and set fire to Jane, only to be over-run by grey cloaks. A scramble for the device ensued.

With Jane gone others turned on the guard. Alex managed to blind some, who then stumbled about with arms outstretched, only to have them ripped off by those in the guard. But he couldn't stop them all.

I spied Caius running to the back of the group and growled, lowering in a crouch to give chase. Before I could even move, Edward grabbed me and threw me across the field. Twisting in the air I landed on my feet, wanting to run back and join the melee. Alice and Jasper grabbed me and pinned me to the ground. I saw Esme and Emmett running forward and felt them grab my legs. Edward caught up and grabbed my head.

"Bella, we need to find your father and the humans. I know you want to fight, but I can't lose you. We have to save your father," he shouted over and over until the words filtered through my rage.

"Charlie," I sputtered as the red bled away from my eyes. "Where is he? Is he hurt?"

"Carlisle and Rosalie are after them," Esme said, dropping one leg in tandem with Emmett. "We don't think any other vampires went after them. At least…"

I didn't catch what she said. Ripping free of Alice and Jasper I took off for the woods, easily picking up on the scent of the humans. The scent burned. It took everything I had to concentrate on this being a rescue and not a meal.

The human scent left the ground, met by the familiar smell of Carlisle and Rosalie, but still wafted through the air. Edward came up beside me, close enough to be recognized, far enough away that I felt no desire to attack. It didn't take long to catch up.

You ladies crack me up! I swear I was seeing virtual pitchforks and flaming torches as you all marched on Aro in my mind. Hold on, my lovelies, it's not over yet!