This chapter is rated 'M' for language, references to torture, and (try to guess) dark themes.
Previously: Bella got her memories back, and she is going to trade the Romanians and Maria for those she cares about.
Peter's P.O.V. (3213 words):
"While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die." ~Leonardo da Vinci
.:!*!:.
"She accepted it." I shared the moment the information came to me.
"Who accepted what, honey?" My darling Char asked me.
"Isabella accepted that the Major is her mate." I replied.
"It's about time." Char said with a smile, and she was just about to open her mouth again when the Major burst into the room, smelling like Riley and burning vampire.
"This is bad." He muttered. "She would have felt that. She knows exactly what just happened. Not good at all. Never thought Maria's gift would work around her shield, but that was obviously a skewed perspective. This is so very bad..."
"What happened, J?" I asked, getting to my feet. I was worried. I hadn't see the Major lose his cool like this in a long time.
"Riley was executed." The Major replied, turning to look me in the eyes.
"Why?" I asked, totally shocked that I hadn't known this was coming.
"Riley had dominance, Peter." Char put in from her seat on the bed. She was watching the Major carefully. "When Swan's mate called his life substitute, Riley's life became forfeit."
"When did you figure it out?" I asked the Major, amazed that I hadn't noticed. A whole lot was slipping through the cracks, and I didn't like it one bit. It seemed like recently I just didn't know shit!
"When did I realize Isabella Swan was my mate?" The Major asked rhetorically. "I knew the moment Aro announced that she had to die. I have suspected since our conversation about it back in Texas."
"How did Riley handle it?" I questioned in a whisper.
"With a goddamn smile on his face." He replied, shaking his head. "Aro assures me he didn't have it planned, but I can't help think that he at least gained dominance over me as some kind of twisted back up plan. To his credit, he really was surprised when I called my life substitute."
"You expected a lot from him." I commented.
"I respected him, and he died a noble death. It's your information coming to pass." He said. Oh look at that, I thought, I had known something. I guess not all of it was slipping passed me. "Now, I just have to fight for that endin' you spoke of."
"Where everything ends fine for the Whitlocks." I recalled with a nod. "What's the plan?"
"Aro told his informant in the South to let him know when Swan leads the army out of the camp. Until then, we wait."
"Do you think she can win?" I questioned, genuinely curious.
"The Kings called in their allies, but yes. I believe she would very well beat the Volturi." The Major answered. I didn't really know what to say to that. It was then that we all heard footsteps just before the door opened.
"The Masters need you in the throne room. Jean and Richard are already there awaiting you." Corin, one of the intermediate Volturi guard, told us. We left the room quickly and followed him.
"What do you think this is about? Surely she hasn't left camp already." I muttered.
"I'm sure that's not what this is about." The Major replied before he moved ahead of Corin and opened the doors to the throne room, walking in like he owned the place. "What's goin' on here, Aro?"
"We have Boss Swan on the phone." He replied right away, causing my eyes to go wide.
"Alright." The Major said, nodding once. "We'll stay quiet unless told otherwise."
Aro signaled Heidi to hand him the cell she was holding. He took it off mute and held it out. He didn't bother putting it on speaker. We could hear it all just fine anyway.
"I wasn't expecting you to make contact in this way, Boss Swan." Aro answered. "What have you done with the owner of this phone?"
"Santiago is dead." Swan stated easily, and I was surprised to hear that she'd picked up Maria's accent. "I was just calling to introduce myself, and an old friend of yours wanted to say hello." I heard as the phone was passed on the other end.
"Aro, it's been a while." Said a voice that I didn't recognize. I knew the accent though.
"Stefan, what are you doing in the South?"
"Oh Aro, do not give me that. To kill the precious Riley, you must have read his thoughts and known my brother was here." Stefan replied in his strong Romanian accent.
"Why have you had Boss Swan contact me?" Aro asked, sounding slightly nervous.
"Oh no, my traitorous creation, you have it all wrong. I am the one taking orders this time around." Stefan said with a cruel laugh. "Boss Swan is above us all, and I was just wanting to let you know that all knowledge she is about to gift you is true. Think about taking her deal, Aro. You would not regret it. Miss Swan is a woman of her word."
"Hello again, Aro." Swan answered pleasantly, as if Stefan had not just threatened the Volturi.
"Cut to the chase, Boss Swan." Aro said with a sigh. He began rubbing the side of his face with his free hand.
"Were I to be left unpersuaded, I would have your castle ash by the end of next week; however, I believe you are smarter than that. I hear you wish to add me to your ranks."
At Swan's words, shock rolled through the room, and Aro sat up straighter in his throne. Maria could be heard pleading and panicking in the background. I heard Boss Swan order Maria to shut her mouth. When she didn't, Swan had "Jack the Ripper" take her to his quarters.
"Who is Jack the Ripper?" Aro questioned, as if he were reading my mind from afar.
"He's a vampire completely under my control that could take out your whole guard on his own." Swan answered. "Is it true, Aro? Do you covet me and my skills?"
It was apparent that Aro had no idea how to respond to that. Were he to say yes, and she happened to just be mocking him (which seemed likely), he would be made into a fool. Where he to say no, he could offend one of the most powerful vampires in the world even more than he already had by killing her True Second.
"I'm going to be honest with you." Aro declared. "I used to want you very much, but now I am not so sure that I do."
"Thank you for being truthful." Boss Swan said sincerely. "Regardless of what you choose in the end, a third of my army shall be unleashed upon you in retribution for the death of my second, but you shall win with minimal losses. Refuse my deal, and I will lead the remaining two-thirds of my army and slaughter you all. Accept my deal, and you shall never hear from me again."
"What is the deal? State your terms." Aro pressed.
"You'll find out soon enough. I want your answer after you kill the first third of the army. Keep this line open. I'll be in touch." Boss Swan replied, and the connection was broken. We all stood in hushed silence, bewildered by what we'd just heard. Finally, Aro spoke.
"Major, does this give you any incite into her tactic? Riley's thoughts revealed that many of her strategies were based off of your own."
"If anythin', it confuses me." The Major replied. "I believed that the only hope she had at defeatin' you was to attack you head on at full strength. That obviously isn't the case."
"Jean," Caius suddenly spoke up, glaring at the Major. I automatically took a step closer to my leader. The Major sent me a wave of calm. "You fought under this woman., and she trained you to scout. Do you believe she could win and destroy the Volturi?"
"Sir, this isn't about whether or not she can. It's about whether she decides she wants to or not." Jean replied, looking his directly in the eyes without fear. "Boss Swan does not lose."
"People thought the Major couldn't lose. Maybe we should test this theory." Caius said with a twisted smile as he signaled to Jane. I didn't even think about moving. I was standing between her and my leader before I knew it. The pain did not last long. I was on my feet looking around right away. The Major had Jane pinned against the wall, her head turned to look at her brother.
"The pain you manufacture with your gift is nothin'." He spat, as feral as he'd been at his prime. "Harm my True Second again, and I will not hesitate to show you real pain." He shoved her roughly against the wall once before letting her go, turning his back on her, and heading back toward me.
She was going to attack him.
The knowledge hit me, bold and sure. I flinched just as she used her gift. I watched with pride and awe as the Major simply continued walking to me. The only indication of the pain he was feeling was the sudden changing of his eyes to pitch black. I concentrated on my emotions, making them even more potent to his gift. He sent me a smooth wave of reassurance. I relaxed right away.
"Brother, that was unnecessary and foolish." Aro scolded. "You are lucky that the Major's temper is not what it used to be."
I couldn't help but snort in agreement. Caius would have been headless had he done that to the Major eighty years ago. My thoughts were interrupted when the Major twisted to face the door. I soon heard a running vampire coming down the hall. He burst through the doors, haggard and wild looking.
"Masters!" He gasped, and Aro shot to his feet, wearing an expression of shock and relief.
"Santiago!" The king exclaimed, jogging to meet him. Aro moved to help support him, but Santiago took Aro's hand instead. "That does not make any sense."
"Aro?" The Major asked as politely as he could, given the circumstances.
"Boss Swan and the Romanians pretended to drag Santiago away from Maria for execution, but once out of her sight, they let him go with a message." Aro replied, indicating to Felix to take Santiago away, most likely to rest and feed. "She told Santiago the deal, and she told him to have me read him."
"Well, what is her deal?" Caius asked.
"I cannot tell you until I make a decision. It was her one request."
"This is not a dictatorship, Aro!" Caius screamed, appearing ready for a fight.
"He has bonded with Swan for some reason, Caius." Marcus put in suddenly before turning to Aro. "I ask only this, brother. Does this deal have anything to do with advocating Romanian ideology or the exposure of our kind?"
"No. It is nothing like that. If anything, it would do the opposite." Aro replied, confusing me. It was then that a piece of information came to me.
Boss Swan remembered everything.
"Master Aro." Felix said as he returned to the room before I could tell the Major the good news.
"Yes?" Aro prompted.
"Edward has slipped away. The Cullens say he's been gone a good twelve hours. I had Demitri concentrate on his essence to find out which direction he was headed." Felix said, and dread filled me. "Edward Cullen is headed to Boss Swan's camp."
"He's an idiot." The Major muttered. I had to agree, especially since she had all her memories. He would not be getting a warm welcome from Isabella Swan when he got there. "Why would he do this? He didn't care at all when he found her in an alleyway covered in scars. Why care now?"
"Alice would know best." I pointed out.
"I'll send for her." Aro said, nodding to Felix. "I am actually worried for young Edward. From Riley's thoughts, I gathered that Edward was the only topic that could truly get her anger out of control."
"Yeah. She didn't react well when she found out that he left her because he had mated with Alice." The Major commented, his eyes tight. "She could have rivaled Achilles with all the rage she was puttin' off."
"That bad, huh?" I questioned, causing the Major to raise his eyebrows at me. "She remembers everything, Major."
"But Maria's gift?" The Major replied, the shock exploding from him.
"I don't know if it ever worked, but she has all of her memories." I said. "That much I know."
"Why is Maria still alive then? Why is Isabella not..." The Major trailed off, actually looking a bit hurt by her lack of action. I had actually been wondering the same thing. Maria should not be alive, and Swan should not still be in the south, if she was feeling the mating bond. "What good is it if she remembers me if she is willin' to go against me and the side I have chosen?"
"J, please. There must be a reason." I whispered, my heart breaking at the sorrow in my leader's voice. "All will be fine for the Whitlocks, I promise you."
"I know. You have never done wrong by me." The Major said and sent me an emotion he hadn't shared with me in half a century. The devotion enveloped me with such strength that I shuddered and felt tears of venom gather in my eyes. I was so thankful that he had replied back in this way. It was hard to remember sometimes that he needed me as much as I needed him.
The moment thought returned to me, I realized that the lovable bastard had just made me tear up like a PMSing teenager! I would never admit it out loud, but I swear to God I was this guy's bitch sometimes. I was sure he felt my strange mixture of loyalty, embarrassment, and gratitude when he started to laugh. I couldn't help but glare at him and stick out my tongue. My sexy comeback just made the asshole laugh harder.
I would have opened my mouth and further humiliated myself in front of the Volturi if Felix hadn't chosen that moment to return with the manipulative midget of darkness (known in less hateful circles as Alice).
"Jazz, this isn't what it seem like, I swear!" She screamed right away. I felt my eyebrows come together.
"What in hell are you talkin' about, short one?" I spat, not bothering to hide my disdain. I had never hidden it before, why start now?
"Jazzy, please. You have to understand. I had no other choice!" She screeched in that God-awful shrilly voice of her's.
"What did you do, Alice?" The Major asked, looking haunted. Perhaps this was more serious than I'd thought.
"Edward has to kill her, Jazz. It was the only way-" She was cut off by Aro's roar.
"He has no authority!" He screamed, clapping loudly. The throne room was soon full of vampires I didn't recognize. "Follow Edward Cullen and call me when you have his location! This is a matter of preventing worldwide war. Be quick. The reward will be of personal choice."
"No! Aro, please! There is no need for this. He is going to kill her quietly, then she won't be a problem for you anymore. This benefits us both!" Alice pleaded. I was still in shock at this point. I'd had no idea that Aro Volturi had so many hit-men at his beck and call like that. I'd have to ask if I could borrow a couple from time to time when this whole thing was finally over.
"She is the least of my problems, Mary Alice Brandon!" Aro said, spitting her name like a curse. "What could have possibly made you decide that sending him to kill her in the heat of near war would be a good idea?"
"If he didn't go now, he would have ended up dead somehow. He lives this way." She answered, falling to her knees.
"That sounds a bit vague." I commented dryly. Right then, Santiago's old cell phone rang.
"Ho avuto il tuo messaggio." Aro answered in Italian, letting Swan know that Santiago had done what she'd told him to.
"Good to know." Swan replied. "This call is about something else though. I do not wish to permanently damage someone too precious to you, so I must ask. Does the owner of this voice mean anything to you?" A tortured scream pierced and cracked over the speaker of the phone, causing Aro to flinch back. "Speak for your supposed King you poisonous, lying swine!" Swan yelled before his screams grew louder. His screams soon quieted enough to be understood.
"Alice, help! Oh God!" Edward said before I heard what sounded like a vacuum being turned on. "What is that for? Oh Lord, have mercy... no! NO!"
"Answer quickly, Aro. This procedure is a bit hard to reverse once I get started." Swan ordered darkly.
"Do with him as you see fit. I shall take care of Alice here so she does not go after you." Aro said, his eyes hard.
"You need not kill her. Edward Cullen shall be returned to her polished hands. Have you agreed to take my deal then?" Swan asked as Edward's screams increased in volume in the background.
"Most likely. I shall give my final answer after that third of the army is defeated." Aro answered, leaning back. "You are not going to kill him?"
"Here at Maria's camp, there are far worse things than death that one can experience." She replied smoothly, and Edward's screams faded as if she were walking away from him. Her voice then became a near silent whisper, and I had to strain to hear. "Who all is with you?"
"My brothers, a few of the guard, Alice, the Whitlocks, Jean, and Richard." He said, his eyes roaming over us as he named our names.
"Jean, my talented third, how is she?" She asked, sounding nothing like the Boss Swan I knew. Aro nodded to Jean, giving her permission to answer.
"I'm going great. I miss you though, boss. How are you holding up?" Jean said, gripping Rich's hand so tightly I could hear his hand straining against her grip.
"I am so very cold, Jean." Swan whispered. "Do you remember when I told you the tale of Benito's second-in-command?"
"Yes. Is it true then? Is the bond really so strong?" Jean asked, sounding insecure. I knew it was because she wasn't used to her boss sounding so broken.
"Stronger, Jean. It is stronger." Swan answered, her voice cracking with emotion. The Major went to take a step forward, but I held him back. "I made a mistake. I made a huge mistake, and Ri payed for it. I need you to promise me something, Jean. Think of it as a final command from me, okay?"
"Final command?" Jean questioned, seeming afraid. "Why final?"
"After you promise me this, I am going to release you as my left flank. You've done so well for me, Jean, but it is all over now." Swan whispered.
"Anything, boss." Jean swore, her voice shaking slightly.
"Promise me you will never send Richard away, that you'll never force him to leave your side for any reason." Boss Swan ordered, more stern than I'd ever heard her.
"Te lo prometo." Jean replied strongly, promising in Spanish.
"I must go ready the army. We are on our way, Aro." Swan said, her voice coming out old and tired. "Please let Jasper know that I'm sorry for everything, but he was worth it."
She hung up, and the Major paused for only a moment before striding out of the room.
A.N.: Okay, so Bella is having some issues coming to terms with the things she's done. What is Boss Swan thinking? What is Jasper thinking? She's about to ready the army? Hell yeah. It's going to get good.
The next song is on my profile. See you guys in a week!