Once morning came I hid in an office building overlooking the square. The office was closed for the day because of the festival, so I knew I could remain here undisturbed until the time had come for me to carry out my plan. The building's facade was as ancient as the Volturi's castle, but its interior had been modernized, and although its main entrance faced away from the square, there was a side entrance that led out into an alley that joined it. It would provide the perfect location for me to reveal myself to the humans. I was sure I wouldn't get too far before the Volturi stopped me.
They were the only entertainment I had. I had been following all their thoughts, as several had started tailing me as soon as the sun came up. Jane and Alec were not among them, as Aro knew that Jane would bring all her powers to bear on me if she was the one to bring me in, and he was sure the sight of me breaking the law and writhing in agony would only attract more attention.
I had watched their preparations; all of them wore long cloaks to shield them from the revealing sunlight, and all of them knew where I was. Demetri and Felix would still be the primary ones to apprehend me once I had broken the law, but the others would come to their aid quickly if required.
It offered me a little amusement to see how my intentions affected their leaders. Caius was secretly delighted that I was causing so much trouble, although he remained furious outwardly. He hoped I would annoy Aro enough to warrant a painful death. He intended to use Jane on me for a while – Jane was hoping that herself, actually – and was looking forward to watching it.
Marcus was still disinterested in everything, but news of my behavior had generated a slight flicker of response because of his envy.
Ah, this Edward, he sighed. If only I could be him …
His thoughts, which were rarely away from his lost love, assaulted him again. I tried not to look in his mind too much. His loss reminded me of my own.
Aro was trying to keep up his disappointed and objective facade. I could see his mind easily, however, and he did not appreciate the trouble I was causing. And the more trouble I caused, the more it seemed likely that he would be open to Caius' request for a painful death for me.
In between times I watched the humans in the square as they began to gather, excited about the festivities. Thousands of tourists had flocked to Volterra for the celebrations, and more were on the way even now. But they couldn't hold my interest for long.
I thought of my family sometimes, and I regretted the pain that my death would cause them, Esme, particularly. Carlisle would grieve my loss too, as would Alice and Emmett, even Jasper. I wasn't sure how Rosalie would feel. She would probably be glad to get rid of her troublesome brother, although I knew that was not likely to be completely true. Although Rosalie's thoughts did not often encompass people other than herself, I knew she loved me, as much as she could, anyway. She would probably regret my loss, but I was sure that she, of all the members of my family, would recover the quickest.
And Bella …
My thoughts dwelled with Bella almost constantly, still feeling the keening pain of her loss, still wishing she was here, still wanting to hold her in my arms, to touch her and feel the burn of her scent on my throat again. I didn't really believe Carlisle was right, and that my actions in spending the past eighty years killing no one would make up for the years I had killed people, not to mention the idea that vampires would never be admitted to heaven at all. But sometimes I couldn't help but think that, in just a few hours, I might be with Bella again. Even if God granted me but a few moments to see her, to tell her that I loved her, to make sure she knew that I wouldn't have stayed in this world without her any longer than I had to, that would be something. If only it could be so.
Monitoring the Volturi eventually lost its charms, and I was back to impatience. The minutes ticked by so slowly. I knew I could act sooner – there were plenty of people in the crowd now – but something in me wanted to wait. Perhaps it was for the idea of flouting the Volturi as flagrantly as possible. But I took to watching every step of the sun as it made its way through the sky.
Eventually, I moved from the building into the alley outside it. There were a few humans milling around, but they did not stay, and soon the alley was a quiet place behind the crowd. The Volturi guard were aware of my every move, though. Felix and Demetri were not far behind me, and I could see other guards positioned at strategic points around the square, almost like snipers, all watching my every move. I smiled. I liked an audience. And this was the grand finale of my tragic romance, much like Romeo and Juliet, Bella's favorite of Shakespeare's plays.
The crowd in the square increased in number as the parade reached its climax. There was a solid wall of people through every inch of it, with only the fountain in the middle clear of the mass of red cloaked figures. They wore red for blood – the blood spilled by the vampires supposedly vanquished by the great St Marcus. I could see many of the children wearing plastic vampire fangs, too. It was ludicrous.
Finally, the sun reached its height, and I watchrf the clock as it ticked slowly towards midday. I would go when the chimes struck twelve. I took off my shirt and left it at my feet, closing my eyes and turning my face upwards.
I thought of Bella. I thought of the love of my life. I imagined her in my arms. I imagined heaven's gates opening to admit me, and her rushing to me, and holding her once more. I didn't think she'd smell the same in heaven, unless that was to be the price I'd pay for getting in there. Or would it be a sign that we were in hell together? No matter. As long as I was with her, that was all I cared about.
The clock began to chime midday. I stepped forward, still imagining Bella's face. I could almost hear her calling … Edward, look at me!
Yes, my love, I thought. I'm coming …
I lifted my foot to step into the sunlight and suddenly I felt something soft and warm in my arms. More importantly, I smelled a familiar scent, and my throat began to burn in response. I opened my eyes and looked down.
And there was Bella! She was looking up at me with an earnest expression. She was so real! Could it really have been so easy? And to think, after all this, I had been wrong to doubt Carlisle.
"Amazing," I breathed, almost to myself. "Carlisle was right."
Bella's voice came back to me in a whisper, "Edward, you've got to get back into the shadows. You have to move!"
I didn't understand the necessity of that, now that we were in the afterlife together. I still couldn't believe she was real, but here she was, soft and warm, and my throat was burning, and everything was all right. I felt complete again. The gaping hole that had punched its way through me when I had run away from her had been filled by her presence.
I touched my hand to her cheek. Her skin was so beautiful and so soft.
"I can't believe how quick it was," I told her. "I didn't feel a thing – they're very good." How nice of them to be merciful. I hadn't been sure that Aro would let them. But it was all over now. I pressed my face into her hair, brushing my lips over it, inhaling that beautiful, fiery scent that meant she was with me. My tragic tale had a happy ending after all. I wondered if it would have been the same for Romeo and Juliet if they had been real. I hoped so, for in the past few days I had come to appreciate Romeo's loss even more, even if he had been mistaken. "Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty," I quoted, overwhelmed by the sight of my beautiful Bella. "You smell just exactly the same as always." Was that right if it was heaven? Did it really matter? "So maybe this is hell. I don't care. I'll take it."
"I'm not dead," Bella replied. "And neither are you! Please Edward, we have to move. They can't be far away!"
Suddenly, I noticed that her expression was not earnest, it was frantic. I could feel her fluttering about in my arms, and I started to consider what she was saying to me. It didn't quite make sense. "What was that?"
"We're not dead, not yet!" she told me, glancing around her. "But we have to get out of here before the Volturi –"
The truth dawned on me. I was not dead, in some afterlife with my Bella. Instead, she was here with me in Volterra, the home of the Volturi, whom I had just been about to defy, who were the keepers of our law, and she was a human who knew that vampires existed.
Demetri and Felix were just behind me, where they had been watching and waiting for me to reveal myself to the humans. They knew that Bella was here.
This must be the girl, Demetri thought.
"Is that the human girl?" Felix whispered to him. They both knew what that meant. They wanted Bella. She had broken the law.
I pulled her away from the edge of the shadows, and put her against the wall of the alley, shielding her with my body. They couldn't have her. I scanned quickly for the other members of the guard. Although they knew something had happened, they weren't sure what, and they knew they had to follow Demetri and Felix's lead. If we could convince them to let us go, we could still get out.
As I scanned the minds around me, I encountered another that was very familiar.
Edward, Alice thought to me, I will be with you soon. She had seen what had happened, and was busy trying to work her way to me without stepping into the sunlight.
Bella stood shivering behind me. I could hear her heart hammering away. How had I missed its sound earlier? It would have been a good indicator that she was not dead. I guess I had been thinking other things. Now, my carelessness had put Bella's life on the line … again.
But there could still be a chance for escape. Other members of the Volturi were informing Aro that something had happened, and he was commissioning Jane to bring me to him. We had to leave before she got here. It would be too late by then.
"Greetings, gentlemen," I said, trying to keep my voice calm and smooth. "I don't think I'll be requiring your services today. I would appreciate it very much, however, if you would send my thanks to your masters."
"Shall we take this conversation to a more appropriate venue," Felix replied, his eyes alight. He had just smelled Bella, and I was dismayed to remember that Aro had promised him a present …
"I don't believe that will be necessary," I shot back, unable to keep my voice calm. "I know your instructions, Felix. I haven't broken any rules."
"Felix merely meant to point out the proximity of the sun," Demetri told me, trying to play peacemaker. He nodded at the light that was touching the edge of the alley. "Let us seek better cover."
"I'll be right behind you," I assured them. I didn't think it would work, but I was going to try. "Bella, why don't you go back to the square and enjoy the festival?"
"No, bring the girl," Felix said, his mouth watering at Bella's scent. I want her.
"I don't think so," I replied. I knew I probably wouldn't stand much of a chance against Felix, but I would fight him for Bella. I had beaten Emmett many times because I could read his mind, although we had only ever fought for fun, and I wasn't exactly at my strongest at the moment, what with not hunting since … I didn't know when.
"No," Bella whispered from behind me. She must have guessed what I was preparing to do.
"Shh," I murmured to her.
"Felix," Demetri went on, throwing his companion a glare. "Not here."
Then I realized what he meant. He had heard them behind him. The murmuring of human voices. Only children, but they had seen us.
"Mummy," a little girl said, "there's someone going to hurt that lady."
The little girls had been watching me as I had been about to break the law, and they were now tugging at their mother's cloak to draw her attention to us. Their childish faces and thoughts were concerned for Bella's welfare.
They could definitely be allies. If they fetched the police, there would be trouble for the Volturi. I monitored the thoughts of their parents while continuing to talk to Felix and Demetri.
Demetri went on, determined to follow the law, although he kept his words diplomatic. "Aro would simply like to speak with you again, if you have decided not to force our hand after all."
"Certainly," I said. I had no problem with seeing Aro again. "But the girl goes free." I knew Alice was nearly to us. She would get Bella out of here.
But Demetri wasn't having that. "I'm afraid that's not possible. We do have rules to obey."
"Then I'm afraid that I'll be unable to accept Aro's invitation, Demetri."
"That's just fine," Felix replied, his smile widening. He wanted to fight.
Demetri was still determined to keep things civil. "Aro will be disappointed."
"I'm sure he'll survive the letdown."
They were not giving up, I could see that. And Jane was on her way. But so was Alice.
Felix and Demetri spread out, trying to force us back into the alley, but the family behind us was becoming a little more agitated as the parents realized what was happening.
Then I heard a sound to my left. I didn't need to look to know who it was, but Felix and Demetri were less than impressed when they saw an unfamiliar vampire.
Alice skipped to my side. "Let's behave ourselves, shall we?" she chided them. "There are ladies present."
Neither Felix or Demetri knew exactly who she was, but they had heard talk about talented vampires in Carlisle's coven even prior to my visit, and Aro had been praising Alice's talents since he had met me. They weren't sure if Alice was the same vampire Aro had praised, but it made them cautious.
I was glad that they didn't know Jane was on the way. If only we could get out before she arrived …
Alice was looking ahead. She could see Jane reaching us, and taking us into custody. There was no other future at present. However, she too had noticed the human family behind the Volturi guard, and drew their attention to them. "We're not alone."
Demetri looked behind him. The mother of the girls was talking to her husband, her voice and thoughts truly concerned for Bella's welfare. "Darling, can you see the police? We should fetch someone." What are they trying to do to that poor girl?
Her husband walked away to alert some officials to our plight.
The future in Alice's head began to blur …
Demetri turned back to us, trying to gain our agreement. One moment more, and he would give in. "Please, Edward, let's be reasonable."
"Let's," I replied, trying not to speak too quickly, lest they guessed the reason for my haste. "And we'll leave quietly now, with no one the wiser."
Demetri sighed again. "At least let us discuss this more privately."
The officials had now joined the family at the mouth of the alley. The Volturi couldn't detain us here too much longer.
"No," I replied.
But, abruptly, Alice's vision solidified into the future I didn't want. The one with no chance of easy escape.
Jane had reached us.
"Enough," she announced from behind us. I felt Bella move around to peek and see who the voice was coming from. Never before had I wished so much that I could undo my actions. To have myself here at the mercy of the Volturi was one thing. To have Bella here with me was another thing entirely.
Jane was already sizing her up and noticing her appetizing scent. She had the control to ignore it, fortunately. That was the one good thing about this company – they could control themselves around a human if they had to. But their leaders could also decide if anyone lived or died, and as Bella, being human, was not allowed to know that vampires existed, they knew it was likely Aro would order her killed. Jane was considering whether she would ask for the job herself, but Felix was already looking at her with a possessive glint in his eye. Jane knew he was owed a favor, so she chose to ignore Bella's appeal.
Felix and Demetri had relaxed as soon as Jane had announced her presence. I too, dropped my protective posture in front of Bella. There was no need for it anymore. I could not save us from Jane. She had instructions to take me back to Aro, and she knew her instructions would extend to Bella, and likely Alice as well, since she was here, and Jane would do whatever was required to make sure we all obeyed.
"Jane," I said. It was the first time I had acknowledged her.
Alice folded her arms and tried not to glare at the girl. So this is Aro's most formative weapon, is it? she thought at me. Huh.
Jane hardly even bothered to look at Alice. Another one, she thought. She's doesn't exactly look significant.
I bit back a growl at Jane's dismissal of Alice, which was based largely on her size. Ironic, really, since Jane was shorter than her.
She wasted no time with small talk. "Follow me," she commanded, and turned her back on us, without even waiting to see if we'd follow. She knew we would.
Felix's hungry grin was back, and he gestured for us to go first. Alice followed immediately behind Jane, and I pulled Bella close to my side, my arm around her. I would give her whatever protection I could for as long as possible.
Bella looked terrified. I didn't know how much she knew about the Volturi. I guessed she would know some, as it seemed that Alice would have warned her what they were walking into before she came, and I hoped my closeness would help keep her calm. I didn't know a human who would be calm walking in the company we were in.
I was furious at Alice for bringing her here, although I knew why she had. Alice was replaying it for me in her head – Bella insisting, with her usual stubbornness and selflessness, that she be allowed to assist in my rescue, Alice cautioning her that only she would be able to save me, as I wouldn't have believed anyone else. This was true, and Alice was offering it to me as a defense for her behavior.
I couldn't let you die, she told me. And Bella wanted us to try. She would have tried herself if I hadn't brought her. She showed me a vision of Bella doing just that.
But there were more important things to discover. My major point of curiosity was why Bella was still alive when she was supposed to have thrown herself off a cliff. Hadn't that been what Alice had seen? That's what Rosalie had told me. And considering Alice couldn't have arrived in Forks in time to stop it from happening, how had Alice seen her death when it hadn't occurred?
"Well, Alice," I said, trying to ignore the unwelcome ears listening in to our conversation, "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you here."
"It was my mistake," she replied casually. "It was my job to set it right." Sorry it didn't quite work.
"What happened?" I asked. Alice knew what I meant.
"It's a long story," she said, shooting a glance at Bella. "In summary, she did jump off a cliff, but she wasn't trying to kill herself. Bella's all about the extreme sports these days."
I smelled the color rush to Bella's cheeks at Alice's explanation, and she looked away in embarrassment, probably guessing that Alice was filling me in on the finer details.
It was hard to keep my face neutral as I saw what was in Alice's thoughts. She showed me Bella – who looked so pale and thin I was distracted for a moment – telling her that she was being hunted by Victoria! That too, distracted me until she went on to the next revelation – that Bella had made friends with a pack of young werewolves, who were protecting her from the vampire.
She jumped off the cliff because she was bored, or so she said, Alice told me. I don't believe a word of it. But I don't think she was trying to kill herself, either. You know she's not a brilliant liar. But I don't exactly know why she did it.
She replayed for me Bella's explanation about her cliff jump. She was right. It wasn't convincing.
But I had to wince again at how pale Bella looked. The way she looked now – terrified and clinging to my side – was easier to look at than these images in Alice's mind.
"Hm," I said, in an effort to control the emotions that wanted me to take Bella aside and talk to her about everything. Make sure that she was okay. These memories were raking me with pain.
They hurt Alice, too. Edward, if we survive this, I may kill you myself for what you've done to her, she told me. It was the harshest thing she had ever said to me. I was sure she wasn't serious, but I knew I'd earned the rebuke.
But we'd have to survive the day before I could make it up to either one of them.
We were headed towards one of the street level entries to the Volturi's lair. Jane didn't want to use the main entrance; it was further away and she had no intention of keeping Aro waiting for any longer than she had to. By the time we had turned the corner, she had already descended from street level, and was waiting for us in the tunnel below.
Alice stepped towards the entry and dropped through it. I'll make sure I catch Bella, she thought.
Bella had, by this time, realized where we were headed and she went white at the sight of what was – to her – a gaping black hole.
"It's all right, Bella," I told her, wishing I didn't have an audience. "Alice will catch you."
Felix and Demetri had been hoping I'd go down first, although they were unsure exactly what they would do if I had. Felix had already imagined killing Bella several times, and I was having difficulty keeping my temper in check, although I knew it would not help us if I fought him now. Demetri had been a little more restrained, if only because he was sure that, if anyone got Bella, it would be Felix, so he was trying not to get his hopes up.
Bella had not found my statement reassuring. She looked at the hole doubtfully, then crouched down, narrowing her eyes, probably trying to see how far down it went. "Alice?"
"I'm right here, Bella," Alice told her. But her reassurance did not have any effect on Bella that I could see.
Regardless, there was no point in delaying. She had to go down this way. And Felix was growing impatient.
Humans, he thought to himself. They're only good for one thing …
I took hold of Bella's wrists, remembering to be gentle – I hadn't had to worry about that for a while – and lowered her into the mouth of the hole.
"Ready?" I said, more for Bella's benefit than to tell Alice what was happening.
"Drop her," she replied.
Bella clamped her eyes shut and I let her go. Alice caught her easily, although I knew it would not be a soft landing for Bella; it would be like being caught by a statue.
I dropped quickly through the hole and landed beside Bella, drawing her close to me again, keeping her as far as possible from the vampires behind us. I tried to steer her – I knew she probably couldn't see a thing – and I wished I could pick her up and carry her, but I didn't want to get where we were going any faster.
I was beginning to lose hope of us ever getting out of here alive. Aro had not been pleased by my determination to break the law. The fact that I had been stopped would not necessarily matter, although his thoughts at the moment were difficult to define. He knew that I was here with another vampire and a human, and he thought that the human might be Bella, but he wasn't sure. He was intrigued, but our lives would depend on how long his intrigue lasted.
So this brief time in the tunnel with Bella might be all the time I had left with her. Although I was not anxious to show how I felt in front of our current audience, I couldn't resist touching her. While I held her to my side I reached my other hand out to caress her face, tracing the shape of her lips, and feeling the delicate softness of her skin beneath my fingers.
Her scent, which was still inflaming my throat, was now something beautiful, and I lowered my face to her hair to breath her in. It was a feeling I'd thought I would never have again.
Bella had clearly realized the peril we were in, and she moved closer to me. I put my lips to her forehead, wishing again that I could do more. I wanted so much to tell her how sorry I was for all this, but I didn't know if I would get the opportunity.
Bella's fear increased the further we went. Her heart was thundering like a steam engine, and her breaths were quick and shallow. I tried to ignore the thoughts behind me as they too, noted these things, and concentrated on trying to soothe Bella, but her trembling increased the further we went.
It wasn't until her teeth started chattering together that I realized the real problem. She was cold and wet and my body wasn't doing much to alleviate those feelings. Damn. I hadn't had to worry about that for a while, either, but now my body temperature was, again, a curse.
I let her go, just holding her hand. I couldn't keep holding her close when it was making her so uncomfortable.
"N-n-no," she stuttered, clasping me in her arms. I was reluctant to hold her again, though. I didn't think it was going to help right now.
Felix was growing more and more impatient with all the delays. I worried that he might pick her up and carry her himself, so I tried to move her a little faster, as much as I didn't want to.
We stepped through another grate, not far now from the elevators, and I felt Bella flinch as they locked it behind us, although once she had passed through the next door and saw the modern surroundings she relaxed. It was familiar to her.
It was familiar to me too, but for a different reason. I knew how close we were to the Volturi now, and death might only be a step away.