Sorry it's been so long. Please forgive me.
Previously-
The wolves and vampires have been training non-stop for the past four days, waiting on the arrival of the Volturi. Izzy's secret is eating her alive, and the only truly noticing is, of course, Major. At the end of the chapter, Edward announced that he could sense the Volturi's presence.
And here we go.
Slowly, I stood from my place beside Major. Unthinkingly, I murmured out loud, "They're here."
Edward's eyes narrowed. "I already said that, Izzy."
A wave of fury washed over me. The freaking Volturi were here, and he wanted to be petty? Without thinking about it, I launched myself at him, wrapping my hand around his throat.
"Look, my fuse is short already. If you value your life, you will not piss me off again, and you will do exactly as I say." I snarled. I felt everyone staring at me, and, without looking away from Edward, I said, "That goes for the rest of you, too."
The ball of fury in my chest hadn't yet receded, but I forced myself to release my hold on Edward's throat, and slowly stood. Staring down at Edward, I growled, "I meant I could hear them, you fucking idiot. Their footsteps, the movement of their robes."
Edward's eyes widened. "Really?"
From behind me, I heard Rosalie snort. "Please, Edward. Out of everything we've seen her do, you're surprised that she can hear way better than the rest of us?"
I tried not to smile. Instead, without a word, I brushed my hands together, trying to get rid of the feeling of Edward's skin beneath my palm, and stalked outside. Major followed almost directly beside me, and the others weren't far behind.
We stood shoulder to shoulder in the driving snow, facing the direction Edward and I could hear the bastards coming from. I stood in the middle of the line, Major on my left, Jacob on my right. But, as soon as everyone was stationary, I stepped forward. Major and Jacob moved with me, but I held up a hand.
"Stop. I need to be the one who does this. And I need to do it alone."
"Izzy, please-"
"No. I promise, if this doesn't work, you can fight. But you have to at least let me try." my voice was uncharacteristically gentle as I spoke to Major. He hesitated.
"Izzy..." Major trailed off, and I swear my heart actually hurt. But before we could get into it, three figures, cloaked in darkness, appeared across the field from us. With slow deliberateness, they stalked towards us. As they came, more dark shapes took form behind them, until there was a huge mass of darkness flowing in our direction.
I felt, more than saw, the people around me tense, but I forced myself to remain calm and relaxed-at least outwardly. But I knew that if I was still human, my heart would be going a mile a minute right about now.
That morning, I'd donned a plain black hoodie, and now, I flipped the hood up, and looked down, so my face was-at least mostly-hidden.
Slowly, slowly, they advanced toward us.
(You have no idea how tempted I was to stop the chapter right there. But I'm not that cruel. Mostly.)
Finally, they came to a stop, two and a half meters in front of my group. Slowly, dramatically-they always were ones for drama-they reached up and threw their hoods back.
Aro, of course in the middle of the three leaders, completely ignored me. "Hello, Carlisle, old friend."
Carlisle said nothing, but I sensed his nod. Aro turned his attention to Major, Jacob, and I, and his blood red eyes narrowed.
"Ah. The werewolf and the once lackey of Maria. Interesting company you are keeping, old friend." without waiting for an answer, he continued.
"And you must be the newest member of the Olympic Coven." Aro said, addressing me. I silently shrugged, and felt the confused looks my allies sent me.
"Reveal your face, girl." Marcus commanded. I didn't move, and he snarled, "Remove your hood or we'll have someone do it for you."
A moment passed before I spoke again.
"Now, is that really necessary?" I asked, my voice just this side of teasing. Without further ado, I tossed my hood back, and the three's eyes widened, as did the rest of the Volturi.
They stood in stunned silence for a few moments before the startled, ancient vampires fell to one knee, quickly followed by the rest of the Volturi-except the others fell to both knees.
"M-my Lady, we were not aware...wh-what are you doing here?" Aro stuttered-I swear he'd actually gotten paler.
"I should be asking you that, Aro." I said shortly.
He opened his mouth to speak, but, before he could, I heard someone-I think it was Emmet-say, "Wait, wait, wait. Did he just say my lady?"
Jake spoke, his voice soft. "What are they talking about, Izzy?"
"Address her with more respect, shapeshifter, or you will be punished." Marcus snapped from his place on the ground, lifting his head to glare at the boy to my left. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he quickly shut up.
Slowly, tentatively, Aro stood. "You haven't told them, Milady?"
"No, I haven't." I said shortly. Without turning to look at the people beside me, I said,
"Aro is referring to the fact that I am the..." I trailed off, unsure how to put it.
"May I, Milady?" Aro asked. I shrugged. "Go for it."
"The Lady Isabella is our leader. I suppose the closest you could get would be to call her our Queen."
A stunned silence fell over the clearing-well, a stunned silence on the part of the Olympic Coven and the wolves. I didn't dare look at them, actually worried about what their reactions might be.
Finally, Carlisle broke the silence. "Not to be cruel, Izzy, but why would they elect you as their, ah, Queen?"
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. As I began to speak, my shoulders slumped.
"Because I am, at least at the moment, the most powerful vampire in existence. I am even more indestructible than most vampires. I can't be permanently maimed or harmed-or even badly injured for more than a few seconds. I am stronger and faster. And in situations where I feel honestly threatened, I can absorb others gifts.
They-" I gestured to the Volturi-"Played it safe. Rather than take the chance of pissing me off and me destroying their little...group, they decided to honor me, I guess."
I took a deep breath. "I think that's about it." I said when no one said anything.
Not going to end it here, either. But it's a short chapter-almost finished.
I refocused on the three in front of me, who were slowly getting to their feet, the rest of the group following.
Aro hesitated before asking his next question.
"Milady, why did you leave? And why were you gone so long?"
I folded my lips in. "Aro, this is not the place to discuss this."
"Very well, Milady. Where would be satisfactory, then?"
I felt a flash of anger.
"Can you just can it for two minutes? I...have something else I need to attend to, first. Meet me on the Washington-Oregon-Idaho corner." my tone was tense. I paused before continuing.
"Send the rest of your minions back to Volterra. I only need you three."
"But, milady, you will allow us to keep Jane and Alec, yes?" Aro protested. I made a face.
"I suppose. But, know this." I sent my voice out, so everyone could hear it. "If you, Aro, Marcus, or Caius, or anyone else, even thinks of attacking-let alone acutually attacks- the Olympic Coven or the Quileutes, I will personally tear you limb from limb and burn you, ending with your head. Now scat."
Hastily, the Volturi dispersed. The three, as well as the evil twins, turned a different way from the others, heading in the direction I'd told them to meet me. Slowly, I turned to face the people I'd spent the last five days trapped with.
My gaze locked on the ground, I said, somewhat tentatively, "Will you please follow me inside?"
I felt their eyes on me, and, ever so slowly, they moved inside the Cullen house. I stayed out in the snow a few more moments, watching them.
And, as I watched them walk inside, I couldn't help but notice that Major hadn't said a single word, had barely even moved, since my revelation. Nervously, I fingered my pendant, and followed them.
Okay, the chapter is now finally over. I probably didn't reveal the big secret in an especially dramatic way, even though I meant to. And sorry it's so short. So...what do you think? Reviews thrill me.