Chapter 57

"Are you here as some type of martyr?" Jacob asked through gritted teeth, "Do you expect to live through this experience?"

"Threatening me, dog, isn't going to-" Aaron began, but Jacob cut him off.

"It's not a threat, it's reality. Think about it. Do you really think you're going to live if you touch one hair on their heads?"

Aaron's eyes scanned the room, though the confident look in his eyes never dimmed.

"If you do anything to Nessy or Caleb, you will be killed instantly," he went on, "And it's not a threat. It's what will happen."

"So be it," Aaron said with a grin, "Though I do plan to leave here on my own two feet, Jacob."

"Even if you went ahead with your plans," Masen said, "I can heal them regardless of the state of their condition. So if you choose to go down that road and harm either of them, ultimately causing your own death, it will all be for nothing because I'll just be able to pick up the pieces and bring them back to good health."

"In a matter of seconds," Jacob added sternly.

Esme's eyes were fixed on Caleb, who continued to cry and tried to fight his way out of Aaron's grasp. His attempts to say the word 'mom' made her heart break. She contemplated, again, lunging for him, but was equally tormented by what consequences could come of it, despite Masen's ability.

Carlisle looked at him in the eye, "You don't want to do this. You didn't come here to die today."

"I'm not going to die today," Aaron told him.

At that moment, everyone's eyes roamed the room, making eye contact with each other. Leah began to bark and growl, perfectly familiar with the scent that passed through everyone's nostrils at once. Before anyone could process what was about to happen, Aro had already joined them in the room and placed himself a few feet from Aaron so he faced Carlisle and Esme.

Jacob's fists clenched and he glared at the Volturi leader before fixing his eyes back on Renesme's. He found it excruciating to hold his ground.

Aaron stared at Aro, almost awestruck. The expression that lingered on his face was one comparable to someone who had just met their childhood hero, or saw their favorite celebrity. "Aro," he stated with a shake in his voice that matched his expression.

Carlisle studied the expression on the man's face, then looked to Aro who seemed neutral about him on the surface. For the length of time Carlisle had spent with, and known, Aro, he could tell that he truly felt nothing special for Aaron. His demeanor gave him hope that things could turn out for the best, but there was a similar fear that, that may not be true. He knew better than anyone that Aro was quite unpredictable and had the tendency to change his mind on the fly if he happened to come up with a better idea or solution.

"He's working for you?" Jacob hissed through his teeth.

Aro sent a calm stare in his direction, then smiled, "It's always a pleasure to see you Jacob."

He was about to respond but Aro put up a hand and looked over at Aaron. "It looks like you've got yourself entangled in quite the mess, young man."

Aaron's expression changed and filled with disappointment, "I've been sent here to prove my worth."

"Your worth?"

"To you." His voice boomed with admiration, though stung with a defeat at Aro's lack of enthusiasm.

The Volturi leader smiled, "But, of course."

Aaron straightened up again and his posture resumed its confidence.

Aro's eyes fixed on the crying baby in his arms and a loving smile crept onto his face. He looked at Carlisle first, then Esme, and back to Carlisle. "How lovely. This must be Caleb Cullen."

Carlisle kept his eyes locked with Aro's, never breaking his stare. Aro picked up on his expression and matched it, only with a softer glare. "How old is he?"

"About three months," Carlisle said sternly.

Aro glanced back at Caleb, then looked at Aaron, "May I?"

Aaron handed the crying child to Aro and locked his arms tighter around Renesme. She looked at Jacob and mouthed the words, "I'm okay."

"Shh, shh..." Aro said soothingly, "There, there young man. You're fine."

Caleb's cries dulled down before he settled into Aro's arms comfortably. Tears still streaked his face and Aro gently wiped them away. He looked back up toward Carlisle. When he didn't immediately hand Caleb back to them, Carlisle took one step forward.

"We've known each other for centuries," he reminded him.

Aro nodded, signifying he agreed, "And you know quite well that many have died for me to become what I am today."

The tone of his voice made Esme suddenly feel panicked. Masen took a step forward and pleaded to Aro with his eyes.

"Masen, how are you?" Aro said, recognizing his attempt to pronounce his presence in the room, "Why, I remember when you were just this small, as well. It wasn't all that long ago."

"Please, Aro. Don't do this," he said, looking down at his calm younger brother.

"Aaron," Aro stated, looking over at the young man. He opened the window behind where they stood, "You've come to take vengeance on the wolves, as well?"

"Yes. It was I who killed the two others."

"I suspected so," he said with a grin. "If you travel down to the north end of the reservation, you'll find two of the younger wolves there. They're alone and you can probably get them to separate and kill them each individually."

Jacob tensed up at his words and Leah began to growl, bearing her teeth in their direction.

Aaron smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "Divide and conquer."

"Precisely," Aro said back. "Go now. Leave the girl to me. The Cullens here may be a challenge for you, as they do possess some quality gifts of their own. It's shame they won't join me, though I still hold that hope." He made eye contact with Carlisle again as he finished his sentence. "Plus, you've already proven that you can handle yourself with the Quileute tribe members. I suppose you won't mind taking on that task while I finish this one."

Aaron twisted his smile into one that looked almost demonic, "Of course."

"I'll meet you just beyond the boundary line of the reservation shortly after I finish here."

He nodded and guided Renesme over so Aro now held her against him, before exiting the room through the window to where Aro had instructed him.

"Aro," Carlisle started, shaking his head.

"As I've said Carlisle, a lot of people have had to die for me to rise to the top of our underworld." He shifted his eyes down to Caleb and released Renesme with a light push, sending her in Jacob's direction.

She frantically rushed to his waiting arms and hugged him hard, nearly crying from the emotion. A look of utter relief filled his face as and wrapped his arms securely around her and hugged her back just as tightly.

Caleb looked up at Aro with curious eyes. He lifted a hand toward his face though couldn't reach from the position he held him in. Aro then lifted his eyes again. He scanned the room at the scattered members of their family.

"What are you going to do?" Esme asked him desperately.

Caleb finally began to squirm and reached his arms out toward Esme, "Ma," he said. His tiny hands extended as he longed to get back to where he belonged.

Aro and Carlisle continued to stare at each other and the tension lingered in the room, despite Renesme's release. It was only a moment later when Aro switched his gaze to Esme and handed her back her child.

She grabbed him hard and pulled him to her body, crying instantly from the relief before rushing to the back of the room farthest away from Aro.

Carlisle stared in shock at the man he once called his friend.

Aro looked around at everyone, then finally spoke, "I had no part in this man's plan."

"He said he was trying to prove his worth," Masen said, "What does that mean?"

"Prove his worth?" Aro laughed, "They all try to prove their worth."

"You sent him after the wolves."

"Honesty doesn't always come with the territory of being in my position," he explained, "I'm not quite as saintly as your father."

"What do you mean?" Jacob asked, still linked to Renesme.

"What I mean is that a lot of people must die for me to remain who I am."

"You've said that a bunch of times," Jacob pointed out, "What does that mean?"

"I didn't send Aaron after your brothers, Jacob. I sent him out there to die. I spoke with Seth just before I came here. They're waiting for him."

Jacob stared at him to make sure he wasn't lying. He looked to Carlisle's expression for guidance and realized that Aro must have been telling the truth as Carlisle gave him a single nod. "So you had nothing to do with Jared and Embry?"

Aro approached Jacob and stood only a foot, or so, in front of him, "Young man, you'll never the depth of the hold a daughter can have on her father until you experience it for yourself."

Despite his roundabout answer to the simple question, Jacob knew that he meant he had no involvement, simply because it would have hurt Luciana so badly. He began to walk out of the room.

"Aro," Carlisle said.

He turned around to face him.

"We'll explain everything to Lucy. She has to know that it wasn't your doing to hurt the wolves."

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown, Carlisle," Aro said. He looked around the room again before disappearing.