A/N:I have the best readers! Thank you so much to everyone for reading, reviewing, following and favoriting! You make this trip so much fun!
My thanks to sherryola and Noble Korhedron for pre-reading. They help me to tighten things up and keep them moving in the right direction.
And God bless Katmom! Her aptitude for the grammatitude keeps everything flowing. A toast! Huzzah! clink
The inspection was done, and Bella passed with flying colors. All was well until...
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all the characters; we've just taken them to a masquerade. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 22 – Lupus Gambit
I stood in shocked silence with the phone stuck to my ear, unable to process what Jacob said for a moment. My senses vaguely registered that everybody's attention was riveted to me. When my brain started working again I could only stammer, "What? Who?"
"You never met Bradley. He's one of the new kids, just started phasing couple of months ago. He was out for a run northeast of the Rez when it happened."
"What happened?"
"We're not sure. The guys who were wolf at the time are still pretty shook up." Jacob's voice on the other end turned grim. "First we got this blast of pain like every muscle was on fire, then it all went black. No sight, no sound, no nothing. Then we couldn't hear him anymore. I ran up there with a bunch of the guys and we found him. His heart was torn out of his chest. There were at least three different vampire scents in the area. We followed the scent trail as far as we could go, but it ended at Puget Sound, heading to Seattle."
My stomach seemed to fall into my shoes as it hit me, and I sat heavily on the piano bench. "Oh my god," I breathed.
"You know what happened?"
"Not exactly, but it sounds like Jane and Alec were involved." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Carlisle pick up one of the other phones.
"Well, whoever it was, it's war now! You sure you don't know where they are?" Jacob's tone was sharp and accusing, as if I would know since I was one of the bloodsuckers.
"Honestly, Jake, I don't like them anymore than you do." I bristled at his insinuation and my voice rose. "But even if I knew I wouldn't tell you. More of you could get killed!"
Carlisle broke in on the other phone. "Jacob? It's Carlisle. Before you do anything rash, let me go talk to them and find out what's happening. There must be some kind of mistake."
There was an incredulous silence from Jacob's end. "You're kidding, right? They killed one of my brothers! On our land! They don't have a treaty with us, so it's open season on werewolves! What the hell else could be happening?"
"Please, Jacob, let me see if I can resolve this without further bloodshed."
"There's got to be blood!" Jacob growled. "Theirs! You can't ask me to let this go!"
"I'm not asking you to let it go, but at least think for a moment, Jacob," Carlisle insisted. "Think about how easily Bradley was killed. Can you fight someone you can't see or hear? Alec is one reason the Volturi are invincible. He can incapacitate an entire platoon at once. Why do you think they only sent five of them to put down an army of twenty newborns?"
Jake seemed to think quietly as Carlisle's logic penetrated.
"Give diplomacy a chance, Jacob," Carlisle continued. "Your great-grandfather listened to me, and we've lived in peace for almost 80 years."
"Diplomacy! You're crazy if you think I want peace with them!" Jake's shouted reply caused the speaker phone to feed back for an instant.
Carlisle sighed. "All right, Jacob. At the very least, let us talk to them. Edward may be able to find what they plan to do, and you can be better prepared."
"Please, Jake, listen to Carlisle," I said. "It couldn't hurt. I'll call you once we know what's going on."
"Keep the pack together and safe. Don't let anybody run alone," Carlisle advised.
"Don't tell me how to lead my pack," Jacob growled again, but at least his tone wasn't as nasty.
He had to listen. There was no way they could stand against Jane and Alec. "C'mon Jake, please?" Before I could think, my voice took on a pleading tone and the words were already out of my mouth.
A stony silence greeted my words. "That card doesn't play anymore, Bella." Jacob practically spat my name at me.
I knew he was not yet over me, but that still hadn't prepared me for his response. My hand automatically went to my cheek as if expecting the flush. "I'm sorry, Jake," I whispered.
"Just 24 hours, Jacob," Carlisle interrupted. "That's all I ask."
"Fine, I gotta go talk to Billy and Sam. This isn't the end of this," Jacob said brusquely and hung up.
A pall of silence blanketed the entire family and for an endless moment we all stood frozen, a gallery of statues locked into varying expressions of fear and awe. The excitement and gaiety that filled the room not minutes before had evaporated like smoke before a strong wind. Almost as one, we turned to look at Alice and Edward. Edward gazed at me for a moment, strangely expressionless, before he, too, faced Alice.
Alice was shaking her head, sending her inky hair twitching. "I can't see anything about the wolves. I'm getting flickers of the Guard, but nothing involving them with the family."
"But what could this mean?" Esme's brow creased as she reached out to Carlisle.
Edward addressed Alice. "You knew about the wolves before you went to Volterra?"
Alice nodded. "Jacob was at Bella's house before we left."
"Then Aro knows about them, too," said Edward, his brow furrowed. "And if Aro knows, Caius knows."
"Caius hates werewolves," Eleazar spoke. "He was almost killed by one a thousand years ago. That was another one of the Guard's activities. We hunted werewolves in Europe to the point of extinction. I wouldn't be surprised if he gave Jane a secondary mission on this trip."
The Quileute legend of the Cold Woman invading the village and slaughtering tribesmen came to my mind. The thought horrified me because with Jane and Alec, the entire tribe could be easily killed off, werewolf guardians or not. "No! We can't let them do that!" I cried.
"We can't get involved!" Rosalie objected. "Who are we to go against the Volturi? They'll kill us!"
Carlisle held his hands up as if trying to separate us. "Girls, before we get ahead of ourselves we should find out what we're dealing with. Alice, can you see where the Guard is?"
Alice closed her eyes for a while. "I see them. They're not in Seattle; they're at the river near the treaty line. They're not on the reservation but they aren't too far away from the boundary. I can take you there."
"All right, I'm going to talk to them," Carlisle stood. "Alice? Jasper? Edward? Will you come with me? Bella, I'll need you, too."
Emmett spoke from where he sat on the living room floor. "You need more muscle. What about Eleazar and me?"
Carlisle considered it briefly, then shook his head. "No, son, we need a small enough group that Bella can cover. Too big a group and all the muscle in the world won't help. Besides, if we come with numbers equal to theirs, we're less threatening to them"
"Be careful," said Esme. Worry had long since replaced confusion on her face and she pressed Carlisle's hand as he turned to go.
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Under Alice's guidance, we found the Guard in another small clearing, across the river from Quileute land on our side of the border. On the run, Carlisle suggested that the four of them would line up in front of me when we talked to the Guard. Then I would be able to extend far enough to cover all of them. However, with Jasper's skills, hopefully that wouldn't be needed.
As we drew closer to their location, Carlisle called out, not wanting them to think we were trying to sneak up on them. "Jane? It's Carlisle Cullen! We're coming to speak with you!" His shout rose up and echoed into the night sky. There was no answer but Alice was sure we were close enough to be heard.
Alice, Edward and Jasper lined up as Carlisle had directed, and I followed them closely. As we breached the trees, the four Volturi came into view. Jane and Alec stood off to one side of the clearing. Felix and Demetri sat on a fallen log. If I didn't know better it looked as though we had come across a number of campers. All that was missing was a campfire.
Jane spoke first. "Hello, Carlisle. I didn't expect to see you again." Maybe it was my imagination but I thought I detected a tinge of amusement in her voice.
"Neither did I," said Carlisle. "However, we received some disturbing news."
"What news?" asked Alec.
"A werewolf was killed in the area not long ago. Would you know anything of this?"
Jane glanced at Edward almost unnoticeably before answering. "Why don't you ask Edward?" she asked with disdain.
"They did it," Edward said, curtly. "Jane attacked him first and Alec immobilized him. Then Felix tore his heart out."
Felix chuckled deep in his chest, looking very pleased with himself. "At least he didn't feel anything."
"Is there a problem?" Jane seemed to have trouble hiding a smile.
Carlisle frowned deeply. "They're our neighbors and we live at peace with them. You're disturbing that peace."
Jane's mouth dropped open. "They're our hereditary enemies, why ever would you need to have peace with them?" Then her eyes narrowed.
"Unless you're not strong enough?" she speculated, almost to herself. "Fine," she gave a faint sneer. "We'll do you a favor and eradicate this problem for you."
Carlisle shook his head vigorously. "No, you don't have to do that. Just leave and I might be able to convince the pack to leave things alone. Maybe convince them it was just a mistake."
"Let them come," Jane scoffed, tossing her head. "Unlike you, we're not afraid of a pack of dogs."
Alec's piping voice broke in. "We'll be doing you a service. If they're not here, you don't have to worry about them anymore. You can come and go as you please, and eat what you like."
"But this is our territory, not yours." Carlisle pointed an accusing finger at them. "And our diet is our choice, not something dictated by our neighbors. That we choose to co-exist with them is our business. They've done nothing to deserve extermination."
"Actually, they have," Jane countered. "If you've been living in peace with them, that means the whole tribe knows of our existence. And that's against the rules. Technically, that means you broke the rules, too."
"But it's not the whole tribe!" I disagreed, over Alice's shoulder. I was having trouble holding onto my temper, as Jane and Alec seemed to be going out of their way to find a reason to attack the wolves. "They don't tell all the members of the tribe that they turn into wolves. They have as much of a secret to keep as we do!"
"That makes no difference. Once a secret is out, it can't be put away." Jane's voice was flat again as she flicked her hand dismissively. "The fact that they're our natural enemies is reason enough that they die."
"Does Aro know that you're here doing this?" Carlisle's voice was still relatively calm, and I didn't know how he managed it. I was seething. I hadn't had a rage episode in a long time and thought I should do something before I triggered one. Grimly, I clamped my teeth and started breathing slowly and deeply.
"Who do you think sent us to check if Bellawas human?" Demetri replied, but his eyes flicked in Edward's direction. He was evading something.
"Aro respects me and my choice of the way I live," Carlisle said sincerely. "He wouldn't command something that would cause difficulty for me and my family. I'm sure when I contact him, he'll agree with me."
Jane shrugged, and I wanted to slap the 'who cares' look off her face.
"You've done what you came here to do," Carlisle continued. "While you're visiting in our range, I expect you to respect the local customs. I'm sure Aro would like you to stop bothering the wolves and return to Volterra."
At this Jane smirked. "And if we don't?"
Carlisle paused, then said quietly, "Then we'll have to stop you."
"I'd like to see you try," Jane said, still smirking.
"We'll see." Carlisle turned to us. "Let's go."
"See you later," Felix grinned.
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We returned to the house in grim silence. I started to ask Edward what he had heard but Jasper cautioned me to be quiet, not wanting to risk being overheard if one of them chose to follow us. I ran silently, trying to expand my senses as far as I could go to detect any signs of pursuit.
As soon as we arrived at the house, Carlisle went straight up to his office to try and contact Aro. The rest of us found the family in the living room waiting for us. The furniture that we had pushed back for the brief celebration had been replaced. Emmett switched the TV off.
"What news do you have?" Eleazar asked first.
"They did it," Edward replied. "Jane and Alec struck first, then Felix killed the wolf as it stood helpless. They weren't trying to hide the killing at all."
Silence reigned over the living room as they absorbed that news. Carmen looked especially unhappy and gripped Eleazar's shoulder.
"That's horrible," Esme exclaimed.
"What else did you pick up?" asked Emmett. Unconsciously or not, he stood next to Rosalie's chair, grinding his heavy fist into his palm.
"Jane has been getting her instructions a piece at a time." Edward scanned the room as he spoke. "When we met them in the clearing, her only instructions were to check on Bella. After they left us, she was ordered by Caius to kill a werewolf, then wait. Jane was trying to hide that information, but it slipped by."
"Wait? Wait for what?" Kate wondered.
Edward shrugged and shook his head. "That's the strange part; she doesn't know, and she's extra irritated because of it. But it wasn't a random killing, and Jane definitely knew about the werewolves."
"They weren't looking for a fight, though," mused Jasper. "I didn't need to manage them at all."
Carlisle walked downstairs into the living room at that moment. He didn't seem any more or less agitated than before.
"Without a direct e-mail address or phone number, the best I could do was to send a message to the Volturi address that you visited," Carlisle said. "I marked it 'personal' and 'urgent' and 'please forward.' Hopefully we'll hear from them soon."
Edward pursed his lips. "Should we even bother to wait?"
"I agree," said Jasper. "I think this has the signs of a deliberate campaign."
Emmett frowned. "Which signs?"
Jasper ticked them off on his fingers as he went. "First, Jane is receiving orders on a need to know basis. As one of the upper echelon of the Guard, the only logical reason is that they're trying to hide something from Edward or Alice. Second, she's not doing this of her own accord. She's getting orders from Caius. That means the Volturi are aware of her actions and condone it."
Eleazar nodded. "If Caius knows about it, can the other two be far behind?"
A hush fell over the room, and I edged closer to Edward. Esme took Carlisle's hand as he came to stand next to the couch where she was seated. Edward moved to sit at the piano bench and I followed him. The Volturi didn't do things without a reason, and I wondered what they would gain by killing a werewolf. Right now it seemed to me like they were poking at a beehive to stir up the nest. And it was working; both the wolf pack and my family were more than stirred up. But with what objective?
Jasper laid a hand on Alice's shoulder. "Were you also aware that you couldn't see the wolves before you went to Italy?"
"Yes." Alice's eyes were wide. I wondered what else Aro had seen in her memories.
Jasper grimaced. "I'm sure of it then. By involving themselves with the wolves, they make sure you're unable to predict what they will do."
"Should we leave?" Esme's voice was quiet. "It's horrible that they've killed a werewolf, but we still don't know that their intentions are aimed at us. We're still not involved. We could still leave now."
Rosalie groaned.
Alice sighed. "I don't think it matters that we're not involved right now, and it won't matter if we leave. They have Demetri with them. He can find us no matter where we are."
Rosalie turned on Alice's comment. "Alice, do you realize what you're saying? You're asking us to get involved in a war between the Volturi and the wolves. With them on either side of us, there's no way we would survive."
"Not between them," said Eleazar. "With them or against them."
"What?"
"The pattern is emerging again." Eleazar frowned, his hand on his chin. "The Volturi never move against any coven without just cause. Whether that cause was legitimate or not is debatable. Regardless, it makes sense why Jane has been ordered to attack, then wait. Do we side with them, or against them? Or do we stand aside and let them proceed as they will? Either way, you can rest assured they're waiting to see what we decide. Then if we give them just cause, they'll act."
Rosalie frowned at Edward. "You shouldn't have gone to Italy, Edward," she accused him. "We wouldn't be in this mess if you hadn't been so selfish." My own forehead creased at that. Rosalie had conveniently forgotten the selfish role she had played when Edward had gone to Volterra.
"Rosalie, recriminations about the past do us no good," Carlisle chided her.
"That's not fair, Rose," Emmett rumbled. "Victoria was going to put her army together no matter what Edward did. Sooner or later the Volturi would have come here."
"But Aro wouldn't have seen Alice for himself, and wanted to come get her," Rosalie retorted. "There's no question. We can't be involved or they'll kill us like they killed the wolf!"
I felt my feet go numb as the full import sank in. The Volturi were involving us in some bizarre chess game. If we stepped in, they would have their excuse to kill us, and maybe capture Edward and Alice. But if we did nothing, they would kill off the wolf pack, and possibly Jacob's whole tribe. As much as I loved Edward and Alice, as much as I cared for Carlisle and Esme for standing in for my parents, as much as I loved Emmett as the grizzly bear of a brother I always wanted, I also couldn't stomach the thought of leaving Jacob's people to be exterminated. I felt a touch of anger at Rose for proposing it.
"How can we think of running away?" I asked. "Rosalie, we can't just turn our backs on the wolves. If they did the same thing in June, we wouldn't be here. The newborns outnumbered us twenty to seven, remember? How many of us would be gone if Sam or Jacob decided it wasn't their fight, and they sat on the sidelines?"
"It's different now, Bella." The toss of Rosalie's head sent a golden shimmer cascading down her hair. "Those were just newborns. We're talking about the Volturi now. Even if we have the same numbers as before, that's Jane and Alec out there."
I appealed to Jasper and Eleazar. "Isn't there any way to take care of those two? It's not right to just leave the wolf pack to be killed off. And you heard Jane; she said the whole tribe is in violation because they all know about vampires. She's talking about killing innocent members who don't even transform."
"Civilians," Jasper commented.
"That's right, civilians," I echoed. I appealed to Carlisle. "Please, we can't let innocents get killed because of us."
Carlisle pursed his lips, considering. "Rosalie does have a good point, Bella. Before, we were up against raw, untrained newborns. It was only a matter of having enough numbers then. Now we have to consider the power of the twins. What can numbers do against an enemy like that?"
I snuck a glance at Rosalie and she looked a little smug, while my heart sank.
"But, Carlisle, even if we leave, I don't think that will be the end of it," Edward spoke beside me. "Aro wants Alice. He had an image in his mind of holding her hand with his right hand, and holding my hand in his left. He loves to collect histories, and he could see all, and know all. The thought of that omniscience was intoxicating to him."
Jasper's arm drew protectively around Alice's slender shoulders.
"I realize that." Carlisle began to pace slowly about the room. He stopped before the huge windows and turned to face us. "But if the Volturi truly wish to take something we have, what would we be able to do to prevent it?
None of us could answer him.
"It goes against my grain to leave the wolves in their time of need, when they were there for us during ours." Carlisle raised his head and let his eyes rest on each of us as he spoke. "Long, long ago I made the treaty with Ephraim Black, not because we were weaker than they, but because I didn't think we should exist in a constant state of war. All life is sacred, even the lives of those considered our natural enemies.
"I still don't believe in violence unless there's no other way out. Last June, there was no choice. The army was coming for us and Bella. This time, we may have a choice. We need to think long and hard on the implications of those choices.
"Before we jump into anything, let's see what Aro has to say. He and I parted on good terms, and I hope he still values my friendship enough to intercede on our behalf. If there are any preparations you haven't made, now is the time. Until we hear back, it looks like the party is over."
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The meeting began to break up after Carlisle's pronouncement. I wanted to speak with Jasper, but he was with Alice. He didn't say a word, and she sat looking up into his face. Then she nodded and he bent down to kiss her. Before I could stop him, he abruptly left through the front door.
Fortunately, Jasper's was not the only tactical mind in the house. Eleazar and Carmen were still sitting on one of the leather couches, conversing quietly. I walked over and sat down in the love seat across from Eleazar. He raised his eyebrows in query.
"Eleazar, can I ask you something?"
"Certainly."
"You've known Jane and Alec the longest. Isn't there any way we can protect ourselves from them?"
Eleazar gazed into the distance for a while. When he looked at me, he spoke thoughtfully. "Their gifts work very differently, so it wouldn't be easy. Alec's gift moves slowly, and spreads out to cover an area." He spread his fingers wide and moved his hands outward like a widening pool of water. "The area he can cover is not infinite, so it's possible to stay out of the area of effect. Unfortunately, we never tested how far he could go, so that is an unknown. Theoretically, it could be possible to blindly walk and hope to exit the area he's covering. But it would be very difficult since you couldn't see where he is, and he can adjust to cover you.
"Jane's gift is very different." He chopped his hand onto his open palm. "Her effect is instant, and she can only affect one victim at a time. But Jane's gift works like mine, in that I must be able to see the person to read them. Likewise, if Jane cannot see the target, she cannot affect them. So it could be possible to stay hidden to avoid her."
"That's better than nothing," I said, somewhat encouraged.
"It's better, but it may not be enough," Eleazar said, his tone very serious. "These are only defensive tactics. They may enable us to avoid being incapacitated by the twins. But to drive them off will take offensive action, and that means exposing ourselves to them in order to attack." He looked me square in the eye. "Currently you're the only one of us who is capable of that."
"Me and anyone I can cover," I reminded him.
"There is that," he said, but he didn't seem too cheered by the thought.
I nodded and sighed softly. "I'm sorry things turned out this way. Do you think you'll return to Alaska?"
Eleazar took Carmen's hand and shrugged. "I couldn't leave you to face this alone. Besides, by now, Jane will have told Aro where I am. And now that I've been brought to his attention, I agree with Alice. What does it matter where I go? If Aro wants to find me, he'll have Demetri look for me."
I nodded glumly. "Carmen, I'm sorry I dragged you all into this." I couldn't stop apologizing. It seemed my bad luck wasn't limited to me anymore.
"There's no help for it now," Carmen said, then her lovely eyes glittered fiercely. "But if they come for my man, I will fight." At that Eleazar raised the back of her hand to his lips. Considering her pacifist leanings, that was quite a statement.
"I wish we could call the police," I said without thinking.
Eleazar gave a hollow laugh. "Bella, the Volturi are the police."
He was right about that. I guess there was still some residual human thinking left in me. I was living in a different society now. Human society had organizations and rules set in place to govern itself. If we were in trouble, we could call on the police or firefighters for help. The military kept us safe from other countries. The Volturi were the closest thing the vampire underworld had to a government, and Carlisle had already called them for help. I just never considered the possibility of the government conspiring against my family. It was unthinkable. In a case like that there was nobody you could call. We were on our own.
With the feelings of impending doom once again rising in me, my eyes gravitated to Edward. He quietly closed the lid on the grand piano, then left the room and headed up the stairs. There was something in his expression that I couldn't place, whether sadness or anger I couldn't tell. As I sat there puzzling, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Alice.
"Something's bugging him," she said with a nod toward the stairs.
"How can you tell? Has he decided something?"
"No, just years of reading his face," she said, smiling. "Knowing him, it's something about you. Go on." She nudged me in Edward's direction.
Even with the uncertain threat of the Volturi causing a tense feeling in my stomach, Edward still came first. I excused myself and rose to follow his scent, the trail leading me to our room. One of Beethoven's symphonies was playing on the stereo, and Edward sat on the couch, looking out the window.
"Hey," I said softly.
Edward turned his head and managed a little smile. "Hello, love."
I walked over and settled down next to him, folding one leg under me as I took him by the hand. He seemed rather distant and sad to me. "You haven't kissed me in a while," I said. "Are you okay?"
A gentle chuckle rose out of his chest. "That's horrible. We'd better do something about that." He curled his other hand in the hair at the back of my neck and bent his lips to mine. I felt myself get a little giddy as he kissed me, but then somewhere during it, his lips started to move differently; that old edge of panic had returned.
I put a hand to his cheek and sat back. "Seriously now, something's bothering you. Is there something I can do?"
"I'll have you know, it's not unusual for me to go off by myself to think," he said with mild reproach. "I've often had to do that to get away from the ambient thoughts and voices. You just never were awake when I would do that. Coming to your house was as quiet as the deep woods as far as thoughts were concerned." He looked off into the forest again.
"You think I don't know the way you kiss by now?" I said quietly. "Alice said something was bothering you. Tell me, please."
Edward shook his head and a short, ironic laugh rose out of him. "I've been living with her too long. Shall we move out and find a place of our own? You might like having a little privacy."
If we came out of the current problems unscathed, the thought of having Edward all to myself with nobody around was appealing, but I enjoyed having a family, too. "I like having brothers and sisters now," I said.
The corner of Edward's mouth twitched. "Good. I'm glad I was able give you a big family."
"Was Carlisle really thinking of taking the family and running away?" I asked, wondering where we would go to, and how long it would take for the Volturi to find us again.
Edward paused before answering me, his fingers absently playing with my hand. "He usually says what he thinks. If Aro won't stop Jane, I think he's more inclined to stay and defend the wolves."
"Are you nervous about fighting alongside the wolves again? Last time you weren't in the thick of it, with everybody else."
"If it comes to that, I'm sure we'll be fine once again." Edward's tone was suddenly clipped, and I looked at him closely. That expression was on his face again.
I felt my eyes narrow as I thought back about the look he had given me earlier this evening. Then it dawned on me. "Something about the wolves is bugging you," I stated, sure of it.
"No, not the wolves," he said slowly, but he wouldn't meet my gaze.
"Something about…Jacob?"
He finally looked into my eyes for a long, silent moment before he turned away again. "You… you begged him to listen. It reminded me of how you were before…with him. It's been so long since you've acted that way, I began to think you were over him. I didn't want to say anything because I said you can have as much or as little of me as you want. But I admit that I was happier when I thought I had you all to myself for once."
I felt a stir of guilt that I was the source of his disquiet again. "That's bothering you the most, isn't it?"
His nod was barely noticeable as he sat looking out the windows.
"Please don't worry like this. I wanted him to listen to Carlisle and it just slipped out that way. It's really not like that for me anymore."
Edward gazed steadily out the windows, his eyes unreadable. "The last time we saw him, he was thinking about the time you went to visit him. When he was injured."
I froze, trying to recall any memories I had of that day. I hadn't thought of it in a while, so they didn't come immediately.
So quietly I would have missed it with human hearing, he whispered, "I don't know if he was throwing those memories in my face, or just reminiscing. But I could see your face as you said to him, 'How can we be friends, when we love each other like this?' You really meant it, when you said that."
Though my lips didn't dry out anymore, I licked them out of habit.
"He was wondering if you still felt that way, even though you had been turned. Even though you're married. I didn't think anything of it, until I saw you interacting with him tonight."
Finally, my brain started working again, and I realized what I needed to do. I reached up and turned his face to me.
"That was an eon ago, when I was human. Anyway, it doesn't matter. You heard him, didn't you? I don't have that kind of influence on him anymore."
Edward's jaw muscles were still tight, his eyes still sad. "When you were an inconstant human, maybe I could have counted on you forgetting him," he said. "But now your thoughts and feelings are as permanent as mine. The question is – how much has the love you felt for Jacob been implanted in your heart?" His voice faded on the last words.
I thought about how I used to be with Jacob. Once I started being honest about how I felt, I could see why I reacted the way I did. And Edward was right; I had only acted the way I felt.
Searching through my immortal memories of Jacob, I tried to examine the feelings I had at the time. Events were rather stressful, what with the fight between Jake and Sam, and then the test to prove I wasn't homicidal. I hadn't really had time to feel attracted to him. In fact, I felt mostly irritation for his snide attitude and for being an all-around jerk.
Then to compare, I looked Edward in the eyes, and thought about how he made me feel, hoping he would see it, too. There was no contest. "So far, in my clearest memories, there hasn't been much of him that's very lovable. And while it bothers me a little we're not on real good terms anymore, what I feel about him is nothing like what I feel for you. You're everything to me."
Edward didn't speak as he searched my face. Then a thin, hopeful smile touched his lips and he sighed, his sweet breath washing across my face. "You're sure about that?"
I nodded and edged closer to him. "If Jake was still off running around Canada, and not here with the tribe, it still wouldn't be right to leave them to die," I said. "But I'm one of you now and there's no going back. Even if he still felt that way, it doesn't matter." I spoke the words slowly, willing him to believe me. "I chose you. I married you. I only sing for you. And I swear to you, I'll never let him manipulate my feelings again."
He suddenly relaxed and I hadn't realized the tense pose he was holding. He brushed his hand across my hair and down my back, and leaned in to kiss the tip of my nose before pulling me closer, tucking my head against his chest and under his chin. "I'm sorry if I overreacted," Edward whispered.
I breathed a sigh of relief, but I couldn't see his expression. I raised my head to nuzzle the corner of his jaw, and he seemed composed again. "Never be sorry to tell me how you feel.".
His arm squeezed me tight for a moment, and he brushed his lips across mine. "And the same goes for you, love."
I settled back against his chest. Now that I didn't sleep, I was blessed to be able to spend every waking moment, contentedly nestled against him, listening to the rise and fall of his breath, enjoying the feel of his arms around me. Even with the specter of the Volturi hanging over us, we had a brief oasis of peace as we watched the dawning sun brighten the clouds and the surrounding forest.
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Our interlude was eventually broken by the ring of the house phone. Judging by the amount of light in the sky it was around noon. We both sat up immediately when we heard Carlisle answer. When he put the call on speaker phone, we got up and rushed down the stairs. Other members of the family flowed into the room at the same time, somehow not bumping into each other, and I was reminded of flights of bats streaming from their cave into the evening sky.
"Carlisle, my old friend!" I recognized Aro's voice coming from the dining room. "It's good to hear from you after all these centuries! How have you been?" Quickly but quietly, we all found places in the room to listen. Jasper had also returned from his earlier errand.
"I've been well, Aro," Carlisle answered. "I practice medicine at the local hospital, and my family is prospering."
"Yes, I met some of your family earlier this year. How are Edward and Alice?"
Carlisle's eyebrows drew together slightly. "They're fine. They just recently returned home from a trip to Alaska."
"And young Bella? Is she immortal now?" Aro's tone seemed ridiculously eager to me.
"Yes, she was turned several months ago."
"Splendid! Is Edward still unable to read her mind?" Yes, definitely too eager.
Carlisle frowned. "Yes, that's not changed."
"And is she gifted in any other way?" Aro sounded like an excited child before Christmas.
Carlisle's eyes turned my way before he spoke carefully. "Not that we know of," he said. This might be the first time I had heard him lie, even if it was by omission.
The sound of clapping hands came from the speaker. "But she is still proof against his power! Marvelous! Caius will be pleased! You know he was curious, and sent some of our friends to visit you." Aro's voice dropped to a conspiratorial tone. "I told him he needn't be so hasty. Not even a year has passed since they came to visit. But he insisted. You know how he is." Aro laughed. I noticed Eleazar grimacing at that comment.
"Yes, I do know how he is," Carlisle said. "In fact, that's what brings me to contact you. Do you know that Jane, Alec, Demetri and Felix are still here in our range?"
"Mmm, I believe you're right. Yes, I think that's who Caius was sending. They're still there?" Whether his surprise was faked or not I couldn't tell. Edward was frowning.
"Yes, they are. They killed a werewolf that was in the area. Was that also done on Caius' orders?"
"Werewolves! You have werewolves there?"
"Yes, we do. Did Caius order the Guard to kill them?"
"In a way," Aro admitted. "Long ago, Caius requested our friends to kill any werewolf they found. I'm afraid he does not like werewolves very much, and he never did ask them to stop. So I suppose it's still going on."
Carlisle set his hands on the dining room table and leaned in over the phone. "Aro, we have a treaty with these particular werewolves. We've been living in peace with them for the last eighty years. Your Guardsmen are endangering that peace for us."
There was a brief silence at the other end. "Peace with werewolves? How extraordinary!" I didn't know Aro's voice well enough, but it didn't seem sincere to me. "And you've managed to maintain your lifestyle all this time as well. Carlisle, you never cease to amaze me! How are you able to do it?"
"It's not that extraordinary," Carlisle replied. "We simply choose not to cause undue suffering or strife in the world. Violence is never the only answer."
"True, my idealist friend. But sometimes in this world, it is necessary. Very necessary." Was it my imagination, or did Aro's voice grow ominous?
"I have yet to see the situation where violence is the only solution. That's why I'd like you to contact your guards, and have them stand down. Return home. I may still be able to convince the wolves it was a mistake. But if the wolf killings continue, there's no way we'll be able to live here in peace with them."
Aro sighed. "I'm afraid that's quite impossible. They're simply following policy and performing a necessary service if you think about it: making the world a safer place for our kind. In Europe there hasn't been a vampire death due to werewolf attack in centuries."
"Please, Aro. Consider it as a favor to me?" Carlisle stared at the speaker phone intensely.
"Actually, Carlisle, it's not up to me." Aro's voice in apology seemed a little thin. "Caius is the one who gave those instructions, and if I know him, he's unlikely to rescind them. He truly hates werewolves, you see."
I could see the muscles in Carlisle's jaw beginning to tense. "You're putting me in a difficult position, Aro. The werewolves here agreed to co-exist with us because we were different than other immortals. If we stand by while they're exterminated, they'll see us as no better than those other vampires, and will turn on us."
"Well, then if Jane removes them that will solve the problem, won't it?" Aro purred.
Carlisle frowned in frustration, something we rarely saw on his youthful face. "Aro, you're asking me to condone genocide," he said, his voice rising. "I'm telling you that's not necessary. We've been fine with them for eighty years. Just leave them alone, for the love of God!"
"I'm afraid you'll have to take that up with Caius. If we make exceptions, it sets a bad precedent."
"Aro, please," Carlisle pleaded. "I have great respect for you, but if you stand by and allow your guards to slaughter innocent people, you're just as guilty as they are."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Carlisle." Aro sighed. "However, our policy is clear."
"Don't you and Marcus have as much say about this as Caius does?"
Aro's voice was urbanely smooth. "This is not a matter of jurisprudence, so does not require our involvement."
"Then let me speak with Caius."
"Certainly. I'll have him contact you as soon as he is available."
"Isn't he at the piazzo with you?"
"He was called away on an errand. I'm sure he'll return soon, and I'll pass on your message."
Carlisle's lips peeled back slightly, exposing his teeth. "Thank you, Aro. Tell him it's very urgent. I would appreciate that."
"It is nothing. Goodbye, Carlisle. I hope that we'll see you again, sometime. In fact, I'd like to invite you and the rest of your family to come visit soon. We would so enjoy seeing Alice, Edward, and even young Bella, again. Arrivederci." Aro broke the connection.
Carlisle growled low in his throat, and we looked up, startled. It was the first time I'd seen him exhibit any kind of dark emotion, and from the looks around the room, the others were surprised too.
"He knows," Carlisle grated. "He knows but he won't do anything."
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To be continued...
A/N: Aro, and Caius, and Jane...oh my... Where are they going with this? As always, love to hear your thoughts! :)
