6. GAME OVER

The plane spluttered and began a nosedive straight towards the desert sand dunes. Marcus braced himself for impact and clutched tightly to the small Egyptian statue that held the green stone. Suddenly the plane was forced into the ground and the sound of twisting metal filled their ears. The plane had flipped upside down but Marcus and Corin tore through the metal to get themselves out. A small flame caught at the head of the plane. Marcus and Corin began to run away as quickly as they could but Benjamin was too fast for them.

The elemental Egyptian saw the flames and used his power to make them expand and form a raging circle of fire around Corin and Marcus. Corin attempted to jump over the flames but Benjamin just made them shoot up higher while he was in midair. The fire licked at Corin's arm making him holler out in pain. It had singed his vampire skin. He fell back to the ground and Benjamin moved the flames around his body to still keep him trapped in the circle of fire with Marcus.

Suddenly, the flames caught hold of the fuel tank of the plane and exploded, shooting fire and shards of metal into the sky. As gravity pulled it back down like a fiery rain over Corin and Marcus, Benjamin's practice of controlling two elements at the same time came into play. He sucked in another deep breath and blew out a hard wind, knocking the raining fire and shards of metal away from the two prisoners, keeping them safe for the moment.

The four Egyptians walked up to the circle of flames. Benjamin lowered a portion of it just slightly so that they could communicate with each other. However, he was ready to shoot them up again if Marcus or Corin made one wrong move.

"Marcus, you lied to me." Amun said with an evil smile on his face. "Why would you do that? What is so important about this object that it would make you lie just to have it?"

Marcus hesitated. "Did Aro tell you? Is that who was on the phone?"

Amun smiled. "Does Aro have reason to betray you? Tell me the truth Marcus, what happened between you and the rest of the Volturi?"

Corin cursed under his breath as he nursed the wounds of his burnt arm. He would heal from it but it would take a while.

Marcus gave in. He didn't think he could lie his way out of this one. "I found out that Aro killed my mate, Didyme, not the Romanians as I had been led to believe. Because of this, I tried to kill Aro. However, he convinced me to spare his life. In exchange for mercy, he offered me information on how I might bring Didyme back from the dead. It involves collecting this trinket." Marcus held up the golden statuette with the green stone.

Amun's red eyes glimmered with lust for the object. He wanted anything that could be considered of value and high power. He very much wanted to be as powerful as Aro so if there was anything that could help to get him there- he wanted it. That was why he treasured Benjamin so much- he was a talented vampire that Aro did not have.

"You say that it can bring a vampire back from the dead?" Amun asked.

Marcus nodded solemnly.

"Well it is mine, Marcus, and you cannot take it." Amun paused for a moment as his conniving mind went to work. "However, I would be willing to offer you a place in our coven, since you have left the Volturi now. Perhaps together we could one day rise up against Volterra and take them all down once and for all."

Marcus shook his head. "I have no desire to join you. All I want is to bring Didyme back. Please Amun, put yourself in my shoes. Imagine if Kebi was killed."

Kebi shuddered for just a moment. It was the only reaction she had shown this entire time.

"Can you please try to understand what it means to lose someone and desperately try to get them back?" Marcus was at a loss. "Please, Amun. I have to save her."

Amun was thoughtful for a moment as he contemplated Marcus' difficult position. Then he spoke when he had made his decision. "I'm sorry Marcus, but it is mine and I want it back." He reached forth his hand, waiting to receive it.

Marcus was broken all over again. Corin stepped up to him and pulled the object into his grasp with his good arm. "It's okay, Marcus. Let me give it to him." Marcus reluctantly let go of the item that would ultimately save Didyme. Corin took it and walked over to the edge of the flames. Benjamin made them die down even more so that Corin could pass the object through. As Amun reached for it and felt the cold gold in his grasp, Corin grabbed his wrist and bit into it quicker than lightning could strike.

Amun fell to the ground, paralyzed, and Benjamin shot up the flames again, this time burning Corin horribly all over the front of him. He fell backwards into the circle, still clinging onto the golden statuette.

"Corin!" Marcus shouted as he ran and knelt at his side.

"I tried, Marcus-"

"Shhh- don't speak. It's going to be okay. You'll heal from this." Marcus was touched that his friend had been willing to risk his life to help him out. However, they were still trapped within the prison of flames. Corin's sacrifice was for nothing.

After a few minutes the paralytic venom wore off on Amun and he stood up again. His eyes were filled with anger and hatred and seemed to have an intense glow burning behind them. "Kill them!" Amun demanded of Benjamin.

Benjamin was hesitant. He did not want to kill them but they had attacked his leader, his father. Before Benjamin could decide what to do- three dark figures appeared on the horizon. The heat from the sun rippled the image like a mirage. As they came closer they were finally recognized. It was Demetri, Heidi, and Felix.

Amun was on edge. "Why are you here?" He spit the words. "They are no longer a part of the Volturi and I do not have to treat them as such!"

Heidi smiled. "I know. You're right. Aro wants us to bring them back. They will be punished for their crimes. Before they left, Corin attacked one of our own and Marcus is getting reckless. It's only a matter of time before his antics could expose us."

Amun seemed to relax a little at this news. "Well that statue is mine and I want it back."

"Fine." Heidi smiled. She stepped up to the flames and looked back at Benjamin. "May I?"

With a nod of approval from Amun, Benjamin let the flames retreat just enough for her to slip through. Once inside the prison, he closed the wall of fire back up behind her. She approached the pair and looked down sympathetically at Corin.

"Oh Corin, what have you done to yourself?" Her eyes were sad.

Marcus looked up at her. "Don't let him be punished for my mistakes. He was only trying to help me."

Heidi turned her focus on Marcus and reached out a hand. "Give me the stone."

Again, Marcus was hesitant but knew that he had no choice. He handed her the golden statuette. She looked at if briefly and then turned around again to face the flames. Then Benjamin lowered them so that she could slip out once more.

She walked up to Amun and handed him the valuable item. "Here you go. We'll be leaving now."

Amun nodded. "Fine." He turned his attention back onto the object and admired its beauty. He had seen it before but now that he knew its worth he was entranced by it. "Come Benjamin."

Benjamin let the flames die down to just smoldering embers around Corin and Marcus. The Egyptians walked away and headed back for their tomb while Demetri and Felix stepped into the old circle. Felix lifted Corin up in his arms and he cried out at the pain of being moved. The burns were everywhere on the front of him, even his face.

"Come on Marcus," Demetri said. "You know you can't run from me."

Marcus nodded. He followed them back over the sand dunes to where they had a jeep waiting. Felix put Corin in the very back so that he could lie down on the floor. Then he moved to the front passenger seat with Demetri on the driver's side. Heidi and Marcus sat in the back seat with her arm resting over the side.

"Let's go." She said as her hand smacked the outside of the vehicle. Demetri put the jeep into drive and they started heading towards the city of Aswan where the airport was. The ride was bouncy making Corin groan in the back. The wheels also kicked up a lot of dust. Marcus was looking off to the side with a melancholy expression. He just felt sick and hopeless.

"Cheer up, Marcus." Demetri said, eyeing him by the rear view mirror. Marcus looked at them and realized they were all smiling.

"What's going on?" Marcus asked.

Felix chimed in cheerfully. "We made all that stuff up about Aro. Athenodora sent us to help you out. She knew the Egyptians would be hard to convince in giving you the stone."

"Yeah, she told us everything about what you're trying to do." Demetri said. "She's a leader too right? We had to obey her wishes." He winked at Marcus via the mirror.

Marcus laughed. "Wow! You sure had me fooled." He smiled at the thought of Athenodora trying to help him. She was a good friend after all. He regretted being so hard on her. "So what's the plan? Are we going to go back to get the stone?"

"No need." Heidi said with a smirk. She reached into her cape and pulled out the green stone.

Marcus was astonished. "What?! How did you-"

Heidi laughed. "When I turned around in the ring of fire I pulled the gold casing away from the stone and pulled it out. I pocketed the stone and put the gold back in place."

"But Amun would have noticed the stone was missing- they all would." Marcus argued the logic.

Heidi giggled. "Marcus, have you forgotten what I can do? Amun desired the stone, and the other Egyptians desired that Amun get his object. So I created an illusion of the stone in the empty space. Amun's going to be pissed when the illusion wears off!" The three rescuers all laughed out loud in unison.

Marcus couldn't believe his luck. Even though he pretty much hated the Volturi at this point, he couldn't deny that being friends with them had its perks. They had rescued him in his time of need. For that he would be forever grateful.

When they got to the airport they were able to use their connections to bypass security and go straight onto the airfield. Demetri had parked their private jet right next to the one Marcus and Corin had been using. They pulled the jeep up in the hanger right between the two planes and started to get out of the vehicle.

"Marcus, I think Corin should come back with us. He's very badly injured." Heidi said.

Corin overheard her. "No! I can heal, I just need some time. I'm going with Marcus!"

Marcus smiled down at him lying in the back of the jeep. "I appreciate everything you've done to help me Corin but I'm afraid Heidi is right. You should go back with them."

"Dammit, I said no!" Corin sat up to prove that he was already recovering. The burns did look like they were getting better. "Marcus, you have to face the Asian coven next. You're going to need my help. You can't do it on your own. For crying out loud Marcus, you don't even know how to fly a plane!"

It was true. Marcus had never learned since he always had pilots and chauffeurs. He also thought about the Asian coven. Some might think that they would be comparable to Benjamin because they can control the elements. However, they are much more lethal because they have been around for centuries while Benjamin is still fairly new. They have had time to master their talents and know how to work with each other. Benjamin was just learning how to control two elements at the same time but the four sisters can control each element at the same time and use it against you. Marcus knew that the next task would not be easy at all.

He looked at Corin and as much as he wanted to send him home to keep him safe, he needed his help more. "Fine, but you're going to teach me how to fly on the way over there."

Corin smiled through the burns on his face. "Deal." Then he looked over at the others. "So you guys wanna come with us? The more the merrier."

Demetri shook his head. "Sorry, but Aro told Athenodora that they could only spare us for one mission. We have to go back to Volterra."

Marcus nodded. "Of course. Again, I just want all of you to know how very thankful I am for your help."

"No problem!" Felix grinned. "It's just a shame that we won't be able to see the look on Amun's face when he realizes what happened!" They started laughing again. Felix loved any kind of trouble so this was just up his alley.

Heidi hugged them good bye. She lingered on Corin and whispered to him "Take care of yourself, will you? I don't want to have to clean up your ashes."

"Yeah, yeah." Corin said as he smiled back at her. She had always cared for him but he could never bring himself to love her in return. She had a wicked streak to her but was a dang good friend to have in your corner. "Thanks Heidi."

The rest of them said their goodbyes and they split off into their separate jets. This time Marcus joined Corin in the cockpit of the plane instead of riding first class.

"What's this do?" Marcus asked, about to touch a red button.

"No!" Corin smacked his hand away. "Don't touch! That's the emergency eject button for the pilots. Do you want to shoot us into the ceiling of the hanger?"

Corin's face was so serious that Marcus had to laugh. "No, I guess not." He chuckled.

"Alright then." Corin said more calmly. "Watch and learn."