Chapter 19 – Monsters
The monsters are buried down deep inside
You never know when they're satisfied
Buried down deep where the sun don't shine
The monsters are buried down deep inside
Dominic sat against the rough stone wall of his cell, for how long he didn't know. Time appeared to have no meaning here. Though he was sure he'd been in his cell for at least half a day, the lighting never changed. His stomach growled in hunger and his mouth was dry. It made him wonder if Gianna even thought enough of him to return with food or water. If she did, he doubted he trusted her enough to eat or drink whatever she presented to him...
Without willing it, his mind wandered to the comforts and securities of home. Even though he didn't have much, what he did have...well, it was his fair and square and he had earned it. Yet he was too blind to see the value in that and he left it all behind. His mother, Trisha, will be beside herself with worry when she can't reach him. Would she come here eventually to find him? Would she show up at the doors of St. Marcus church asking for him? Or search his apartment for clues to his whereabouts? Maybe she would seek out Gianna - what story would she fabricate to tell his mom? Did it matter? Dominic assumed vampires functioned outside of and above the law - there would be no trace of him for his mother or the police to find. And what of his grandfather? He was getting too old to care for the farm himself.
The thought of his mother enduring so much burden and grief all because of his need to prove his worth to the world was almost worse than contemplating whatever fate awaited him.
Dominic swallowed the overwhelming dread that was threatening to undo him. If there was a way to regain control of his fate, he had to take control of his wits first. Dominic made a deliberate effort to focus his energy on devising an escape plan. He got up and peered between the bars of the door. The vampire named Logan hovered nearby, eerily unmoving. Unfortunately, between his collar and their strength, he knew he didn't have much of a chance overpowering Logan.
Straining his ears to learn more about his surroundings, he heard soft mumblings filtering through the opening high above him. Dominic concluded there was probably another cell next to him. The voice sounded feminine. Could it be Gianna?
At first her words were jumbled, nonsensical, then… "Hello?"
It wasn't Gianna's voice.
He took in a sharp breath. It must be Isabella. She was speaking in mixed up words, probably still disoriented from the drugs they must have pushed into her system as well. It sounded like she was retching a bit too.
He listened to her labored breathing, and waited for her to come to the same stunned realization he had several hours ago: she was a prisoner. At least he knew where he was, and how he got to be there. Dominic couldn't imagine what could be running through Isabella's mind. The last thing she'd probably remember was a minor fender-bender half a world away from here.
Although he worried about her, and he wanted to explain, he doubted she'd listen to him - especially if she learned he had taken part in her abduction.
Guilt plagued him. It was his fault she was here. If any harm befell her, he would be responsible. More was at stake than just his life – hers was too.
He agonized over how he had been duped by Gianna and Aro, just a pawn in Isabella's kidnapping plan. Dominic had no idea why such an elaborate plan was needed to steal such a petite girl, but he knew it had to be linked to his transformation. Why else would they have plucked him from his insignificant Midwestern existence? Yet, the pieces were still too far apart to completely connect. There had to be more to the story. He wondered if Isabella held some of the missing pieces.
She spoke her next word very clearly, "Edward?"
Was that her abusive husband's name? Dominic shook his head. There probably wasn't an abusive husband; in fact, Dominic didn't believe the girl in the next cell was Gianna's sister.
Gianna had lied about it all – everything.
His heart hurt as much as his jaw. He had replayed every conversation, every laugh, every touch, and every kiss they shared through his mind over in the last several hours. Pathetically, he still wished something in their time together had been genuine.
Isabella's alarmed ripped him out of his spiraling self-pity.
"Edward! Edward!"
Panic rang high and clear like an alarm bell in the distressed tones of her voice. He wanted to respond to her calls, but what would he say? Everything is going to be alright? Doubtful. He'd help save her? Dominic anxiously stood and looked up at the opening between their cells and tugged at the metal collar around his neck. He couldn't even save himself! But he vowed he'd try to do something. He would look for any means to get her out of this place, take any opportunity to free her or die trying. Isabella should not pay for his gullibility.
"Where am I?" she called out, followed by more retching. "Who's here? Let me out of here!" He heard the sound of her quick footfalls as she ran across the stone floor and pounded on the door. "Let me out of here! Help me!"
Silence.
He waited and listened intently, but there was no sound except for her rapid breathing.
"Is someone there? Let me out. Show yourself!"
Dominic raised his eyebrows. She seemed quite brave, however, he knew if Isabella got her request, she wouldn't like what she saw.
Over and over she banged on the door, and he was sure her fists would be sore and bruised. Then abruptly, she stopped, and it was quiet for a moment until Dominic heard the key turning the metal lock of Isabella's cell followed by his even, measured voice.
"Isabella! Welcome. I do hope you like your accommodations here in Volterra."
Dominic looked around his cell. Cramped, stone, cold. Was he serious?
"You? Where's Edward? What have you done with him?"
None of this conversation made any sense to Dominic. She should have been screaming at the sight of the red-eyed anomaly that was certainly standing before her! Yet, she didn't seem frightened by his presence, in fact, it sounded as if she knew him. Dominic listened closely to Aro's reply…
"I want to give you what you have wished for, but the Cullens have selfishly denied you."
Bella shook her head hoping the simple gesture would wake her from this horrible nightmare. She tried to retrace her last memories through the thinning fog in her head… She was driving Edward's car after again fighting with him over her transformation…then she remembered the crash. She had cursed when she couldn't reach her cell phone.
She followed the car in front of her as it pulled onto the berm of the narrow park road. She had gotten out of the car and approached the other car allowing herself a brief survey of the damage. The Vanquish had definitely suffered the most. She had winced knowing she had confirmed Edward's beliefs - she was reckless when left to her own devices.
The female driver of the other car had moved very quickly in her direction. Startled, she had stopped in her tracks and began spouting apologies, but then was struck by the familiarity of the woman's face. The last words Bella remembered uttering were, "Do I know you?" and the woman responding, "I am truly sorry, Isabella. I have no other choice."
From her peripheral vision, Bella had seen the woman's arm dart out to stick something sharp into her thigh. The world spun and blackness had crept into her field of vision. Next second, she was pitching backward against something very solid and warm...and somehow familiar. A deep panicked voice had hollered, "Gianna! She's passing out!"
Gianna. One puzzle piece fell into place. "I'm in Volterra?" Bella muttered.
"Yes, my dear, you are our special guest. We are willing to grant your request to become immortal!"
Aro spoke with such glee, he reminded Bella of a demonic game show announcer cheerfully proclaiming the contestant could win "a new car!" However, instead of bouncing around like a giddy contestant on a game show, Bella guardedly backed away from Aro.
"Oh, come now, Isabella. I know about your numerous requests. How you wish to become one of us." Aro held his arms open in a welcoming gesture. "The time has finally come."
Bella's throat constricted, and her mouth went dry. The last time she, Edward, and Alice were in Volterra, Aro threatened her with death for knowing too much. Now he was exuberantly offering her immortality? Why? The more likely scenario should be death for her as well as death for Edward and his family for their inaction, allowing her to continue to remain human. The Volturi should be dealing out punishment, not rewards…or…was this their twisted idea of punishment? To kidnap her, transform her, and send her back crimson-eyed and contaminated by Volturi venom to Edward? She wondered if he would even want her back. The thought of his rejection terrified her.
"But... Edward said…"
"What, Isabella? He said he would transform you?" Aro's ringing cynical laughter echoed off the stone walls. "Oh, I really hate to be the bearer of bad news, but he never intended to bring you into this life. Had you not figured that out by now?"
Bella gritted her teeth. "You're lying."
Aro smiled and took several steps toward her. "My dear, I hold all the cards. Why would I lie?"
When Bella failed to respond, Aro continued, "You have to admit, I do know Edward's mind more intimately than you do." Aro looked thoughtfully at his hands – the ones that held Edward's many months ago as they stood together in the large turret chamber with Alice.
"But he promised…"
"Yes, he has promised you so much, hasn't he? If I remember correctly, he promised to keep you safe, yet harm has come to you. James' attack. Victoria's pursuit. The risks they posed to you, your mom and dad. How stressful that must have been – being so vulnerable and unable to protect the ones you love most?" Aro shook his head admonishingly. "And, I believe he also promised not long ago in a forest that you would never see him again. Well, that wasn't quite true either, was it? It appears Edward does whatever suits him best at the time."
Bella again shook her head vehemently at Aro's words. "No."
"Stubborn girl, let's look at this logically, omitting amorous emotions and wishful-thinking, shall we?"
Bella eyed Aro warily as he began to slowly circle her like a shark around injured prey.
"The truth is he was too afraid to change you, Isabella."
"Edward isn't afraid of anything!"
Aro paused behind Bella and whispered in her ear, "He's afraid of losing you, correct? Oh, do tell me if I am wrong, but didn't he tell you how much he feared losing you? The 'human' you."
"He said he'd still love me after the change," Bella shot back defensively.
Aro circled around to face Bella, his bemused smile conveying she was obviously missing the point he was trying to make. "And you believed that?"
"He also worried about the fate of my soul," Bella added quickly.
Aro ran his hands down his face in exaggerated exasperation. "Isabella, you must understand, Edward is very young by vampire and human standards. His lack of experience shows. Stumbling across one's singer is a very overwhelming and overpowering experience, I know." Aro absentmindedly spun the blood-red ruby ring on his finger. "And at such a tender age, he tried to make sense of what he was experiencing emotionally and physically when he caught the scent of your divine blood. Had his instincts not been warped by Carlisle's blasphemous teachings, he would have seen you for what you are: a rare gift to be enjoyed… to be consumed.
"Instead, he chose to keep his liquid gold in its original vessel to possess as long as possible, just as a human cherishes a fine bottle of wine, allowing it to remain uncorked, unconsumed, and prized on a shelf."
"Edward loves me. Not my blood."
"Again, his inexperience shows. He interprets his desire and possessiveness of you as love. Just as you believe you love a vampire. We are irresistible to your kind. Didn't Edward tell you about all that? Isabella, you love the lie and he lusts for your blood. Your 'relationship' is really just…a big misunderstanding. There, the truth is out in the open. All that is left is for you to embrace it."
Bella staggered back and Aro reached to steady her, but she jerked away from his outstretched hand. "Why are you doing this to me?"
"Because you deserve to know the truth. Edward has brought you so far into our world, yet toys with you, keeping you human. Possessing you, yet keeping you inferior to him - what kind of life is that for you? He is confused and selfish! You are more valuable to him flesh and blood than you would ever be as stone and immortal. You see, he fears how things might change once you were transformed."
Bella could feel the burn rising in her skin as she fought against Aro's logic. She could sense she was losing the fight, and tears stung her eyes, but she refused to give up on Edward – on them. "He said we were mates! Vampires mate only once for as long as they exist!"
"Don't preach to me about vampire nature, Isabella. I am well aware of the facts. But Edward and his coven have manipulated you through omission and deception. Did Edward ever mention that even if you are his true mate, that once you became a vampire, you might mate with another?"
Aro grinned as he saw Bella processing his words and her eyes widen in sudden realization. "Oh, yes. It's true. There is no guarantee that you would mate to him. Don't you see, he couldn't risk that! It is impossible for a vampire to give up his singer to another."
"Marriage means something to him!" Bella insisted, her anger overcoming her fear of speaking out. How dare Aro call their love into question after all that she and Edward had been through!
"Marriage?" Aro laughed mirthlessly. "Marriage is both human and a choice; mating is neither. How could you dare compare humans' feeble bonding ritual to mating? Marriage is pomp and circumstance. Such unions break like a wet noodle under the slightest inane human triviality."
Bella folded her right hand over her left, pressing her wedding ring into her palm. Her motion caught Aro's attention.
"Marriage was just another way for him to claim you as his. Don't be so naive, Isabella. In keeping you human, Edward was perfectly content. Why would he gamble with the unknown consequences of changing you? He would be risking everything."
"No." Bella shook her head weakly. She tried to wall her mind off from Aro's acidic words, but they seeped into her brain corroding the beliefs she held most dear.
Aro was nonplussed. He was saving his most persuasive argument for last. He could see her resistance was starting to crumble, and with one more bold strike, he might just be able to snap the bond between her and Edward – the first crucial step in her conditioning. "And what of your extraordinary gift? Certainly if you can't understand or believe what I have explained to you so far, surely you are smart enough to see why he was shaken by the potential of your powerful gift."
Bella's head snapped up and her eyes narrowed. "I have no gift. Edward would have…"
"Told you? Look how much he hasn't told you! Wake up, Isabella," Aro pleaded, placing his deathly cold hands on her shoulders to give her a slight shake. "But, I have to admit," he added with slight disbelief in his tone, "I am astonished both Edward and Carlisle have hid this from you. You certainly had the right to know about your own power."
Aro released her and turned away shaking his head. He had baited the hook, now he waited for Bella to bite.
She did.
"What…what power do I have?"
Aro spun on his heels to face her.
"No, Isabella. Think for yourself. Deep inside you know what it is, but Edward let you believe something was wrong with you, all the while he knew the powerful gift you possessed. Think, child."
Tired of feeling the fool, Bella focused her mind and considered Aro's question, coming to only one possible conclusion. "My mind. My mind was different. Edward can't read it." Bella's voice grew in strength, "And you can't get inside it. Neither can Jane."
"Brilliant!" Aro praised with a wide smile. "Yes, you are a shield. Your mind has the power to block certain vampire powers. And I must say, your shield will very likely be an exceptionally strong one, since it is so pronounced even in your human form. I believe, with our guidance and teaching, you could also learn how to project that shield, protecting those you care about from harm. Wouldn't you like to be able to keep others you care about safe? You will be a force to be reckoned with, Isabella. Let us help you be all that."
"And…if I don't want to?"
"Excuse me?" Aro questioned, genuinely perplexed by her question.
"What if I refuse your guidance? If I don't want to be changed by you, what will happen to me?"
"Isabella. You know the rules. My brothers and I, out of the goodness in our hearts, allowed you to leave with your deceitful Cullens under the agreement you would be changed. Unfortunately, the Cullens did not keep up their end of the deal. It is their fault it has come to this. We cannot allow humans to walk about freely, possibly exposing our existence."
"You would kill me then?"
"No. Just as we refused Edward's request for death, we would refuse you. You see, your gift is too valuable. If you reject our offer, you will join our domesticated human residents until you have… reconsidered."
Aro could see the confusion in Bella's eyes. "Domesticated humans?"
"Certainly you don't think the Volturi scout around for blood whenever we wish it? Those who come to us asking for immortality must serve first."
Dawning flamed across Bella's face. "You keep humans captive and take their blood for your convenience?"
"Oh, don't look so astonished. Think of them as you would your dairy cows. Same concept." Aro waved his hand dismissively.
"But they aren't animals – they're human beings!" Bella recoiled in disgust.
"And we are vampires!" Aro felt his temper flare. "We are superior to humans just as you see humankind superior to animals. You enslave them, slaughter them, consume them, and not give it a second thought. How is it so different?"
Bella flinched. Aro regained his cordial manner.
"My dear, we are generously offering you a wonderful opportunity. Perfection. Even though the Cullens, namely your... husband…" Aro spoke the word "husband" as if it left a most foul taste on his palate, "purposely withheld it from you."
His solid case had weakened Bella's resolve. Aro could see it in her posture. He saw the fire in her eyes dim as she receded into doubt.
Although she was exhausted mentally and emotionally, Bella's body switched into survival mode. Adrenaline coursed through her system and she shook with the energy gathering in her muscles.
Edward and Carlisle had lied to her? Purposely kept information from her? She knew Edward always claimed he was protecting her and saving her soul, but was that his true intention or was he manipulating her while hiding the truth? One thing she knew for sure, his inaction had resulted in her being kidnapped and held against her will by the Volturi. Manipulated, controlled - did everyone take advantage of her?
Bella swore it needed to stop. No more.
"Edward will come for me," she acknowledged the simple fact - she was his. "They will all come for me."
"Yes, Edward would be delighted to have his little singer back in his egotistic claws."
Aro opened his arms and his eyes mockingly searched the room. "However, they are neither here, nor are they coming."
His brow furrowed. He moved even closer to Bella, who trembled visibly as she absorbed the reality of the two nightmarish choices Aro had presented to her: be changed by the Volturi and become part of the guard or be enslaved.
Aro cupped her cheek and grinned when she did not react in shock to his wintry touch. "I keep forgetting your mind is limited by your humanness, so I will explain it in complete detail for you. You already know that the Cullens have brought the death penalty upon themselves by revealing their true nature to you and by refusing to transform you. And while I have to admit that they did a remarkable job with the redhead and her newborn army, the Cullens are no match for us. The Guard is well trained and we obviously have our means to block little Alice's gift.
"So once you arrived safely in Volterra, we notified Carlisle of your whereabouts, and came to an understanding. We would guarantee your safety with us, and if the Cullens refrained from further disobedience, we would refrain from punishing them."
The other foot had dropped. It was her life in exchange for Edward's and his entire family. Her family. The Volturi did, indeed, hold all the cards. Alice's gift was not as sure tight as Edward had thought, or led Bella to believe. Since Alice never saw her abduction being planned, no one was able to intervene. And as much as she would want Edward to come to her rescue, she knew he made the right choice to save six lives over her singular one.
"I'm rather glad to keep my old friend Carlisle intact. Such an interesting being he is. Who would have thought he could be subject to such insubordination…It truly seems that you were indeed not good for him…or Edward…"
Bella slumped in defeat, her cheek settling into Aro's hand. There was no way out. She was drained, trapped, and quickly spiraling into helplessness and hopelessness.
"My dear, I know this is a lot to take in. A lot for you to contemplate. Please, take some time to consider my words, and enjoy the accommodations we have set up for you. Do know we would never hide the truth from you. We will never hold you back from becoming who you were destined to be – a highly gifted and powerful vampire. We embrace your future.
"Now rest. I will have a proper meal brought to you later."
He turned to leave, and though every fiber in Bella's body told her to run and fight, her mind discerned it was fruitless. If only Edward had changed her already… Hadn't he learned after incident with James and followed by their time in Volterra that it was just too risky to leave her human?
Unless…what Aro had told her about Carlisle and Edward was all true. Had Edward planned to keep her human for his benefit…?
Aro reached for the door, but turned to look at his work. Bella had crumpled to the floor, staring blankly at nothing. He was proud of what he had accomplished.
"Oh, and Isabella, welcome to your new home."
A/N: Aro is one smooth talking dude. Does he know Edward's thinking - even if Edward doesn't realize it himself? Hmmm.
Thanks so much for reading and I hope this chapter entertained you - and didn't raise your hackles too much!
My deepest graditute to Ashling92, RosaBella75 and RowanMoon - they are really giving me all I need to bring this story to you. I'd be lost without them.
