Chapter 22 – Spotlight
You know the one thing you're fighting to hold
Will be the one thing you've got to let go
And when you feel the war cannot be won
You're gonna die to try what can't be done.
Just take the fall – you're one of us…
"Bella?"
Dominic waited impatiently for her response.
"Bella?" He repeated with more urgency, worried Aro had taken her with him when he left. Reflecting on the details he just overhead from her cell, he considered the possibility Aro had put her in shock. What a mind-fucking lunatic!
"Bella! Answer me!"
"It's over," she finally responded just loud enough for Dominic to make out what she was saying. "My life…it's over. Everything will be different now. I will be…different."
"You will fight another day," Dominic attempted to pull strength out of her.
The truth was, to him, the situation did appear hopeless. He had searched every inch of his cell for a way out. The rock walls were as solid as was the stone floor. He had tried to tamper with the door, but Logan abruptly ended that attempt with a fist through the bars.
But, in that experience, Dominic had learned something very valuable – maybe even useful. Though he had no doubt Logan had broken his nose, Dominic found that within minutes he had healed. The bleeding within minutes, and shortly after, the pain was only a dull ache. Dominic thought back to when he had burned his hand immediately before his first transformation. That injury also healed quickly. Maybe he had some special powers of his own?
Unfortunately, vampire strength wasn't one of them. He was strong, at least stronger than he was before his first transformation, but not strong enough to tear down the door. And he definitely was no match for the vampire outside the door either – at least not in his human form.
Dominic's fingers fiddled with the lock around his neck. Just how powerful was he in his wolf form? Strong enough to challenge a vampire? The collar certainly indicated they thought he was a threat… But then why would they have brought him here if he was? Things still weren't adding up, and he was becoming agitated. He needed to figure this out – and he was running out of time to help Bella.
"Bella, what did Aro mean by the references to sleep and nightmares? What's going to happen to you?"
On the other side of the wall Bella sighed. Explaining everything to Dominic would make the situation all too real. She desperately wanted to crawl into the insular world she existed in mentally after Edward had left her in the woods. Her voice was flat, void of emotion, as she tried to help him to understand without at the same time attempting to distance herself from the words she spoke.
"One of the reasons Edward wouldn't change me was because of the pain involved."
Dominic didn't like the sound of that. Bella was so petite. How much pain she could take? Could "changing" kill her?
He ran both hands through his dirty hair and tugged at the ends. His size had always given him a sense of confidence and power over other, deservedly so or not... Now he found he was actually something even greater and stronger than he ever imagined, and yet he was completely powerless!
"I wish with everything I am that I could help you. I'll talk you through it. I promise."
Bella continued as if she never heard his words, "For three days I will burn as the venom permeates my body, changing every cell in the process, until my heart finally stops. Then I will be one of them."
Bella could hear Rosalie's voice in her head. How Rosalie said she had begged for death during her transition, followed by her warning that there will be nothing Bella would crave more than blood. Knowing the Volturi found the drinking of animal blood an abomination to their true nature, Bella's heart filled with slow rising dread. "I'll become a killer, Dominic."
Bella started to pace in fear. Her heart quickened and her rapid breathing made her head swim. The sudden onset of lightheadedness sent her into full panic. "What am I going to do? I can't do it! I can't kill people!"
There was only one choice if she was going to avoid being a Volturi asset and a murderer – she had to take their victory from them by ending her own life. She gasped for breath as the walls rushed in around her.
The sacrificing third wife from the Quileute legends came to the forefront of her frenzied mind. Bella searched the room – how could she accomplish her death? It needed to be quick, and preferably easy to execute. During their studies of Romeo and Juliet, Edward had said it was simple for humans to end their lives. Knives, poison… Bella needed something sharp. She had the courage to cut herself when the Victoria threatened Edward's life…she could do it again...
However, there was nothing in her cell but furniture, tapestries, and rugs.
"Damn it! How do I do it? I don't know how!" She yelled out in frustration certain she had to follow through before she lost her resolve.
"Bella, what are you talking about?" Dominic could hear the frantic desperation in her voice and it alarmed him. "Calm down! I don't understand. Do what?"
"Die, Dominic!"
From the other side of the wall, Dominic listened helplessly to the sound of smashing furniture. "Bella. Don't. Listen to me! Don't do this!"
He dug his fingers into the rough stone of his cell wall, trying to find finger holds to scale the wall – if he could only make eye contact with her through the opening above him... "Don't!" he yelled as his fingers strained to hold him up and his feet searched for placement on the stone.
Dominic hollered in frustration as his fingers weakened and lost their grip. He landed hard on his back, knocking the wind from his lungs. She couldn't end her life before he had the chance to save her…
Suddenly, instinct had him in a crouch before his mind even registered his cell door was opening.
"You wish to help her?" a hooded cloaked figure inquired from the dimly lit open doorway.
"Yes." Dominic's reply was even and simple, he didn't like how these vampires played games, and he wouldn't be the object of their entertainment.
"Come." A finger and an unfamiliar voice beckoned him.
Dominic stood and moved forward, searching the contents of the hood to see a face. "Who are you?"
The figure stood back as Dominic approached, and pointed to the right. Dominic shivered. Whoever it was under that cloak eerily reminded him of Dicken's faceless ghost of Christmas Future.
"Go to her," it said.
As soon as Dominic exited his cell, he saw Bella's cell door was open. Logan stood in the hallway on the other side of her door, and the mystery vampire took his station behind him, blocking Dominic from making a run for it. Their unspoken instruction was understood - either he went to Bella or he could choose to stay in his cell. There really wasn't a need for him to think – he moved deliberately toward Bella.
As soon as he entered her cell, the door shut behind him. Dominic was surprised to see Bella with her back pressed against the far wall, brandishing a small table leg above her head. "Please don't tell me you were going to beat yourself to death with a table leg?"
"Dominic?"
Nodding, he remembered Bella had never seen his face. When she didn't move, he asked, "Are you planning to beat me with that?"
Bella eased away from the wall and looked ruefully at the piece of wood in her hands. "I don't know what I was going to do." She let it fall to the ground, suddenly feeling foolish. "I was hoping it would be sharp enough to…"
"I won't let you kill yourself, Bella."
She shook her head knowingly. "I'm guessing that's exactly why you were allowed in here."
Realization struck him. He was being used again. "You're right. Vampires are clever."
Bella withered to the fur-covered floor, and Dominic moved to join her.
"I'll stay with you as long as I can."
It was a struggle, but Bella forced her lips into a tenuous smile. "Thank you."
They sat mostly in silence - two strangers whose destinies had been intertwined for all the wrong reasons.
Not knowing how much time she had left was almost a blessing. They could pretend it would never come, however, too soon the silence became unbearable.
"They promised you a good life. You'll have your chance…"
"And I hold you to that too. Don't give up, you promise?"
"As long as you exist, I have a reason to fight. I have to fix what I have done."
"And Gianna?"
Bella's words penetrated him like a stake through his heart, piercing it and allowing the unbearable need to flow freely from the wound. It muddled his thoughts.
"I don't know what to think...or do about her," he fibbed.
This time Bella nodded. "What does your heart tell you?"
Bella was facing burning fires of transformation, yet she was talking to him about his love life that had gone terribly awry. He shook his head in disbelief, and answered her honestly. "My whole being tells me I can't be without her. But I believe that choice has been taken away. Besides, our last lengthy conversation ended in her kicking me out of her life."
Bella gazed up at Dominic. "Why did they put that thing around your neck?"
Dominic shrugged his response. Even under duress, some secrets seemed worth keeping hidden. He was ashamed that who – what – he was had a hand in bringing her to this fate. He didn't want to add to her fear by revealing his nature.
After more silence and passing of time, Dominic mustered up the courage to offer Bella comfort. "Edward will come for you. If he feels for you the way I feel for Gianna, he'll find a way."
"Ever since he's known me, he's run to my rescue – sometimes literally. Actually, our last conversation ended with me telling him to stop doing it." Bella huffed. "I told him he treats me like a child. I left our house in anger, resenting his overprotective ways."
As much as Edward had struggled to be perfect, and as much as Bella wanted him to view him as perfect, the truth was…they were both flawed. They saw in each other what they wanted to see, and more often than not, overlooked the parts that were less than perfect instead of confronting them head on – now they would both had to bear the consequences of their mistakes.
Bella's body sagged under the weight of her imperfect future. She had run out of the adrenaline that had kept her going for so long…and she was running out of hope.
Sensing her physical exhaustion, Dominic stood and retrieved a sheet and pillow from the bed. "Sleep. I'll watch over you. Maybe you can have one more dream?"
Bella was drained and hungry, emotionally broken. She wanted refuge from her prison. Closing her eyes to see the faces of those she loved smiling again in her mind was the kindest way she could think of to bid them farewell. Somehow she would find a way to carve their faces into her memory so deeply that even the fires she would endure would not erase them completely.
Taking the pillow Dominic offered her, Bella curled up into a ball on the floor. Dominic covered her and sat close by. He would not rest, he owed her at least that much.
He watched as she slept, speculating on what awaited them both.
It didn't seem fair to have been so blissfully happy in love only to have the rug yanked out from under him. Now his days were filled with the torment of guilt, but at least it distracted him from his gnawing craving to be near Gianna. It ate away at his sanity at times. Was Edward experiencing similar feelings about Bella…?
Bella's slumber was anything but the peaceful rest he had hoped for her. She twitched and moaned, often calling out for Edward. Dominic both envied and pitied her for the love she had for her husband. It served both to strengthen her, but at the same time, cause her distress. When she again called out his name, Dominic reached out to smooth the creases of worry etched in her forehead.
A slow smile formed on her face and she stilled. "Jacob."
Jacob? Dominic raised an eyebrow. Who was Jacob?
Whoever he was, Dominic's touch and the thought of him obviously brought her comfort. Dominic let his hand linger on her cool skin. She managed to get some quiet sleep until…
A key scraped into the lock. Dominic took quickly to his feet, feeling the feral need to protect this young woman whom, to his knowledge, had done nothing wrong save be in on a secret – one he was now in on too.
"How sweet! It protects her like a guard dog. How loyal are you to her?" Aro asked as he entered. Dominic noticed Aro was dressed to the nines as were the two vampires who followed him. Behind them he recognized the oversized Felix and Logan. There was also a woman with them he did not recognize, but she too had the same iridescent skin and angular features. How many of these bloody things existed?
Tensing all of his muscles, Dominic's posture straightened, and without speaking, he made his intentions clear: they would have to go through him to get to Bella.
"Well, Marcus, your tactic worked. Our treasure is unharmed."
Marcus! Was he the ghost under the dark hood? Dominic's eyes searched the faces of the two men he didn't know. Which one was the Saint Marcus? Only one of them moved his eyes to Dominic. Incredibly, though history had documented his heroic works incorrectly, it had captured his image almost perfectly. Dominic's nostrils flared as he endured the stench long enough to remember Marcus's scent, however, at the current moment, he couldn't decide who he despised more – Aro with his smug arrogance or Marcus for reaping the devotion of people who believed he was something he was not.
"His smell is more offensive than those mangy werewolves!" Caius crinkled his nose in disgust. "Must he remain for this? He taints the process."
At Caius's comment, Bella stirred.
"Don't touch her. I swear, it will be your undoing," Dominic threatened.
The reaction from Aro was predictable.
He pointed at Dominic. "You there, with the collar around your neck, do you know something we do not? Because it appears you are in no position to make threats."
Dominic was so incredibly sick of that condescending tone of voice and phony grin. He wanted to claw it right off Aro's inhuman face.
"If you do not fear me, Lord Aro, then take this collar off. Let's even the playing field and see what happens, shall we?" Dominic challenged in the same sticky sweet voice Aro used when trivializing those he addressed.
A wide smile ripe with dimples lit up Dominic's increasingly scruffy face as he witnessed Aro bristle at his offer. Get out of that gracefully, you mother f…
Felix and Logan shifted with the increasing hostility in the room as the woman behind them slinked her way towards Aro. Dominic crouched. If any of them decided to come at him, he needed to be ready.
"NO!"
Tension burst like a bubble, and all eyes shifted to Bella, who now stood behind Dominic.
"Don't touch him." Bella's voice was strong, even, almost commanding.
"Ah, dear Isabella, you awaken. I trust you slept well with your new friend watching over you?" Aro greeted her.
"Why do you involve him?"
"You will learn the answer to that question soon enough, my dear, I promise. I trust you are ready?"
Aro's question slammed into Bella like a fist. It was time.
Caius ran his hand down his face. "Yes, let's get to this. It has been so long in the coming, and I see no more reason for delay. Felix, Logan – please remove it."
In a blur of activity, Felix and Logan moved toward Dominic, while Dominic turned to protect Bella. Aro appeared between them.
"I believe he should stay, brother. After all, he did have a part in making this welcome event possible."
With a tilt and a quick jerk of his head, Caius issued a command to Felix and Logan. The two guards darted to Dominic, pulling him to the side of the room.
"For your own safety, the collar will remain. And if you wish to remain in this room to do as you promised, 'talk her through it', you will do well to be quiet and behave," Caius remarked.
Bella kept her eyes glued on Dominic, wondering if she had warned him about vampires' supernatural hearing ability as Caius mocked part of her and Dominic's "private" conversation from last night...
She jumped when a hand from behind her settled on her shoulder and Aro's words chilled her ears. "The moment you have wished for has arrived. Isabella Swan you have been chosen out of many to join us. This we give you is a gift, for only those of great potential, strength, and ability are called to serve. You will join us in maintaining the order and safety of our kind. It is a noble duty."
"Bullshit!" Dominic blurted. Immediately he felt the ramification of his hasty action – several bones in his right hand cracked and caved under the pressure Felix exerted on it. Dominic winced in pain.
"Don't ruin this moment with your ignorant words!" Aro chastised "You have no idea what it is we do for the protection of our kind. What we have personally sacrificed! And if you cannot hold your tongue, it will be removed."
Knowing he had made a promise to Bella he fully intended to keep, Dominic accepted Aro's admonishment, choosing silence.
"Now then," Aro returned his attention to his prize captive. "You see how important your addition is?" Aro outstretched his arm to indicate the presence of Marcus and Caius – the royal brothers all in assembly. "Renata, if you will…"
The woman who had crept around barely in sight now emerged from the shadows carrying a long, white garment. A jagged rock served as a hook, and Renata hung the gown upon it.
"This is the robe you will wear to indicate your special protected newborn status among us. Once your training is complete, you will wear the cloak of the Volturi Guard." Aro beamed with pride as he placed both hands on Bella. "You see I have brought Marcus. He has agreed to perform your initiation per your request."
Although she wanted to speak, run, cry…anything…Bella stared blankly at Aro. She couldn't believe this was really how it was all going to end. There would be no last minute rescue like there had been with James, Laurent, and Victoria…this time she wouldn't be so lucky. Truly, she had been abandoned.
Aro could see the glimmer hope vanishing from her eyes.
"He's not coming, my dear. It is with us that you belong. He knows that," Aro soothed as he slid his hands down Bella's arms until he took her hands in his, giving them a tender squeeze. "This will be a new and celebrated start for you."
Aro took her right hand and raised it up, first examining the ring on her hand and then slipping it off.
It had been a wedding gift from Edward. A vision of Edward appeared before her. He appeared and repeated the words he had spoken as he got on one knee in the early morning of their second day at Isle Esme: "Isabella Marie Cullen, you have given me so much. When time ceases to have meaning, life can drone on colorless and cold. You have brought me a brilliance and warmth I never knew existed, and now know I can never live without. I was blind before you, but with you, I see how wonderful life can be.
"I want to share everything I have with you, but I only have one thing of true value. I cherish it because I had to earn it, and it stands for something larger than just myself. Bella, I have never been more humbled than I was the moment you took my name - it's the only thing I ever had worth giving. Today my family and I want to make it official. Would you do me the honor of wearing the Cullen family crest?"
The once prized ring, bearing the Cullen crest intricately carved from ivory and set on a shiny background of black onyx, barely made a sound as Aro dropped it to the floor. Edward vanished and Bella felt a crack form on the surface of her heart as the ring crunched under the weight of Aro's foot.
Still, she remained stoic.
Raising up Bella's left hand, Aro gazed at the modest wedding band gracing Bella's third finger. "So simple. So entirely meaningless."
He removed it and tossed it over his shoulder. Bella listened as it made a slight plinking sound as it bounced across the stone floor. In her despondent state, she hadn't realized Aro had guided her to the bed, and she now sat perched on the edge of it. "Much more awaits you."
Bella watched as if she were hovering over her own body instead of inhabiting it as Aro stepped back and Marcus took his place. Marcus placed his hands on her shoulders, gently guiding her onto her back. From above, she cried as the last sands of her humanity slipped through the top of the hourglass…until Marcus bent to whisper in her ear, "Why me, child?"
His words tethered her to her body, and Bella's eyes locked with Marcus's. "Because you know what is really being taken from me, and soon we will be able to grieve our losses together – forever."
Marcus nodded once in understanding, and Bella placed her last shred of hope in him.
Taking her left arm in his hands, Marcus picked it up. The scent of Bella's blood filled his senses and venom flooded his mouth. Over the millennia, he had learned to control himself when needed around humans. It was this control that enabled him to effect the change in those humans who would become vampires. He had no doubt he would be able to stop consuming her blood when necessary. However, he wondered if he would be doing her a greater service by draining her completely thus mercifully allowing her to avoid the pain he had endured after the loss of his only loved one.
Yet…he must serve the greater good. This is who he served…even though he knew it was greatly influenced by Chelsea's talent. Bella's powers would be a great asset to the Volturi…and Bella too would learn to endure.
Marcus bowed his head, and gradually his steely lips melted into the warm, fragrant, pulsing crook of Bella's elbow. Beneath them, her brachial artery pulsated faster and harder. The honeyed smell of her blood quickly became tainted with bitter adrenaline.
"Please," Bella's cracked lips parted to push out one more word in hopes of a reprieve.
"Welcome to the Guard, Isabella," he responded as his teeth, undulled by the ages, slipped effortlessly through her skin.
Dominic legs weakened beneath him as the room fell silent in anticipation. He didn't know if his sudden weakness was due to his acknowledgement that he had failed Bella or because the demons holding him had tightened their grip. From somewhere Dominic heard a voice bellowing out "No!" only to realize it had come from his mouth.
His guttural cry had drawn Bella's attention, and her wide eyes held so much fear and confusion he almost thought he could hear what she was thinking. They pleaded silently for his help, and he froze in his captors' grip waiting breathlessly for her to react to being bitten.
She's not breathing!
"Stop! You're killing her! Stop!" Again, Dominic pierced the silence.
Marcus did not budge; in fact, he knelt down as he continued to feed on Bella's blood, her arm wrapped limply round his neck and her lifeless eyes stared blankly. In panic, Dominic ripped his gaze from Bella to address Aro, "Stop him! You fucking bastard, stop him!"
But Aro was lost in the climax of the moment. His eyes glazed over as he watched his brother devour Bella's humanity. His mouth moved in drinking motions in response to his bloodlust. And though he could not savor the divine essence of her blood, the knowledge that Volturi power had just taken another definitive step was a thrill in and of itself.
In a last ditch effort to confuse and break free from his captors, Dominic dove for the floor. While their grip didn't release, Dominic's unpredicted move forced Felix and Logan off balance, and they all landed in a heap on the floor. Quickly, Dominic scurried under them, crawling forward in determination to get to Bella.
The scuffle disrupted Marcus's concentration, and he pulled away from his victim. By the time he raised his glossy red eyes to view the commotion, Dominic was back in Felix's firm custody. Felix had Dominic in a chokehold, his beefy arm clamped on Dominic's neck from under his collar. High-pitched wheezing sounds emanated from Dominic's throat as he gasped for air. Within seconds, sounds warped and distanced from his ears while his surroundings faded to black...the last thing he heard was a scream so violent, so shrill, he knew he'd never get it out of memory.
"Get it out of here," Aro commanded, as Dominic's body went limp.
Marcus stood gazing down at Bella. She had gained control of her screams of agony, but terror filled her eyes as she watched a motionless Dominic being hauled from her cell. "No…UGH!" Bella clamped her right hand over the wound Marcus had opened on her left arm as her attention was torn in two. Her back arched off the bed as she tried to contain her vocalizations of pain and fear. "God!" She cried out defiantly, loathing to show weakness.
Caius joined Aro and Marcus at her bedside.
"It is done. And neither God nor Edward intervened," Caius remarked matter-of-factly.
"Ah, brother." Aro turned to Marcus, "What was it like to drink in our victory? I am so thirsty, do share."
"It is done," Marcus echoed Caius's sentiment, but offered nothing more.
Slowly Aro reached to take Marcus's hand. Closing his eyes, he relished the taste of Bella's blood through Marcus's stolen memories. Aro's body and mind responded fiercely, his lust for the blood he was denied was overruling his better judgment. His head snapped to look in Logan's direction. "Have Alonzo bring one of the humans to my chamber immediately! Felix, you are to remain in Isabella's cell at all times."
Caius, however, turned back to Bella. "Certainly, there is more..."
He leaned over Bella, absorbing the fear and pain in her eyes. It drew him in. There was still pure blood coursing through her body, he could smell it.
"No." Marcus had placed a firm hand on Caius's shoulder. Caius felt his nostrils flare, he would not be denied... "She has lost much blood and her heart still sustains her. More blood loss could stop her heart prematurely," Marcus reasoned.
With a reluctant huff, Caius withdrew. "I will be requiring satisfaction as well," he muttered before taking leave of Bella's side.
Marcus gazed upon at Bella with dispassionate eyes as he brushed back the sweat-soaked hair that clung to her face. The slightest trickle of blood oozed from Bella's bottom lip where she had bitten through it in her bold attempt to hold back her wails of hurt and fury.
"We sustain each other, Bella. I have given to you infinite life, and you have given your finite life to me. Our bond is stronger and more meaningful than you know, I can sense that now. Our paths on this earth have been altered by the entwining of our purposes."
Marcus took two steps back from Bella. He was intrigued by the strange sensation pulsing through his ancient body. He struggled to give it definition, "I do believe…I am feeling…quite...invigorated."
He folded his arms around himself, pulling his cloak in tightly before nodding his farewell to Felix. "Watch over her. I believe there is more to her than meets the eye. And it may prove to be very…interesting."
A/N: Thank you so much for reading. Sorry there wasn't an update last week! Hope this longer chapter makes up for it! Are you shocked? Did you think Edward would swoop in at the last minute? From the comments I've received, I'm thinking many readers are looking forward to a not-so-gentle newborn Bella! Am I right?
Am I wrong?
Do you hate me?
Next chapter we are returning to Edward - he gets a little help from a family member, but I bet you'll never guess which one... (get a juicy chapter 23 teaser if you guess right! *wicked grin*)
Endless gratitude to my wonderful loves who have made this story a lot of fun to write: RowanMoon, Ashling92, and RosaBella75.
Comments welcome, and even encouraged.
