Chapter 6 - Of Trust and Violation

Seth Clearwater let out a joyous howl that startled his younger friend. Leah had kept him cooped up inside for days to make sure every one of his seven broken bones healed completely, and he'd just about gone stir-crazy. His wild energy couldn't be contained as he raced through the moonlit woods on his first patrol since returning from Forks. Caleb leaped over a small stream and poured on a fresh burst of speed, but Seth's lead only increased.

…

"You're joking," Garrett said with a shake of his head. "That's pretty damned morbid."

Demetri snorted. "No, that was typical Caius. The human teenager jumped through every hoop: brought his family to us, slashed their throats, even licked blood from their wounds. But Caius never had any intention of changing the boy...killed him the next day. It was all for the sake of amusement."

…

Any further work was pointless. Carlisle exhaled a whispered sigh and stood up from his desk. Seemingly of their own volition, his legs propelled him to the large walk-in closet of his bedroom.

The article of clothing was there, hanging on the rack, hidden in the midst of garments that hadn't been worn in years. He remembered every detail about the lustrous jade green robe, but even perfect recall couldn't compare to the feeling of smooth silk in his hands. He traced a finger over the elegant script monogram and bowed his head. His silent sob of grief caught in his throat as he brought the material to his lips and murmured the name of his lost love.

Esme.

…

Out of her peripheral vision, Rosalie saw Jasper wince but didn't divert her attention from the screen in the surveillance room of Security Central. Her priority was the safety of the Chief Magistrate and the legality of the interrogation. She didn't want potential evidence to be thrown out on account of a technicality or other such nonsense.

Rosalie's intense concentration had such a focused edge that Edward found her mind easier to read than usual. Elation, grief, surprise, anger—thoughts colored with these strong emotions stood out like vivid paintings on a gray wall or flashing neon lights in the dark. People with stoic, apathetic mindsets presented something more of a challenge. Some individuals could intentionally muddy their thoughts with drivel, and those few who were most skilled, like Aro, could erect camouflaged shields to hide their innermost secrets. But still, Edward never failed to uncover the barriers and then break through them. Somehow, he'd always been able to tell when he'd gained access to the entirety of one's mind.

That wasn't so with prisoner 235527.

Try as he might, Edward couldn't force his way into her thoughts. He couldn't determine if she even had thoughts. When it came to Isabella Swan, he sensed nothing.

Nothing at all.

"This is ridiculous," he muttered, springing up from the bed in one of the Interrogation Rooms. "I've been trying for an hour without any progress."

"She hasn't fallen asleep yet," Alice said quietly. "Her mind may be more vulnerable when unconscious."

He glanced over to where his sister stood against the wall, watching him with a sympathetic look on her face.

"Maybe, but it's one a.m., and she's still reading her damned book." He scowled at the inconvenience of it all. "I'm not going to waste my time waiting around for her to get tired."

"I'm really sorry that I can't see when she'll…oh! Really? You're going to go over there now?" Alice's eyes widened in surprise as the vision flashed before her. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Jasper was already waiting in the hall when Edward opened the door.

"Your objection is noted, but I'm not changing my mind," Edward said before the other man could even open his mouth. "Also, Kate isn't coming with me. I don't want anyone else in there."

"Just hold on a minute," Jasper said, blocking the doorway with his body. "There's no reason to do this now. Swan has got to sleep at some point, and then you can try again. If that doesn't work, we can discuss a set of interview questions and plan a sensible approach instead of going in there blindly and—"

"No. I want to know where I stand with this girl before Ambassador Black's visit in nine hours. Call it a gut feeling if you want, but I honestly don't think her being asleep will make a damned bit of difference in my ability to read her." Edward held out his arms in a placating manner. "This isn't going to be a formal interview…I just want to talk with her a little more, okay?"

"Mm-hmm." Jasper's voice was skeptical, but he did step out of Edward's way. "Regardless of Ambassador Black, there's nothing to gain from rushing this. Keep that in your stubborn, made-up mind."

Kate stepped out of Security Central and took up a position beside the door to Swan's cell. "I'll stay out here, but try not to eat her this time, eh?" she said with a smirk.

The tightening of his jaw was his only response.

Edward was going to enter Swan's room without prologue but thought better of the action at the last moment. Moving his hand up from the latch, he rapped heavily on the thick metal of the door.

Through Rosalie's observation of the cell's video feed, he could see the girl's head snap up in surprise. She glared at the door for a moment and then turned back to her book. Edward keyed in his code and stepped inside the room.

The delectable scent accosted him immediately. Doing his best to disregard the burning desire, he strode to a chair in the corner, lowered himself on the seat, and settled into a relaxed pose. The minutes ticked by, but Swan didn't glance his way. Edward was content to wait her out, especially since he knew she wasn't unaffected by his presence. He saw how she fidgeted and heard the huffs of air that she blew out through her nose every time she turned a page. Ten minutes into her act of ignoring him, she snapped her book shut and tossed it onto the bedside table.

He watched as she grabbed a small bag from her locker and took it into the bathroom adjoining her cell. There was no door to separate the two spaces, so Edward averted his gaze as she used the toilet, washed her face, and brushed her teeth. Her nightly routine didn't amount to anything noteworthy, but he found himself fascinated by the splashing sounds of water across her face, the rustle of the towel, and the swish-swish of her toothbrush. He'd never paid much attention to the small noises people made as they carried out normal affairs. Now, however, those sounds seemed to echo loudly in his ears. He supposed that other senses were attempting to compensate for his lost ability to read her thoughts.

With her eyes trained on the floor, Swan marched to her bed, climbed under the covers, and turned off the bedside lamp. Other than a faint green glow from photoluminescent strips marking the light switches and door handles, the room was awash in darkness. Edward could see perfectly fine, of course, but for some reason, the atmosphere seemed more intimate than before. Her scent thickened on his tongue, her heartbeat pounded like the thudding of boots on a wooden floor, the cool air from the ventilation system tickled his skin. He felt dizzy, sluggish, and energetic at the same time.

It was very strange.

Edward soon had to fight his own impulse to fidget. After several minutes that seemed to last hours, he was about to concede to her their unspoken contest of wills when Swan let out an angry growl and sat up in bed.

"What the hell do you want now, perv? Can't you be a creeper from another room?" she all but snarled in his direction. "Or are you going to rape my body before you rape my mind?"

Edward sucked in sharp breath. "I would never touch you like that against your will. I couldn't do that to anyone."

"What's the difference with all that mind-probing shit you do? It's still a personal violation. I'll bet you get off on looking through people's private thoughts, don't you?"

"First of all, I 'hear' most thoughts the same way you're listening to my voice," he replied as calmly as possible, despite the fact that his hands were clenched into fists. "If something makes a sound, you hear it. If someone has a thought, I hear it. My ability isn't something I can simply shut down, and I promise you that I don't 'get off' on what's in someone else's mind. Quite the opposite, actually." Edward repressed a shudder over some of the sickening scenes he had viewed in criminals' memories.

Swan squinted her eyes in the dark and leaned forward, presumably in an effort to get a better view of his shadowy form. "So what's the deal with the sleeping thing? Why do I need to be knocked out when you rape my brain? Does it hurt if I'm awake or something?"

"Can you not use that word?" he asked, wincing. "It's not like that."

"I think it's exactly like that. What, afraid to call a spade a spade? Just admit it: you're a r—"

"Would you please shut up?" he barked, cutting her off. A sudden wave of calm from Jasper reduced his anger before it could build any further. Edward nodded his head in thanks toward the camera dome in the ceiling, took a deep breath, and continued. "I am not the individual on trial, Ms. Swan. The interrogation process has been sanctioned by the U.S. government, and the information already dispersed is all you will receive at this juncture."

The moment of stillness after he spoke was broken by a burst of laughter. His brow furrowed as he reviewed his words and couldn't find a single thing amusing about them. But the girl obviously did. She was doubled over and clutching at her stomach, her shoulders heaving as she laughed and laughed.

For her all her youth, he expected a higher pitched, lighter sort of tone. Instead, her laugh was full and throaty, a richly pleasing sound. It was expressive, mature, and even…alluring?

Edward blinked, wondering why in the world that particular thought had entered his mind.

"What is it you find so humorous?" he asked. His tone was more gruff than he'd intended.

Swan sucked in lungfuls of air as she worked to calm herself before answering. When her laughing fit finally died down to a series of haphazard chuckles, she swiped a hand across her eyes and straightened up to look at him.

"Whew, thanks! I needed that in the worst way. You're a riot and a half."

"What do you mean?" he asked, his temper beginning to flare.

"You're kidding, right? 'I am not the individual on trial, Ms. Swan,'" she parroted in a deep voice. "'The information already dispersed is all you will receive at this juncture'…Christ, do you even listen to what's coming out of your mouth? You're such a joke!"

"Explain yourself. Please."

"I already told you earlier today," she said, rolling her eyes. "You try to sound all sophisticated and superior with your snooty words and condescending tone, like we're all about to sit down to high tea or something. But the truth is, you're over there fighting the urge to slash open my throat and gorge yourself on blood until there's not a drop left in my veins. Don't even bother denying it—we both know I'm right."

Edward didn't bother. She was, indeed, right.

"We're playing a waiting game with you vamps," Swan continued. "A dangerous, high-stakes waiting game that we never should've gotten into. You can say all the right things, dress up in designer clothes, go to fancy banquets and stuff, but the reality is that you're nothing but a group of serial killers who should be wiped out of existence. Or at the very least, locked up behind some really strong bars. I mean, how many people have you killed?"

"This isn't about me," Edward growled through gritted teeth.

"Actually, it's all about you and the kind of creature you are." Her voice rang out in the darkness, infused with a fiery passion. She scuttled across the bed to lean toward him at the edge of the mattress.

"Can you remember being human? Think about it: would you've been okay with lions roaming through the streets? Even if they're supposed to be 'tame,' the fact is that a single wild urge from them could wipe out one, two, half a dozen people…and lions are nowhere near as dangerous as vampires! But here we are, not only giving you free rein to mix with us, but also putting you in positions of power! We might as well shove bread stuffing up our asses, stretch out on a buffet table, and call it a day. This whole mess is crazy stupid and needs to be fixed!"

"Now you're the one who's got to be joking," Edward said, gaping at the girl in disbelief. "Have you forgotten that we helped you? We fought alongside you, we fought for you…some of us died for you!"

"Yeah, right," she said with a snort of derision. "You can't die; you're already dead. And once you've finished burning to ash, your kind finally go to Hell where you should've been all along."

"How dare you!" Edward roared, springing from his seat, his hands reaching for her throat.

Edward, stop!

At the last moment, he diverted his grip and curled his fingers around her upper arms instead. Slamming into her body, he knocked her flat on the bed and pushed her into the mattress. Kate already had her hand on the door latch, so he would have to act quickly. One slash of razor-sharp teeth was all it would take.

Memories surged to the forefront of his consciousness. Dismembered body parts of enemies, friends, and loved ones alike, strewn over fire-stricken battlefields…thick plumes of purple smoke curling upward…screams of agony, the keening cries of those left behind…the faces of the lost: Peter, Alistair, Siobhan, Tia, Benjamin, Irina, Esme...Esme…Esme…

Edward's fury heightened and coursed through his body. How could that insolent human girl dare to suggest a soul as beautiful and loving as Esme's would ever become Hell's kindling? Swan could proclaim her moral high ground until she was blue in the face, but she was the one who attempted to murder the Vice President in cold blood. She was the one calling for genocide and the killing of innocents. She was the one who dismissed the life of a beloved woman, friend, and mother with a scornful laugh.

Rage over her irreverence added fuel to his already smoldering bloodlust. Venom rushed into his mouth. He could practically taste the hot liquid of her veins on his tongue, pouring down his throat. It would be fitting that he dole out the very same brand of justice she had been advocating. He could end her existence with as much callous disregard as she had for his.

It would be so easy.

But when he glowered into her wide, startled eyes, he felt an unexpected pang of compassion. Indecision flashed across his own features and allowed logic to state its case.

What the hell was he doing?

The girl was so young, practically a child. He, on the other hand, had walked the earth over a century and was a single step removed from being the head of state. Not only was he allowing a criminal to affect him emotionally, he was also behaving in the exact animalistic manner she had decried. He'd let his instincts, his predatory nature, that one "wild urge," rule his head.

His wrath died to a simmer as quickly as it had blazed to life. It then occurred to Edward to note the position in which he held the girl. He was on all fours over her, his knees digging into the mattress on either side of her hips, his hands restraining her upper body. Shame replaced the vestiges of his anger. He didn't know how she had managed to provoke such a reaction from him, but the only thing that mattered just then was regaining control over himself.

The entirety of his internal battle was fought and resolved in the split second it took Kate to leap across the room and pull him backward off the bed.

Because Edward had anticipated her action, he was already in motion when she closed her hand over his shoulder. He stood up smoothly and acknowledged Kate's presence with a nod.

"I'm fine, but thank you," he said, glancing up toward the camera. His statement was just as much for Jasper and Rose in Central as it was for Kate.

"Such strong responses you have toward such a young little thing," Kate commented to Edward with an amused grin.

She arched an eyebrow and approached Swan, who had righted herself back into a sitting position. Intently studying the girl's features, Kate reached out and caressed the side of her face, stroking the soft skin with a sensuous touch. She cupped her hand around Swan's jaw and leaned in to brush the tip of her nose across the warm cheek and down her neck.

"Mmm," Kate purred seductively as her lips traced the girl's jugular. "She certainly smells like a healthy young human. Deliciously sweet and appetizing. But...no more so than any other to me."

Edward tried to ignore the accelerating hammer of Swan's heart and the fearful trembling of her body. Kate's provocative gestures and extreme proximity to her made him uncomfortable.

Pushing that niggling feeling to the side, he focused on Kate's thoughts and was surprised by their direction.

"A succubus?" he said, his mind racing to consider the idea. "I suppose that could account for her heightened appeal to Demetri, Jasper, and me, but none of the other males here were affected. Also, the attraction was only for her blood…nothing else."

Kate gave him a significant look as she let her hand slide away from Swan's face. Nothing else? I'm sorry to hear that. I hoped that maybe…

"Perhaps we should consider why she didn't cause Emmett, Garrett, and Carlisle to react," Edward said, ignoring her comment. "How are the two groups different?"

"You, Demetri, and I have special abilities," Jasper said in a voice loud enough to be heard from Security Control. "Could that have something to do with it?"

"Interesting that gifted females aren't affected." Kate stepped back from the bed and turned to Edward. "It's a very curious situation, especially considering her other…unique trait."

He frowned at the reminder of Swan's silent mind as watched the girl move up the bed, as far away from the vampires as she could get. She turned on the bedside lamp, grabbed her pillow, and hugged it close as if the fluffy cushion could somehow offer protection, like a shield of sorts.

A shield…could Swan's mind have shield-like qualities?

Edward thought the concept had merit but would wait to discuss it until they were away from the girl. He didn't want to tip his hand, though she would likely begin to figure things out soon enough.

At that moment, he was more interested her demeanor. He found it disconcerting how quickly she went from being spirited and daring to vulnerable and unsure. Her swift mood changes left him confused, frustrated, even angry. Of the limited amount of time he spent with her, the majority of it was spent fighting his urge to snap her neck and drain her dry. But there were times, such as now, when she looked like an innocent, helpless creature that he wanted to rescue and protect.

Edward, are you done with your chat? It's going to take some time before she calms enough to fall asleep.

Jasper's point was valid. There was no good reason for Edward to stay in the cell any longer, even though he felt oddly bothered by the thought of leaving.

"I'm going to try one more thing," he announced. "It should only take a minute."

Swan's expression darkened when he placed the chair beside the bed and took a seat. Her wary gaze flickered to Kate and then settled back on Edward.

"What do you want now?" she asked in a low, strained voice.

He mustered up the most encouraging smile he could manage and stretched his arm out to her.

"Would you please give me your hand?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"No."

"Then why waste your breath with the 'please'?" she muttered, thrusting her arm in his general direction.

Edward wanted to both roll his eyes and chuckle at her petulance but kept his expression stoic as he took her hand carefully in his. It was small and delicate, and he worried he might crush it by accident in a moment of forgetfulness.

"Ugh, you're so cold. But I guess that's what happens when someone's dead."

When she shuddered and turned her face away with a look of revulsion, he was surprised by the feeling of rejection that prickled in his chest. His kind had suffered extensive derision for their mere existence, especially following their initial emergence into human society, but the prejudice had never affected him quite so personally.

It was yet another instance of this girl disrupting his sense of inner balance. He didn't understand it at all, and he liked it even less.

Edward?

Jasper's concerned query jolted him out of his brooding. Edward willed himself to relax, closed his eyes, and opened his mind.

As he'd told Swan, his ability could not be turned on and off at will. The thoughts of every person within his "hearing" range assaulted him constantly, and there was no device, like ear protection, that could muffle or block those thoughts. Over the years, his brain had mercifully learned to filter out familiar minds. They faded to a buzz in the background of his consciousness unless something caught his attention.

When searching for Swan's thoughts, he first dedicated all his concentration on the use of his telepathic ability. Images, sounds, memories, ideas—they reverberated inside his head as if he were standing in the middle of a symphony orchestra. Because he didn't know the tenor of Swan's mind, Edward began identifying those he easily recognized.

The steady rhythm of Jasper's snare drum. Alice's airy piccolo. The playful trombone of Emmett. Tanya's sultry viola.

Upon categorizing the familiar, he strained to find a different voice, one that was new and strange. And unlike previous attempts, Edward called on his other senses, as well. He focused on the warmth radiating from the body in front of him. He heard the beat of her heart and felt her pulse on his fingertips. He listened to the shallow rush of air through her lungs and noticed the nearly imperceptible movement of his eyelashes as her honeyed breath washed over his face.

Edward's muscles were taut from the effort he expended. Even with their hands joined, he still could not locate the girl's thoughts. A frustrated growl bubbled in his throat, and his grip tightened around her fingers.

The soft, pained whimper she released sounded to him like a fingernail down a chalkboard. His eyes flew open, and he gazed at her in apology after commanding his muscles to relax. She stared back with a wondering expression on her face, her lips parted slightly, her eyes round and unveiled.

The luminous brown drew him into their depths, and for one transcendent moment, Edward felt a connection. The boundaries of her mind shimmered into existence and became visible. But though he could "see" a shape, its opaque sheathing concealed the thoughts within.

He had experience pushing his way into fortified minds. Aro's memories had been heavily protected by barricades that reminded Edward of thick stone walls. Breaking them down had taxed him to the fullest. But the barrier to Swan's mind seemed more like a thin layer of iridescent film—perhaps the undulating surface of a newly-formed bubble. If he could keep the sparkling sphere in his sights, he should have no trouble bursting it open to discover all its secrets.

Staring deeply into her eyes, concentrating all within him to the effort, Edward reached out with his mind and touched hers.

And he burned.

A searing, white-hot pain pierced his head like a spear made of lightning. The agonizing fire raced down his spine and through every part of his body, scorching his nerves and rendering him immobile. He tried to release his grip on Swan's hand and move away, but his fingers refused to comply. He wanted to throw back his head and scream, but his mouth refused to open.

Kate was by his side in an instant. She yanked him away and spun on the girl with a fierce snarl. Edward's pain lessened considerably at disconnection but was by no means gone. The fallen vampire lay in angles on the floor like a discarded marionette, his body still paralyzed from the stinging aftershocks.

Though his stunned mind had difficulty comprehending what had occurred, he was able to grasp most of the aftermath. Every single resident of the Cullen Compound had heard his cry. Those who weren't aware of the situation assumed the worst, as they'd been trained to do, and automatically began carrying out emergency protocol. Jasper left Rosalie in Central to issue a stand-down while he stormed down the short hallway and into Swan's cell.

"Stay here but don't engage," Jasper instructed Kate. "I'm taking him to his room." He swept Edward's limp form into his arms and rushed to the door.

It was soft, even to a vampire's ears, but there was no mistaking the bitter chuckle coming from the girl as the Vice Chancellor was carried away.

-v-v-v-v-v-v

"Billy, it's been far too long. I'm glad you came." Carlisle reached across his desk to shake hands with a dark-haired man in a wheelchair.

"Thank you, Chancellor. It's nice to see you again, as well."

Carlisle tried not to take the use of his formal title personally. He'd long since given up on asking the Quileute to address him by his first name. Although Ambassador William Black had a working relationship with the Cullens, even respected them, he made it clear that he didn't consider them friends.

"Have you had a chance to drop in on the Clearwaters and Caleb yet?" Carlisle asked. "Seth has fully recovered and is back to racing through the woods. He and Edward are quite evenly matched these days."

"I'll stop by and see them before I go. Business ahead of pleasure."

"I'm very sorry for the nature of this business," Carlisle said with a frown. "How is Jacob? I know his wounds were more serious than Embry's."

Billy grunted, the sound a mix of amusement and disappointment. "That kid's got the hardest head of anyone I know. He and his pack are fine, except for their constant grumbling about house arrest." The ambassador sat up straighter and gave Carlisle a significant look. "The Tribal Council will convene on Friday. Chief Ateara and I will only have one vote because of our relationships to Quil and Jake. The rest of the members will have two votes."

"I see. Has Jacob given a statement or discussed his motive with anyone yet?"

"He won't talk to me about it. Apparently, he sees me as a traitor to Quileutes and humans alike." The tightness around Billy's eyes and mouth belied his nonchalant tone. "Chief Ateara got a little out of him but nothing surprising. Jake acted on his hatred of vampires, and as leader of the Vampire Populace, you are one of his prime targets."

"Only one of…?" Carlisle asked with concern. "Who are the others?"

"He didn't mention names, but if I had to guess, I'd say the Vice Chancellor and the seer, Alice, are high on his list."

"I understand his feelings toward Edward because of Paul's death, but why Alice? Is it related to the same…incident?"

"I think so. Jake's spoken out about Paul's innocence more than once. He said that, in the confusion of battle, Paul hadn't been able to tell your family apart from the newborns. When he saw Alice near a human…well, I think Jake blames her for causing Paul to attack." Billy averted his gaze to the floor in shame. "I'm so sorry for Jake's behavior toward you, Chancellor. I knew he was angry and resentful, but I never thought he would order his pack to—"

Carlisle held up a hand. "It's not your fault, Billy. The war was hard on all of us. People can respond to tragedy in many different ways. Jacob lost six of his pack brothers, and we're a natural target for his anger. I do believe his attack, and Isabella Swan's, should not go unpunished, but at the moment, I'm more worried about possible repercussions on race relations. I also want to make sure that their actions were planned independently and not part of a larger movement."

"A larger movement…against you? Why would you think there's such a thing? Unless…oh. You got information during Bella's interrogation, didn't you." Billy slumped back in his wheelchair, weariness appearing to overtake his body.

"Actually, there's something—"

"I've been dreading this day ever since I found out about the attacks on you and the Vice President," the Quileute continued, not appearing to have noticed Carlisle's interjection. "I didn't want to hear confirmation of her guilt. I kept hoping that it was a mistake…that there was some other explanation. Having Jake involved is bad enough, but Bella, too? I've failed Charlie in the worst way."

Carlisle shook his head. "Not to speak badly about Isabella Swan, but she's an adult who makes her own decisions. Chief Swan wouldn't have blamed you any more than I do."

"But you should," Billy said in a defeated voice. "After the Battle of Forks, I got so caught up in the war that I pretty much left her on her own to deal with the death of her father. If nothing else, I should've tracked down Renee right away. But I was busy trying to ally with the other spirit warriors...and then the fighting broke out in the Southeast…and Jacksonville was hit hard…"

"And Renee, and her husband Phil, were never located—presumed casualties of war," Carlisle quietly finished for him. The Chancellor shook his head sadly. "It was a terrible tragedy that she lost her family, but still, that doesn't excuse her choice to make an attempt on another person's life. Nothing that you did or didn't do could have forced her to pull the trigger." Carlisle sighed in sympathy. "I can understand what you're feeling. It seems the war inspired feelings of guilt for many people, myself included. But I think it's important to remember that we did the best we could and then try to move forward from there."

"Yeah?" Billy said with a pained laugh. "How's that working out for you?"

"Not well," Carlisle admitted, "but I think the key word is try."

The two men exchanged a knowing glance born of similar pain, and for a few moments, Carlisle felt that Billy viewed him as a person instead of some inhuman creature of death. But then the ambassador squared his shoulders and adopted a neutral expression.

"What did you find out from Bella? Was it an individual hate crime, or did she join some sort of anti-vampire organization?"

Despite the objections of Jasper and Edward, Carlisle had decided to be honest about the failed interrogation. Quileutes were already inclined to distrust vampires, and he didn't want to validate their view by lying.

"We're not sure why Isabella acted as she did. Edward wasn't able to perform an interrogation."

"Wasn't able to?" Billy repeated in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"We don't yet know why, but for some reason, her mind is silent to Edward. He can't view her thoughts, nor can he access her memories."

Billy took less time considering the information than Carlisle anticipated.

"How will this affect her trial? What happens next?" he barked out, not bothering to hide his worry.

"My staff and I are still discussing the situation, and I'd like your input, as well. The Federal Judiciary Committee is expecting a preliminary report this afternoon. I assume they would transport her back to Hazelton Penitentiary and make arrangements for a standard federal trial."

"A process that could take months and would be a public spectacle," Billy muttered. "She's already being torn apart by the media; they're campaigning for a harsh punishment…the best she can hope for is a lenient prison sentence, unless…didn't you say something about...what if there really is a larger movement? What if she gave you information that helped you uncover it? Could she negotiate for a reduced sentence?"

Carlisle hated to put a damper on Billy's sudden spark of hope, but he had to be honest. "I can't give you an answer to that. We don't have a formal role in the sentencing procedures. It doesn't fall under our purview."

"But you must have some influence," Billy insisted, rolling his chair forward so that he could lean over Carlisle's desk. "I'm sure the way you write the summary…the amount of detail you include…or maybe you'd consider…"

"I won't falsify the report, so please don't ask me to," Carlisle said quietly.

"No, no, of course I wouldn't," Billy replied. His words, however, carried an undertone that suggested he wanted to do just that. "But maybe you could add a recommendation or…something?" He rubbed a hand over his face. "Please, Carlisle. Bella's like a daughter to me. I don't know what's going on with her, but I still have to try my best."

"I understand, and I wish that—" Carlisle stopped short and looked toward the door to his office. "Excuse me a moment, Billy. Did you need something, Edward?"

The Vice Chancellor stepped into the room with a nod. "Hello, Ambassador Black. Pardon the interruption, but I have an idea that may benefit us all."

Billy turned toward Edward, his face showing surprise as he registered the man's haggard appearance. Edward gave him a wan smile and lowered himself in a chair.

"It's been a long day already," he said, avoiding the questions about his well-being that were in Billy's eyes and thoughts. "I'll be brief. As the Chancellor mentioned, I'm not able to see into Isabella Swan's mind. She did, however, make a comment suggesting a future group action against vampires. I'd like the opportunity to question her further, to see if we can find out more. That will be difficult to do if she's immediately remanded to U.S. custody."

"What are you suggesting?" Billy asked, his expression immediately wary. "I don't want her harassed or threatened. She's still a U.S. citizen with legal rights."

"Of course. However, it's almost a certainty that she's going to receive a prison sentence and lose many of her personal freedoms. I can offer her an opportunity for more individual liberty and reduced incarceration time." Edward paused. "I want her to serve her sentence here."

Even with enhanced mental capabilities, Carlisle needed a moment before he could respond to the outrageous suggestion.

"That's an…interesting thought, Edward, but I don't see how it could work," he said at last. "We're not equipped with the facilities to house an inmate for an extended period, nor do we have a logistics or procedural system in place to address the specific requirements of a federal prisoner. And that's assuming you could even get the necessary permissions. I imagine that would be next to impossible considering—"

"Alice has seen it."

Carlisle stared at Edward in disbelief. "She's seen this scenario? She's seen that Isabella stays here? What, exactly, did her vision show?"

"Not much—only that Swan had been given a renovated cell and was free to roam the Compound as she pleased. Based on the tree foliage, the time period appeared to be early autumn."

"And that's it?" Carlisle asked. Is there anything you need to tell me in private?

Edward gave the slightest shake of his head. "That's it. Alice only saw a few flashes of Swan in her cell and of her walking alone toward the Wolf Den."

"Alice is usually right, but still…" Carlisle took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Well, Billy, what do you think? As Chief Magistrate, Edward normally handles these matters himself, but given the complexity of the situation, I'll certainly consider your feelings before making a final decision."

Billy deliberated for a minute before answering. "What guarantee do I have that she'll be treated fairly? What about her safety? You and your family have lived with humans for years, but what about the others here? The younger ones and those who've been feeding off animals for only a few years…can they be trusted?"

Carlisle shot a glance at Edward, knowing that of all the residents on the Compound, his eldest son was one of the most dangerous to the girl.

"She won't be harmed by us," Edward promised. His expression was open and sincere. "She'll be welcome to receive calls and visitors, and once her long-term residency is established, we'll set her up with a monitored email account. You can check on her as often as you wish."

"Assuming she'll even talk to me, that is." Billy drew his hand over his face again and then met Carlisle's gaze. "If you can get the deal approved, I think staying here with a reduced sentence is her best option. Can you keep me updated?"

"As much I'm allowed, yes, of course," Carlisle replied. He sat back in his chair with an air of finality. "Well, Billy, unless you have any more concerns at the moment, Edward can escort you to Isabella or the Wolf Den, whichever you'd prefer to visit first."

"Might as well see Bella now," the ambassador said with a sigh. "I'm not sure if she's going to give me the silent treatment or yell. Last time I talked to her over the phone, it was a little of both."

Carlisle chuckled as he stood and came around his desk to shake hands again. "From what I've seen and heard, she's quite a feisty young woman."

"That's one way to put it," Billy replied sardonically.

The trio walked toward the hallway entrance, Edward leading the way. The Vice Chancellor was mid-stride to the door, his arm stretched toward the handle, when he froze in place with a look of intense concentration on his features.

"What is it?" Billy asked in surprise.

Carlisle held up a finger to request patience as Edward focused on whatever had caught his attention. When the younger vampire finally blinked and turned to face them, Carlisle knew he didn't have good news to share.

"I think your visit will have to wait, Ambassador. We have a more serious issue on our hands," Edward said, his voice grim. "There's been an attack…a massacre, actually…in the city of Kumbo, Cameroon. First reports indicate widespread fire and destruction, with at least 3,500 dead, thousands more wounded."

"Vampire attack?" Carlisle asked in an anguished murmur, though he was certain of the answer.

"Two of them," Edward confirmed. "Possibly newborn."

The Chancellor allowed himself a heartsick second of time to mourn the lives lost and those affected. He then straightened to his full height, took a deep breath, and prepared to face the disaster.

"Ambassador Black," he said in a steady voice, "Please follow us to the Situation Room."

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