Chapter Nineteen

Carlisle

It seemed my patient knew exactly where she was and how dangerous it was to allow anyone else to hear her story. She had asked for Edward because she knew he could read her story in her mind and he could find a way to tell us without the Volturi hearing. So Alice could see the future as Eleazar had said and if so she couldn't be allowed to remain here in Volterra, it was much too dangerous to allow Aro that much power over our world.

As I went looking for Edward I thought about Esme's strange attitude when she returned from the square, something had upset her and not just Carmen telling her about The Major. Esme was soft hearted and quite timid and I knew telling her that particular story would only upset her. I had heard too much of The Major's handiwork to feel comfortable at the thought of being anywhere near him so she would be horrified if she found out he was here.

He and his small group, The Captain, and two others were responsible for clearing up most of the Southern covens by simply annihilating them. The only ones still in existence were Maria's and Pedro's with the other territories split between them but both knew that the slightest slip and they too would simply cease to exist. He didn't merely kill them though, there were rumors of torture and even use of the oldest and until recently banned punishment of burial of the head after the body had been chopped up and burned. Even Felix had never attempted to get that one brought back. I had heard The Major was young, badly scarred, and always dressed in black but so far fortunately I had never seen him. I had however spoken to several who had, in Volterra, and all said the same thing, they felt sick with fear as he looked at them.

Edward was busy playing some recently discovered pieces of music with Marcus but readily agreed to come and see the young girl, he was curious, and that was Edward's weakness. As we walked back together I felt eyes on my back and turning saw a young man watching from a window niche. His eyes seemed to be boring into my head and I felt myself shiver but when I nudged Edward and turned back he was gone. If not for the flawless face I would have thought it was The Major, I had the reaction all those who had seen him did but this was a young man with an almost angelic if stony face.

"What did you see Carlisle?"

"Nothing it must have been a shadow Edward."

"Sometimes I think I would like to stay here, whenever I see the archives and find a new wonder in there but then I shudder and remember what living here means. Then I'm happy to go home."

"And we are happy you still want to come home Edward. Right, now remember Alice is weak and still feverish so just be gentle with her, let her do the talking."

He looked at me hearing the stress I put on those last few words and nodded before we went into the room.

Edward

Esme was sitting by the bed obscuring my view of the girl but I knew it was important to Carlisle that I see her, listen to her both verbal and non verbal communication. As Esme moved from the chair allowing me to sit there I got my first look at the girl Alice. She looked almost childlike she was so tiny but she was also very beautiful and when she opened her eyes and looked at me I felt something. She smiled and suddenly I felt I had to help her and then I heard her, not speaking but communicating with me through her thoughts,

"Edward please listen to me and don't say anything, we can't afford to be heard by the Volturi. I saw what was going to happen to me, that I would be attacked and imprisoned but I had to allow it to happen because it would lead me here, to your family. If I had avoided my abductor I would be dead by now. You see I can tell the future, or the future as it stands and I knew I had only one chance to stay alive, by becoming a vampire like you but I don't want to become one of Aro's collection. If he finds out I can see the future he'll never let me leave and I can't be a prisoner again. You have to help me and in return I will help you and your family by looking out for any danger that might threaten."

I couldn't talk back to her using my thoughts but it seemed she was happy once she had spoken to me, perhaps she had seen that all would be OK now I knew her story. What I needed to do was to get it across to Carlisle and Eleazar so I grabbed a pen and paper and started scribbling down everything Alice had said to me. Finishing it I thrust the paper into Carlisle's hand before nodding to Alice and leaving them. I loitered in the corridor just in case the Volturi sent someone to find out if we'd discovered anything.

It was just as well I did because within seconds Aro and Caius appeared silently along with Aro's ever present body guard Renata who smiled a little as they passed. I followed them back into Alice's room to find her still sitting pale but determined in bed, Carlisle taking her pulse while Esme looked at a book in her hand and I read her thoughts, the bookmark was the note I had scribbled and if Aro touched Carlisle he would know everything but as he approached the bed Eleazar came in and he turned,

"Eleazar, what do you have for me? Good news?"

"Not really. Alice is gifted but it is a very unreliable gift, the future she sees changes from hour to hour as the people involved change their minds, situations alter, you couldn't rely on anything she tells you but..."

Aro's eyes lit up. He loved the "but",

"I think perhaps with some peace and quiet, a few centuries in a stable environment she may learn to hone her gift."

"A few centuries? You don't think becoming a vampire would increase the gift?"

"No I don't, its so weak now it will take a very long time to become useful. Perhaps you could find somewhere she can find the atmosphere she needs for that."

It was beautifully done, neither Aro nor Caius seemed to see they had been played when Caius suggested she might go with Carlisle and become a part of his family.

"That should give her all the peace and stability she could want and as Carlisle is a friend we can rely on him to keep us informed of Alice's progress. Unless of course you would prefer I asked Eleazar that is."

Carlisle played his part to perfection,

"I leave it entirely in your hands Caius, of course Alice is more than welcome to join Esme and I if she so wishes."

There was a short silence as Caius looked pensively at Alice then at Aro.

"Brother?"

Aro looked at Eleazar and held out his hand,

"Thank you for your help in this matter my friend."

I held my breath knowing it was all over when Alex burst into the room,

"Aro, Caius, there is trouble in the guards quarters, I think you should come."

In a swirl of cloaks the Volturi disappeared without a word and we all sighed in relief.

"What was that all about Edward? Could you hear?"

"Yes, it seems there's a member of the guard who insulted The Major. He's one of the elite and it seems he's being beaten to a pulp right now. Maybe we should leave before Aro tries again."

"You and Carmen go, take Esme with you. I'll stay until Alice is well enough to travel. If we can move her while she's changing it would be better, all we need is use of the Volturi aeroplane."

I heard Alice's thoughts,

"Its OK, Aro will have his hands full and Marcus will give Carlisle use of the plane, Caius' only stipulation will be that I am changed before we leave, he'll do it himself."

I wondered if she was right about what would happen, that we would get away with this. It seemed she must have because it all happened just as she had told me. We didn't see Aro again, Marcus was the only one available and agreed we could use the plane. I think there was unrest among the guard and he thought it best to get Alice away although as Alice had said Caius insisted on changing her first and on getting reports on her gift every year from both Eleazar and Carlisle. Alice didn't seem afraid of what was to come but then perhaps it was better than the alternative she had seen for herself.