A/N: Thank you for your reviews, I am so excited that you are interested in my story!
I awoke soon after but waited to open my eyes, wanting to try and take in as much of my surroundings as I could before they realized I was awake. The thrum of a car engine vibrated around me. My cheek rested against a warm leather seat and I could hear more rain lashing against the windshield. Taking a deep breath, I winced at the stab of pain in my ribs. I decided that my companions likely knew I was no longer asleep so I ventured to open my eyes. The one called Alec was sitting next to me on the back seat. He sat unmoving, hands resting on his lap, staring out the window to his right. Demitri was driving and from what I could tell he had as much disregard for the speed limit as the vampires I had ridden with. As I moved to sit up a little more Jane turned slightly to glance at me from her place in the passenger seat. All three of them appeared to be holding their breath.
Feigning ignorance seemed like my best option at that point so I decided to only speak if they spoke to me. While my lips may have remained silent, my thoughts raced. What would Charlie think when I didn't make it home? Had Jacob been riding behind me and happened across the scene of the accident? Why were members of the Volturi in Forks? Would the Cullens be in danger if the Volturi found out about their relationship with a human?
Without turning to face me, Jane spoke, her voice cold, "Your arm is broken."
It was not a question but I decided to respond anyway, "Yes." I wanted to keep my responses as simple as possible, fearful of saying anything that could incriminate me or Edward's family. Despite their betrayal, I felt a flash of protectiveness burn through me. Whatever happened going forward, I would try my hardest to not let their name be associated with my knowledge of their supernatural world.
Jane scoffed and I could practically hear her roll her eyes, "Humans. One fall and they snap in half." Next to me Alec smirked but said nothing else. Based on her comment I deduced that there would be no visit to a doctor in my near future. I certainly could not picture the three cloaked figures huddling around me in the emergency room of a nearby hospital. At least the wound on my head had stopped bleeding. Tucking my arm against my chest, I closed my eyes once more and tried to take a few deep breaths. It hurt, yes, but I reminded myself that I had known worse. When I got a chance I would try and make some kind of makeshift sling.
The car began to slow as we pulled into what looked like a private airstrip. The first thought that occured to me was that my passport was shoved away in one of my desk drawers back at Charlie's. But then I reminded myself that the Volturi probably operated in their own sphere of things, not unlike the Cullens. I doubted my lack of identification would be problematic for them. Sure enough, when the car came to a stop in front of a small private jet, the guard pulled off their cloaks and hid them away in a bag that Demitri had pulled from the trunk. My door opened and Alec looked at me expectantly. I allowed myself to glare at him before carefully maneuvering my way out of the car and following them to the plane.
Once on board, the three of them sat together. The only indication that they were conversing was the occasional brief movements of their lips. I heard nothing of what they said. Which was undoubtedly their intention. Turning away from the guard, I tried to get comfortable in the leather chair I had chosen on the other side of the plane. They still had not spoken a word to me since Jane's assessment of my arm. Which suited me just fine. As the plane reached cruising altitude, the events of the day seemed to catch up to me. Waves of different emotions crashed into me from every direction. One second I was angry. Angry at the Cullens for deserting me and leaving me to fend for myself in a situation such as this. Angry at Jacob for wanting more than I could give him. Angry at myself for storming off. In the next breath I felt an overwhelming panic. Worried about what lay ahead for me. I knew that the Cullens and myself had broken the Volturi's most important rule. That my short-lived time in their world would be sufficient enough of a reason to warrant their demise and mine. A wave of guilt threatened to pull me under. How could I have gotten us all in this situation? The only thing that reassured me was that the Cullens were no longer in Forks. If I could keep from mentioning them then perhaps they would be safe.
I started to think of Charlie coming home to an empty house. Or maybe someone would see the evidence of my accident and he would discover my disappearance while at work. When I started to feel the tears prickling in the corners of my eyes I forced myself to think of something else. I turned my attention back to the three vampires sitting across the aisle from me. At one point Jane suddenly turned her head in my direction, eyes narrowing as she scrutinized me. The look of pure hatred that flashed across her face made me shiver. She growled in frustration and turned back towards her companions.
To pass the time I closed my eyes and tried to will myself to create another apparition of Edward. For once there was a lethal danger looming and he was silent. Hours passed in this way. I drifted in and out of a fitful sleep until the rumbling of my stomach alerted the others to my obvious hunger. Without saying a word, Alec stood and walked towards the back of the plane. A few seconds later a sandwich and an apple appeared on the table in front of me. When I looked in their direction he was already back in his seat and nobody was paying me any attention. I hadn't eaten since a quick bowl of cereal that morning so within minutes I had finished my meal. The combination of exhaustion, pain, and a full stomach at last brought on the deep sleep I desired.
The plane landed in the middle of the night. Another isolated airfield. Another car waiting. An overcast sky hid most of the stars from view and the sliver of a moon hardly gave off any light. Soon we were snaking our way through narrow cobblestone streets, a few streetlamps casting a glow over the darkened city. Under different circumstances I would be exhilarated by the discovery of my first European village, but the sense of dread that sat like lead in my stomach made it impossible to feel anything but nauseous. I leaned my forehead against the cool pane of glass and tried to breathe deeply.
At last the car drove through a dark stone archway and came to a stop in an empty courtyard. Alec and Demitri disappeared before I had even reached for the door handle. Stumbling out of the car I jostled the broken arm, eliciting a hiss of pain from my lips. Jane remained motionless, watching with exasperation. Once I reached her side, she nodded towards a large wooden door and took off at a brisk walk.
We weaved through drafty corridors, crossing nobody as we moved deeper into the castle. I knew I would never be able to find my way back out even if I wanted to. Any attempt at escape would be futile. Eventually we reached a sort of waiting room, the green polyester armchairs a stark contrast to the cold stone walls and centuries-old tapestries that hung from the walls.
Jane broke her silence, snapping a quick, "Wait here" in my direction.
I did not need to be told twice. I hardly even dared to sit in one of the chairs. There was no need, for within seconds Jane had reappeared in front of me and beckoned me to follow once more. We turned the corner and paused before a set of towering wooden double doors. Grasping the handles, she turned to look at me with a menacing glint in her eye, before whispering, "Ready?"