All plans cancelled, the whole family gathered together and spent the rest of the night trying to dissect what little they could discern from Alice's latest vision.
It pretty much boiled down to a letter arriving and Carlisle leaving for Italy. There was little else to go on as it seemed there were scant details in the letter, just a demand—couched as a request—that Carlisle visit to "discuss a matter of grave importance". Thereafter, Alice told them that she could no longer see his future. She said it was like he simply ceased to exist, as though he had been swallowed up by a black hole.
Edward was convinced it must have something to do with Victoria. It was too much of a coincidence that Aro should reach out to Carlisle now, after decades of silence, just a week or so after the debacle with James.
It was Emmett who voiced skepticism in Edward's theory. "But why would she risk going into the lion's den just to complain about James, who she clearly didn't really care about anyway? I mean, she was all over Edward like a cheap suit right in front of the guy, and when we cornered him, she just left him to it and ran out of here like her ass was on fire. And now you think she'd go to one of the most dangerous places on Earth, even for a vampire, and risk everything just to get revenge for a guy she clearly didn't really give two hoots about? I don't buy it."
Edward shook his head. "Well, like I said before, she isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, and I'm not sure she would be aware of quite how much of a risk she would be taking."
Carlisle nodded. "You may well be right, Edward. All our kind know about the Volturi, of course—and if they don't, they very quickly learn—but few have any real idea of what happens in Volterra or what an absolute pit of vipers it is. No, I think we have to concede that this is likely to be the result of Victoria's foolish and misguided blundering."
He glanced across to the light now filtering in through the still partially boarded up windows overlooking the back yard. "It's getting light and there's nothing we can do for now until the letter arrives or Alice has another vision, so I suggest we all take some time to decompress with our partners for a few hours."
With that, he stood and held his hand out to Esme, who immediately got to her feet and went to him. As they headed down the passage leading to their private suite, Rosalie's voice made them pause and turn.
"Hey, guys, I know it's probably stupid to say it, but … well … it feels like bad luck not to." She sighed and leaned to rest her head on Emmett's shoulder. "Happy New Year, everyone."
With wry, strained smiles, they all repeated her declaration. Then, as one, they followed Carlisle's lead and headed to their own quarters.
~o0o~
It was past noon when the letter arrived, delivered personally by a whey-faced and monosyllabic vampire, who simply handed the heavy, cream envelope to Carlisle at the door and was gone in a flash.
Walking slowly back into the great room where his family was gathered, he placed the unopened letter on the table and sat. For a moment, they all just stared at the envelope, which was clearly embossed with the Volturi crest.
Carlisle couldn't help but recall the first time he'd seen that crest. It had been set in a platinum pendant on a long chain around the neck of Aro's so-called "niece", the malicious little teenager, Jane. When he had remarked on it, she had flashed a coldly supercilious smile at him.
"My Uncle Aro, gave it to me. It's the Volturi crest," she told him proudly. Pointing at it, she went on to explain its meaning. "The ruby in the top symbolizes the red of human blood. The hawk represents the flight of the spirit from the body, meaning we're all condemned to Hell." She giggled at this. It hadn't been a pleasant sound. "And the tree means the Volturi will grow forever."
It had been some time later when he came across a book about the Volturi in the castle's huge library, that he discovered there was an unspoken codicil to the meaning of the tree. Apparently, the true symbolism was that the Volturi would grow forever until its roots were cut down.
With a loud click of her tongue, Carlisle was jolted from his dark reminiscences as Rosalie reached across to pick up the letter, turning it over and over in her hands. She then waved it in the air and shook her head, a contemptuous sneer pulling her full lips to one side.
"What a drama queen this Aro is. Sending a letter by personal vampire courier, written on paper he's probably had since the Renaissance, when I just bet he's got access to email."
With that, she slid a long, sharp nail under the flap. Pausing for a second, she looked at Carlisle in a silent request to continue. He waved his hand in an acquiescent gesture and watched as she slit open the envelope and extracted a matching vellum sheet, which they could all see contained several lines of extravagantly cursive handwriting.
Rosalie handed it to Carlisle, who glanced at it and then read aloud.
"My dearest friend,
It is my greatest hope that this letter finds you well and that your beautiful Esme also thrives.
I write to you today as I would very much like to discuss with you a matter of grave importance. A somewhat vexing matter has come to my attention, and I would so value your input. As it is such a long time since my brothers and I have seen you, it would delight us greatly if you would come to visit us in Italy so that we may catch up on your life in America and enjoy the company, once more, of a much loved and missed friend.
Please come at your very earliest convenience as it would distress us greatly to have to leave our beloved home and journey to America. You, of all people, know how much I dislike travelling and how bad-tempered it makes me. However, I think you may have an inkling of the significance of the situation that my brothers and I would even consider it. Do send me your flight details so that I may ensure a car is sent to collect you from the airport and a private room is prepared for your stay.
With warmest regards,
Aro"
Dropping the stiff paper to the table, Carlisle gazed around the table. "Well, it seems I must go to Italy after all."
At first, everyone spoke at once, although it was Alice's voice that cut through the cacophony. "No, Carlisle, you mustn't, please," she cried, clearly distraught at the idea.
Esme gripped her husband's hand, turning to face him. "My love, you have to listen to Alice. It's a scarcely veiled threat, and you know it."
Jasper nodded. "Esme's right, Carlisle. I have no doubt it's a trap, and there's not a single one of us who will let you walk willingly into it."
"Let the fucker come to us instead," Emmett growled.
It was a mark of her deep concern that Esme didn't even flinch at his language, let alone pick him up on it.
Sighing, the man whom they all looked up to as an advisor, counsellor, and most of all, friend and father figure, shook his head. "I'm sorry, Emmett, but you just don't understand how Aro works. He'll bring a huge entourage—who all drink human blood—and even though he will demand discretion from his people, there will inevitably be loss of life. I simply can't countenance such a thing. And among his coven will be many gifted vampires, not the least of whom are the twins, Jane and Alec. Jane can bring humans and vampires to their knees, rendering them helpless and in agony. Alec can cause them to be blinded and lose the will to live. Aro changed them himself when they were just 15—a rank hypocrisy on his part considering his vehement opposition to creating immortal children—because they were about to be burned as witches, and he knew they would be powerful, all the more so at the height of adolescence. No, the only possible solution is that I go to Italy and attempt to reason with him."
Rosalie snorted. "Yeah, because he's a rational guy who will listen to reason!"
All this time, Alice was shaking her head, clearly troubled. She'd been running scenarios through her head over and over, to which only Edward was privy, his eyes fixed on her throughout.
At last, she looked up. "I've run through every permutation—you go alone, with Emmett, with Jasper, with Edward, with all of us, every damned combination—I just can't see any way that you will come out alive. Oh, Carlisle, please don't go!"
"What about if I go?"
At first, no one seemed to hear Bella as they once again all talked over one another, but Edward looked appalled. "No, love, you can't. I won't let you."
"Well, I rather think it's my decision, not yours," she responded with a huff.
Before they could get into an argument, however, Carlisle spoke again. "Absolutely not. None of you will go. I'll go alone and have this out with Aro."
If Esme could have cried, she would have been weeping at that moment. "Then I'll go," she said softly.
Turning to her, Carlisle cupped her face with both hands. "No, my sweet girl, you won't."
Covering his hands with her own, she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before fixing them on her mate's. "If you die, I die. There is no life for me without you, and you know it. You can't inflict an eternity of grief upon me, Carlisle, I'll never be able to bear it."
"Oh, Esme, my darling. I won't take you into that den of iniquity, so please don't ask it of me. I swear on all that I hold dear that I will fight to return to you. You must let me go. You must see that I can't allow Aro and the Guard to come here."
He kissed her softly, and then released her, turning to his family. "No more arguments." He looked over at Rosalie. "And you're right, my dear, Aro does have an email address—he's always prided himself on keeping abreast of modern technology. So, I'll write to him now. Jasper, please book me on the first available flight to Florence—one that arrives at night, if possible. I know it's winter, but I don't want to risk getting caught out by a sunny day."
Without waiting for a response, he got up and headed to his study. A moment later, Esme followed him.
"This is bullshit, guys, we can't let him go alone. What are we going to do?" Emmett was always the optimist, the joker, the one who refused to take life seriously, and to see him so upset was difficult for all of them to absorb.
Rosalie rubbed his arm. "We'll think of something, babe." She looked from one to the other of her siblings in all but blood. "We just have to."
~o0o~
The following morning, as Carlisle prepared to leave, trying hard to avoid his wife's silent reproach, he was interrupted by footsteps outside the bedroom door. Sighing, he opened it to Edward's concerned visage.
"Carlisle—"
"Let's talk in my study, Edward," he murmured, walking past him and down the long passageway to his inner sanctum. When they got there, he closed the door and went to sit behind his large, leather-topped desk while Edward took his usual position in one of the comfortable visitors' chairs. However, before he could utter a word, Carlisle held his hand up to forestall him.
"I know what you're going to say, Edward, and I appreciate it—"
"Oh, so now you're the mind reader!"
Carlisle chuffed softly. "It doesn't take a mind reader to know you either want to talk me out of going or talk me into taking you with me."
Edward smiled wryly. "You're perceptive, old man; I'll give you that."
"It's not so hard to figure out. And the answer is still no, to both requests."
"But—"
"Please, Edward, I know you mean well, but in this I cannot be moved. I'm the only one who knows Aro and his brothers personally, the only one who has spent time with them and who is regarded as a friend … well, by Aro and Marcus, at least. When Aro touches me—as he is bound to—he will see that there is no intent to challenge him or the Volturi."
Edward attempted to speak, but again, Carlisle stopped him.
"I know he will also see you and Bella, and there can be no doubt he will covet your gifts, but I truly believe this is a risk worth taking if it means he'll stay away. It's also another reason why I can't let you accompany me. Once he knows about your mind-reading ability, there's no way he would let you leave, especially as he would also know that keeping you captive would bring Bella to him."
At this point, he stopped talking, merely fixing his gaze on Edward, who instinctively sat forward, his mind flooding with Carlisle's thoughts.
"I would ask one favor of you, Edward. And I ask this in the certain knowledge that I'm being wholly unfair to you … and, yes, to my darling Esme. But I beg of you, Edward, please don't come for me, and don't let the others do anything rash either."
"Carlisle, I—"
"I know, I know; I ask too much of you. We haven't known one another long, you and I, but in the short time that we have, I hope you can call me friend, as much as I call you friend."
"You know I do, Carlisle. I've never met anyone I admire as much as I admire you, and I'm proud that you consider me a friend, truly."
"Thank you, Edward, that means so much to me. And it's why I must ask so much of you now. You and Bella have only been part of this family a short while, but in that time, we've all come to love you both. I know you think I disapprove of your lifestyle—"
"I know it's difficult for you to reconcile the taking of human life, but I also know you understand my ethos."
"I do, Edward, I really do, and I have always believed that you are a man of integrity, that you are, inherently, a good man. That's why I know I can trust you. Of all my family, you are the most level-headed, even more than Jasper, who, by his very nature, isn't always able to control his emotions. After me, you're the eldest and the most experienced, and I appeal to you, with all my heart, to keep my family safe. I'm not so naïve that I can guarantee I will return, and I need you to hold everyone together … especially my Esme. I hate that I must do this to her, but I can see no other way."
Edward shook his head and looked down at his hands, tightly clasped between his legs. "I wish you would reconsider."
Carlisle smiled sadly, and Edward looked up sharply as a fleeting thought told him that his friend believed there was little chance he would survive.
"Oh, Carlisle—"
"Hush, now, my friend. Though fate may ultimately win, a man must fight to the death, if necessary, in order to remain the master of his own choices—choices that ultimately decide if and how his fate defeats him."
"Don't be quoting Hamlet to me, old man," he growled.
He was rewarded with a genuine smile. "And that is why we are friends, Edward. Only you would recognize the origin of those words. But in all seriousness, I tell you now that I will fight to the death to protect those I love."
He stood quickly. "Now, Edward, shake my hand and seal our agreement."
Edward stood more slowly as Carlisle offered his hand across the desk. For a moment, he just stared at it. "It's not an agreement I want to make."
"I know, son, I know, but I ask it of you all the same."
"I'll make you a promise, Carlisle, and it's the best I can do. I will wait, and I will encourage the others to wait, until such time as the waiting becomes moot."
After the slightest hesitation, Carlisle gave an almost imperceptible nod, and it was only then that Edward took his hand and briefly shook it.
He had already decided that he would be the judge of what he considered to be moot. Carlisle could quote Shakespeare all he wanted, but it cut both ways—every last one of them could say the same, and they too would fight to be master of their own choices. And if one such choice was to support and protect their beloved patriarch, that's what they would do.
For now, however, Edward would counsel his friends to allow Carlisle the opportunity to broker a peaceful solution to their current situation. If anyone could achieve such a thing, it was the good doctor. They would all just have to bide their time and hope that the friendship Carlisle had cultivated during his time in Volterra would at least give Aro pause before exacting any kind of punishment for imagined or manufactured infractions.
In the meantime, Edward knew they must start making plans. He believed he and his friends could come up with stratagems to cover pretty much every eventuality. They were a formidable team, in possession of enough intelligence, strength, talent and courage to defeat any enemy or, at the very least, make them think twice about taking on such a fearsome foe.
As Edward and Bella alternated between satiating their constant need for physical contact and discussing in minute detail how they might ensure Carlisle's survival, they would have been unsurprised to discover that every other couple in the Cullen compound was doing likewise.
The common thread that ran throughout was that they would die before they let anything happen to him.
A/N: So, the game is afoot - to once again quote Shakespeare, who came up with more useful words and phrases than you can shake a stick at, bless him. The question now is, will Carlisle succeed in persuading Aro to back off and leave his family alone? Ha, what do you think?!
I'm loving all your comments and theories and look forward every week to receiving your feedback - it's like a cold pint of cider on a hot day, a freshly baked, still warm croissant on a Sunday morning or an episode of the podcast "My Dad Wrote a Porno", which, no matter how shitty my day has been or how much pain I'm in, always cheers me up and makes me laugh like a drain - and that is more essential to my mental health and physical wellbeing than any drug or supplement. Take it easy, you gorgeous people, and have a great week - we've got a national holiday on Monday here in the UK and the weather is fantastic, so I'm going to be sitting outside the pub with my mates downing a few of those cold pints of cider and watching the world go by!
