Hello, there! Here comes another chapter.
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Hope you like this one :)
Enjoy!
THE LOCKET
Chapter 17.
She stayed inside Alec's arms for a while longer, trying to let go of the fear and alleviate the buzzing of her shield in her mind. Alec's arms were wrapped tightly around her, and he didn't give any indication of wanting to move.
"You'll be ok, you know that, right?" He whispered against her hair. "We won't let anything happen to you."
She nodded against his chest. She knew that. Just as she knew she wouldn't let anything happen to anyone out there. It was Victoria and Edward who were paying, not her family, not her friends.
"I know. My fear is not an indictment of my trust in your abilities or experience. I know this time is different from any other battle, war, or confrontation you've walked into; that scares me."
He gently caressed her back up and down in a comforting motion. "The only difference is that we'll have you with us. You're strong, and I don't mean physically." He tilted her head so she could read his face. "I'm not scared because we're outnumbered. That always happens. I'm scared of losing you, of making a mistake, and losing you forever. I don't think I can survive that." His eyes were so expressive, so full of love.
Like always, she thanked whatever divine intervention for giving her these fantastic men to love and love her.
She wanted to promise that nothing would happen, but she couldn't. They had a few good centuries under their belts, and they might be the best warriors ever to walk the vampire race, but no one is perfect, and it could take one second for everything to go sideways. But she trusted them and herself to get through this. This was her trial by fire. She would make her mates proud. She would fight alongside them, and if the opportunity presented itself, she would face her fear and end Victoria herself.
Logically, she knew she wouldn't be allowed to end Edward, that task would probably be appointed to Felix or Santiago, but if she were allowed to kill him in that campsite tomorrow, after ending Victoria, she would go against her first love like an avenging angel and claim justice over her life.
"What is your brain working on? I can almost hear the gears." She smiled and his silly joke.
"I was thinking that if the opportunity presents itself, I will kill Victoria myself. And that if I were allowed to do it, I'd kill Edward as well."
He whistled, impressed. "My, my. How the tables have turned." He sang. "Our little doe-eyed girlfriend has become a soldier." Despite his teasing, his eyes shone with pride.
She rolled her eyes. "Can we move to the bed?"
He didn't respond. He simply led her by the hand and got into bed with her. She cuddled against his side and closed her eyes. He held her against him and stroked her hair. She didn't have any regrets about her life, but at this moment, she wished they were human so she could hear his heartbeat and fall asleep to the rhythm of his heart and the gentle caress of his fingers through her hair.
"Do you have anything to do tonight?" She whispered, as if not wanting to disturb the quiet.
"No. Why?"
"Can I stay here like this with you tonight?"
He stopped his caress, and she opened her eyes, staring into his bright red ones. He had a frown on his forehead and a playful grin. "I would be offended if you leave my arms right now."
She giggled and settled back.
They mainly stayed silent for the first few hours, exchanging caresses and kisses here and there, but as the night advanced, they filled the quiet with laughter, more kisses, and talks.
When dawn arrived, it was time to move on. They wouldn't have the element of surprise for much longer.
Before she could leave the bed, Alec pinned her down and kissed her furiously and passionately, a prelude to what was to come.
"I want you naked in this bed after we return from that campsite." He held her chin in between his thumb and forefinger. She was panting despite not needing to breathe. "Tell me you'll come." His eyes were burning with lust but also held a vulnerability he'd been hiding from her. She didn't call him out on it. She just held his stare.
"Whether I come or not will depend on how good you are." She defied with a smirk.
She was glad to see that the trace of insecurity or sadness or whatever it was that had been present in his eyes disappeared at her words, and instead, an iron resolution settled, and he beheld her with a smirk of his own. "Oh, you'll definitely come, darling. That, I can promise you."
Was it getting hot in here? Did they have time for him to make good on his promise?
"We'll see after we come back, won't we?" She whispered in his ear before biting it seductively and bolting out of bed. Two could play that game.
He laughed and followed her to the bathroom. It wasn't the first time they'd showered together, but that morning, that shower felt way more intimate and charged with promises and unsaid words.
When they were ready, she stood on her toes before they left the room and kissed him fiercely. "I love you."
He smiled against her lips. "I love you too, even if I have to walk into a camp full of newborns with an erection and your naked body in my mind." Oh, sweet mother of Jesus, dirty Alec was her undoing.
"At least we'll distract them with your wood and my arousal. You don't play fair." She grabbed his hand and led him out of the room.
They met Jane, Santiago, and Renata on the way to the throne room. A cursory sniff to the air, and Bella knew immediately that Renata and Santiago had gotten frisky before leaving their room. Bella winked at her friend, who smiled unapologetically and continued walking. She wanted to make a joke, but she had almost locked herself with Alec in his room to prove how good he could be. She was desperate to feel that cock sliding inside of her.
She groaned when her clit throbbed. This was not the time to get turned on. They were walking into a potentially dangerous situation, and all she could think of was turning around and jumping Alec.
Soon, they entered the throne room and were met by Demetri and Felix, already clad in their cloaks and holding one other cloak. She hadn't noticed that Jane and Santiago had their cloaks on as well and that Alec had been holding his own on the opposite side of where she had walked. Perhaps, turning her on had been both from need and to distract her. It worked.
Felix helped her shrug her cloak on, and she saw Didyme beam with pride from Marcus' side. She still hadn't told Marcus about his wife. Maybe after her much-needed time with Alec, she could take a walk with the young ancient vampire and convey the news.
"Bring me the Cullen boy alive and any other with a potential gift." That was all Aro said. Caius, as always, sat in silence and observed the room. He had been the one to give her her cloak, so at least she knew his silence was not personal.
They walked out of the throne room after being dismissed. Felix took Bella's hand and kissed her cheek as a greeting while Alec and Demetri discussed strategy a few steps ahead. Santiago was saying goodbye to his mate with a passionate kiss and a promise to see her soon. Renata clung to him like she had clang to Alec the night before. She vowed silently to bring Santiago back to her best friend. Jane was a few steps behind Santiago, closing the formation.
Victoria had chosen a good spot to gather her army and plan the best course of action. It was far from the castle, possibly in hopes of being inconspicuous. Little did she know that the Volturi had spies and allies on all continents and had a larger net of intelligence than the most powerful country in the world.
So, since her spot was quite far from civilization, they took three cars. Chelsea was taking one of them for herself and any possible newborn with a potentially powerful gift. This was the part Bella didn't like. They were innocents who hadn't asked to be part of this game. They shouldn't suffer because of Victoria. If it would get her anywhere, she would have volunteered to open a school for newborns. But as good as the idea was on paper, it probably would take an army of vampires to take care of a school for newborns. So, she had to accept that this was their fate and send a little prayer to whoever heard or cared for their souls.
Sooner than she anticipated, they arrived at an empty parking lot. Except it wasn't empty. There were two cars there, rentals for the look of it. Demetri growled menacingly from the driver's side and hopped off as soon as the car was off. Felix and Alec followed suit just as fast. She was slower and thus a few steps behind.
"What are you doing here?" Demetri asked, barring his teeth. She had seen Demetri mad, but never like this.
She transferred her eyes from her mates to the scene before them and suppressed a gasp. The Cullen clan stood beside the rentals, all wearing black and stern expressions. Esme looked sad and heartbroken. Rosalie looked pissed, and Emmett's eyes widened when he looked at her, while Carlisle, Alice, and Jasper were harder to read.
"We came to assist you."
Bella frowned. Alice couldn't see her, and some others from the guards. She had never said who were her blind spots, but it was easy to guess who they were. At the very least, her three mates along with her. So, who did she know where to come?
"The Volturi don't need assistance from you." Jane answered, looking at the Cullens as if they were beneath her. Knowing her, she probably thought they were beneath her. Little spoiled witch. Bella suppressed a smile.
"There is no saving him, Carlisle." Bella warned from her place. She didn't need to get closer to be heard or seen.
Carlisle beheld her. "I thought you were Marcus ward." He sounded heartbroken and worried.
"I don't have to explain myself. We don't give second chances, Carlisle. And he threatened my life. He sold my location to my enemy and committed a crime. He is not making it out alive. Don't kid yourself." She tried to be soft, but seeing them here, after all she had reflected about them, brought old feelings of shame, of not feeling enough, of depression and darkness.
"He is our brother." Alice defended.
"If you came to plead his case, you can leave." Alec crossed his arms over his chest.
"We don't want a fight." Emmett intervened. "We did come to assist. We've been here for two days." So, they had already been in Volterra when Alice called her to warn her about Victoria. There was no way they would have made it this fast if they were in Forks or somewhere in the US when Alice had called. She felt a new wave of betrayal. Alice had known Edward was involved. If they'd been camping here for two days, and Alice had called her only yesterday afternoon…
"Did you know Edward was working with Victoria when you called me yesterday?" Bella asked Alice.
Alice looked contrite. "No. I swear I didn't know. I had glimpses of Victoria in here, and since we were monitoring the disappearances back home, we thought she had learned about your location and had moved places."
"If you suspected she was building an army, why not say so earlier? Why warn me when the army had already been built?" They had been here two days, and the Volturi had only learned about the army yesterday morning.
"Aro hasn't been answering my calls." Carlisle defended. This was the issue with him. He disregarded her completely. It was her life on the line, and the damn bastards didn't think of calling her directly. This was the proof she needed to sever all the ties with them.
She didn't miss the surprise on Chelsea's face when Bella decided to sever the ties. She probably saw the ties break forever with her gift. Let it be proof for Aro if he read Chelsea's mind.
"I don't care. Don't interfere, or you'll join them." She turned around and nodded to Santiago. He outranked her by far, but today, he nodded back at her and moved with her to the campsite, where Victoria and her army were waiting.
Her mates quickly caught up to her and surrounded her in a circle without impeding her march, forming a protective shield around her. They didn't ask any questions. This was not the place to have a heart-to-heart.
"They move so in sync." Rosalie whispered behind them.
"I think one of them is her mate, and the others are following since she is a guard now." Carlisle whispered back.
Bella smiled; no traces of humor there. "You're wrong." She responded without turning around. "The three of them are my mates. And they don't follow. They lead."
Carlisle was stunned to silence, and so was the rest of his coven.
The Volturi moved quickly towards the bigger tent, with Alec's shadows and mist enveloping the smaller tents and any wandering newborn.
Why tents? It's not as if they need rest.
Victoria, alerted by the utter silence that surrounded her, left her hiding place to investigate, only to come face to face with six Volturi guards, plus Chelsea. That's when mayhem broke. Alec dropped his shadows, and Jane took over. She'd never seen Jane's gift in action. The day she used it against Edward, she'd been too distracted to pay much attention.
Her gift was brutal, the total opposite of Alec's. She seemed to be targeting everyone at once. There were so many screams, so many trying to escape, and a few dead bodies courtesy of her mates and Santiago.
Victoria tried to flee through the mess of tents in a panic, seeing her forces dwindle with the force of Jane's fully unleashed gift and Alec's mighty shadows. Bella kept her shield around her mates, and for the first time, she felt tired. It was alarming since she couldn't get tired. But she kept on; their lives were more important than her tiredness.
One newborn in particular seemed brave enough to stand her ground. She smiled at Bella with a hint of trouble, and Bella knew this girl had been thoroughly informed about whom their pretend enemy was. "See you in hell." The girl raised her hands, and one of the spikes that had kept the tent's ropes in place, thus preventing the tent from being blown away, flew directly to her head. Bella's shield wouldn't protect her from the attack. She moved swiftly away from the trajectory of the girl's improvised weapon, barely avoiding it. She'd practiced with Jane and Alec and knew what to look for in terms of mental gifts. But she hadn't been prepared for what would happen against a physical attack. She knew how to fight hand-to-hand. But honestly, she had no desire to engage in a physical fight.
"I'm not your enemy." Bella said gently.
Chelsea was quiet next to her. Bella had seen Chelsea fight, and she was a badass, so if it came to hand-to-hand combat, Chelsea would take over. She was better trained than Bella was, either way.
The girl looked at Chelsea as if looking for guidance and confirmation. "It's true. She's not your enemy." Chelsea offered gently, nodding along with her words.
The girl lowered her hands, and her bravado fell. Bella kept her guard up just in case. "Are you going to kill me too?" Bella's heart wrinkled at the fear in the newborn's voice.
Chelsea looked at Bella for guidance, which surprised Bella. Chelsea was not part of the guard, but she had been with the Volturi longer than Bella had been. One would think that Chelsea knew how to act without asking for guidance from the guard, right?
Still, Bella answered. "No. We're not going to kill you. We will offer you the opportunity to train your gift with us if you want." What would happen to the girl if she refused? She seemed coordinated enough and lucid enough. Perhaps she was no longer a newborn. Had she passed the terrible year Bella was still in?
Bella saw with relief that the girl nodded. Chelsea then used her gift to modify her bonds and tie her to the Volturi, and then she took the girl to the parking lot.
Once Chelsea was gone, she walked to where Demetri was taking down the tents and setting them on fire with the bodies of the fallen. She roamed her eyes up and down and breathed relieved when she saw no harm had come to him. Demetri smiled teasingly at her and kissed her cheek, but no words were exchanged.
Seeing that one of her mates was still smoking hot and without any visible injury, she walked to the other two, who were discussing something with Victoria. Edward had yet to make his appearance. She stood behind her mates and did a cursory check, noting again that they were intact and untouched.
When Victoria beheld Bella and the Volturi guard who'd come with them, she tried to run again, but Santiago was closest to her. He ran like an arrow and took Victoria down, restraining her and preventing further attempts. He looked at Afton, another guard who'd volunteered to come – and that Bella had noticed once he got off with Chelsea – and pointed at the tent from where Victoria had come when they first arrived.
Afton followed his orders, and a few minutes later, he came out holding Edward. Here there was the irrefutable proof of Edward's involvement. A part of her hadn't wanted to believe he'd do something like this, but there was no kidding herself any longer. Edward had signed his death sentence.
"You didn't tell me she was the mate of three of the Volturi guards!" Bella wondered how Victoria knew that information.
Edward's eyes widened. "I only knew she was mated to Demetri."
"To be honest, Alec did tell you we all had a mate." Felix taunted from Bella's side.
Demetri, upon hearing Edward's voice, rushed to their group. He was intercepted by Santiago. "Aro wants him alive." Demetri growled frustrated but nodded.
Edward kept his mouth shut. Bella now had the choice to kill Victoria or let one of her mates do it. Afton took Edward to the parking lot in the company of Santiago, who offered Bella a small smile.
Her mates stood by her side, waiting for her to choose.
"You deserve to die." Victoria spat. No one was restraining her now, but she knew she could no longer escape. She was going to die. It was a damn shame that she couldn't bring Cullen's little bitch with her.
"It's not my fault your damn mate was fucking bored and wanted to hunt me for sport." She growled. She then smiled. Victoria looked scared now. This was not the trembling human that had hidden behind Edward's back two years ago. This girl in front of her was a weapon. She had significantly miscalculated, and it had cost her life. "With these three." She pointed to her mates behind her. "It would have happened anyway. Safe to say, you messed with the wrong bitch." And then, she took off her head.
It was a clean death, no vengeance speech, no torturing like James had done with her. This was a merciful death compared to what Victoria had undoubtedly planned for her. But Bella was not Victoria. She didn't seek gratification in hurting innocent people. It had been her mate who started everything, not her. The Cullens had been defending her, just like she was now defending herself.
"Light her up." She asked her mates.
Demetri took out a match and dropped it in Victoria's body, lighting her up and finishing her off for good.
"Are you ok?" Alec stood before her, Felix and Demetri standing slightly behind, looking at her with concern.
"It's over, right?"
"It's over, princess." Bella sagged with relief and let go of her shield. The buzzing that had bothered her so much quieted down finally.
Alec closed the space and hugged her. Felix and Demetri did the same. She clung to them and sobbed drily into their bodies. Feeling the tension that had been in her chest for a few days disappear. It was over. She was safe, her mates and friends were safe, and she managed to at least save one life.
"You're all ok, right?" She mumbled into Felix's shoulder.
"Yes, sweetheart. No one got close enough to touch us." She felt one of her mates kiss her forehead. In this mess of limbs, it was hard to identify who it was.
"Let's go home." She nodded, acknowledging Alec's words.
…
…
…
Edward rode in with Afton, while Santiago rode with Chelsea and the newborn girl. Bella rode with her mates and Jane, and the Cullens followed close behind. Carlisle had tried to plead Edward's case with Bella, but she had simply ignored him before getting into the car.
If he wanted to plead Edward's case, let him do it in front of Aro and the other two kings. Let's see what Caius thinks now. Bella had never thought she would side with Caius, the ruthless king. There was a first for everything.
…
…
…
Renata clung to Santiago as soon as he got off the car. Not that Santiago was any different. He buried his face in her hair and held her tight against his body. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Renata released him and turned to Bella.
"Are you ok?" She knew Renata was not asking about her physical well-being. Bella nodded and received Renata's hug with a smile.
Jane rolled her eyes next to her. "Such dramatics for a little mission." Renata ignored her teasing and hugged her as well. Jane might be a badass and a little cynical, but she had her heart in the right place.
"Aro is waiting for all of you." Gianna informed from the door of the garage.
…
…
…
Aro was not pleased with the presence of all the Cullens, and least of all with the news and proof that Edward had sold the location of one of his members and confided to create a newborn army, risking exposure.
As soon as they had entered the throne room, Demetri, ever the commanding force of the guard, walked up to Aro and offered his hand. The entire interaction had taken less than 5 minutes, but that had been enough information for Aro, who stood from his chair and walked down the dais. Esme had been suspiciously quiet the entire time, same as Jasper. Rosalie and Emmett had only spoken once.
Alice hadn't made any other attempts to speak with Bella, but she stood next to Carlisle. Bella wondered about Alice's ultimate goal. Was she still pleading Edward's case? Would she go down with Edward because she refused to believe that Edward had screwed over?
"This brings me no joy, Carlisle." Aro started. "But your boy has broken many of our rules. I offered him an opportunity when he almost exposed himself a few months ago. I did that for you, my friend. But I wouldn't be a just leader and ruler if I allowed criminals to live."
The rules were simple, keep the secret. And anything that risked exposure was punishable by death. Do not attempt to keep mates from each other. Do not create immortal children. Mostly these were the most important rules there were. Edward had risked exposure a few times already. And the Volturi didn't like newborn armies either, and Edward had participated in one.
Aro walked to Edward and took his hand. Edward's sentence was already decided, but Aro still had a few missing points from the plot.
"You did not create any newborn, but you did not stop their creation. Their deaths are on you." Edward's eyes filled with shame. Emmett closed the distance and embraced Esme. "You sold out Isabella's location to an enemy, knowing well what this would cause. You knew she had at least one mate, and with malice in mind, you hoped a newborn army would take him away." Bella gasped, horrified, and grabbed Demetri's hand. Felix and Alec frowned and closed the formation around Demetri.
"You risked exposure three times already. You understand why I will not let this slide. I offered you an opportunity before, but you betrayed your family and my trust. For that, my brothers and I had decided to sentence you to death."
Carlisle's face showed how heartbreaking this scene was for him—his son, his firstborn in many ways, dying at the hands of his oldest friend.
"Santiago, if you may." Santiago nodded and walked towards Edward.
"Take him to the backyard." Santiago nodded and dragged Edward away. Bella had no intention of following. She had no desire to watch his execution. She was no longer in love with him, hadn't been for a long time, but that didn't mean she wanted to watch him die. He definitely deserved it, but it was a hard limit for her.
"Cullens. You may take your leave." Aro dismissed the meeting without his usual pompous theatrics.
Alec pecked Bella's lips and took a step back. "Come find me later." Bella giggled at the meaning of his words. He winked at her and left the room.
"Are you sure, princess?" Bella nodded, and Felix and Demetri left.
She had told them she wanted closure with the Cullens and would like to speak with them someday. Only, the day had arrived earlier than expected.
"Three mates, huh?" Emmett teased.
"Three mates." She confirmed with a little smile.
"Are you happy here?" Rosalie asked, surprisingly.
"Very much." Bella answered without revealing anything else. She didn't owe them anything.
"I'm sorry for my part in this mess." Jasper drawled. "I tried to attack you during your birthday. It wasn't my brightest moment."
Bella shook her head. "We were set up, Jasper. I don't hold it against you."
Jasper smiled. "What will happen to the girl you saved?"
"She's going to train with us and live with us until she decides she no longer wants to stay. She might be offered a place in the guard or just a place to stay here, but the decision to stay or leave will be hers."
He nodded.
Bella looked at Carlisle and felt sad for him. He looked older and worn out. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry about your loss."
"That was cruel, Bella." Carlisle's words didn't surprise her, which was even sadder.
She shook her head. "I'm not having this discussion with you, Carlisle. I only stayed to ask you to stay away, and don't contact me anymore, please."
Emmett frowned. "All of us?"
"For the time being, yes." She didn't have the strength to speak with Emmett right now or go over one by one and hear their version of the events. This was her decision now. If later she wanted to revisit, then that was a problem for future Bella.
…
…
…
She watched the Cullens leave. Alice and Jasper might as well have an ocean apart. After such an emotional moment, it seemed strange that two mates didn't want to seek comfort from one another.
Bella smelled Chelsea when the door behind her opened. "I almost feel bad for Jasper and Alice's mating bond."
"Oh, they're not mates."
Bella turned around, eyes wide in surprise. "What?"
"That girl you saved?" Bella nodded. "That's Jasper's mate."
Holy fuck!
