Chapter 8: The Trial of Edward Mason

As the Volturi sped out of Chicago heading towards New York, they stopped purposely concealing their thoughts. What Edward heard disgusted him. He was still in shock, struggling to accept that Mindy was really gone. Though he wanted to blame himself, he knew that would be wrong. He would have protected Mindy to the very end. No, it was these three vampires who were to blame. Now he knew who they were and who had sent them: they were members of the Volturi.

Edward was reeling; the Volturi were supposed to be the leaders of his world. Why had they done this? He had done nothing wrong, but from his captors' thoughts, he knew they planned to frame him for Mindy's murder with fabricated accusations that he hadn't been covering his kills. Their entire sinister plan had been revealed to him through Demetri's thoughts. Demetri was the one who had killed Mindy and as Edward listened in on Demetri's thoughts, including his conversation with Aro, he learned why they had done this. Aro wanted him to join the Volturi, and they were using these trumped-up charges to try and force his hand.

Mindy's life had been stolen from her so these bastards could blackmail him? What a joke, what a sick twisted joke. Edward would never join these monsters; he'd sooner die. Ten years ago, he would have welcomed death, having not chosen this life and would've preferred to be in heaven with his mother and father. But his thinking had evolved. These past few years, living on his own for the first time in both his mortal and immortal lives, had allowed him to grow, and his opinions on vampire life had matured with him. Now, he could only hope to somehow escape this paralysis and take Demetri with him to hell. Avenging what he had done to Mindy was really all he could hope for now, as he saw no way out of this situation that would allow him to return to his old life.

Listening to Alec's thoughts, Edward learned that Alec was the cause of his current stupor. While Felix carried him to New York, Edward gleaned much from Alec, who appeared quite upset with his compatriots. However, Edward found Alec's mind just as perverted, if not more so, and after a time, he truly wished that Alec would stop thinking altogether. Surprisingly, of the three, Felix's mind was the easiest to stomach. He was quite simple, mostly occupied with thoughts of fighting and past battles. Despite Felix harboring an inordinate amount of fantasies of ripping off his head, as unnerving as that was, his thoughts were much easier for Edward to handle than the disturbed minds of Demetri and Alec.

Almost immediately, he learned that they were taking him to Volterra, the longtime home of the Volturi. Carlisle had stayed in Volterra for several decades in the 1700s, but he had never wanted to talk about that time of his life with Edward. Now, he wished he had asked more questions so he would know what to expect when he got there. Either way, he would never willingly join these... he didn't even think "monsters" was a harsh enough term. One thing he was sure of, he knew he would be killed once he refused. He didn't want to die, but there were some things that are worse than death, and he would not become like these monsters, and live out his eternity as what... some sick lapdog to Aro Volturi.

As the realization hit him, Edward knew he would be shaking his head with a bitter laugh if that were possible. The Volturi... they were just like all those criminals at 'The Four Deuces' working for Al Capone. How could the vampire world have its very own version of the crime boss, in the name of Aro Volturi? He had heard a few horror stories about the Volturi in the decade since he had become a vampire, but now he wondered how bad the situation really was. For a group of immortals to be as evil as he now feared, the amount of damage they could do over the millennia was beyond his comprehension, and the Volturi had been in charge for over three thousand years.

By the next night, the Volturi had reached New York, and Edward was forced to bear silent witness to even further depravity as they each drained two innocent humans. From their thoughts, he knew Demetri and Felix weren't even hungry. Regardless, men and women who had done nothing wrong and were only in the wrong place at the wrong time had been slaughtered, their bodies piled up in a heap and burned in a warehouse, with him thrown haphazardly in a corner like some young girl's rag doll, unable to do a thing to prevent it.

He listened as Felix departed, only to return soon after with a traveling trunk. Though he couldn't feel anything, Edward gleaned from Demetri's thoughts that he was being stuffed rather roughly inside the trunk. Over the next two weeks, he remained locked in the trunk within the ship's hold as they sailed for Livorno. Alec remained with him throughout the voyage in order to keep him pacified, while Demetri and Felix occasionally ascended to the deck during the night.

Edward spent this time focusing his thoughts. It was difficult, but for his own peace of mind, he tried not to dwell on Mindy. What was done was done, and now he could only hope to take some of these bastards out with him. He clung to the hope that Carlisle had been right and not all vampires were damned. Maybe there was a chance he could go to heaven too, although he truly doubted it. Even though he liked to think of himself as a good person who tried his best to make good after being dealt a bad hand, he knew he was still a killer. No, he rebuked himself for entertaining such negative thoughts. He had grown past that way of thinking. He was a good person; he knew it to his very core. He would not depart this world seeing himself as anything like these Volturi.

Demetri inhaled deeply, savoring the familiar Italian air. With a contented smile, he released his breath, glad to finally be back home. Italy's old-world streets stood in stark contrast to the polluted cityscapes of Chicago and New York. He couldn't fathom why anyone would choose to live in such filth. He tried not to let his frustration show over their current mission. It was their job, but a month spent wasted fetching Cullen wasn't going to be a highlight in his long live. Edward hadn't even put up a fight, although that was the reason they brought Alec along. He couldn't wait to get back to the castle and let out all of his pent-up urges with Heidi. Without her company, it had been a very long month indeed. Glancing at Felix, who effortlessly supported the trunk against his back, Demetri spoke, "Alright, let's get this over with. Felix, grab Cullen so we can properly run to Volterra. It's time to deliver Master Aro his prize."

Felix dropped the trunk, its impact resonating with a loud thud against the ground. With a swift motion, he tore open the top, revealing Cullen's contorted body wedged within the cramped confines. A deep chuckle rumbled from Felix's chest as he found amusement in the vampire's awkward position. Bending down, he effortlessly seized Cullen's arm, lifting the limp form with ease and hoisting the dead weight onto his broad shoulder. Nightfall had just arrived, and a sense of relief washed over Felix, knowing they would reach the castle easily before dawn. He anticipated the end of this mission eagerly, looking forward to returning to his familiar routine in the castle.

Several hours before morning, they slipped into the castle through a secret underground tunnel, bypassing most of the town to avoid being seen carrying a body. Navigating the twisting halls and corridors, they finally reached the gleaming golden doors of the throne room. As they entered quietly, Felix observed that the room was filled with members of the guard as court was currently in session. They moved to the side of the room, patiently waiting for their turn to approach the dais and address the kings.

Felix watched as Santiago ripped the head off the newborn who had been on trial. He wished they had arrived before court had begun so he could have been the enforcer in charge, which was his usual position. The visceral thrill of ripping off a head was something he had sorely missed, as he had gone without any true form of violence for their entire trip to America. His mind wandered once again to the fantasy of tearing off Cullen's head, a wicked grin spreading across his lips as he turned his head to picture the gruesome scene. However, all he saw was Cullen's ass staring back at him, prompting him to quickly look away while shaking his head, trying to dispel that image. Yeah, after weeks of ferrying this asshole across the world, he would certainly enjoy ending him, but after all the work they had gone through to bring him to Volterra, he doubted Master Aro would be so quick to discard his new toy. Observing another member of the guard come forward, Felix watched as the guardsman grabbed the newborn's twitching body in one hand and the head in the other, bowing first to the Masters he left swiftly to dispose of the newborn in the fire pit. With the current trial concluded, he saw Demetri motion for him and Alec to approach the dais with him.

Aro Volturi had noticed his highest-ranking guards arrive a few minutes ago, and he promptly concluded the current trial. He would have preferred to drag it out, playing to his audience as he always loved to do, but he was eager to move on to this new trial. Spotting the boy draped over Felix's shoulder, a smile crept onto his lips. The prospect of having someone to read everyone's mind from afar promised invaluable insights. Once Cullen was properly trained, he would undoubtedly become the perfect spy. Never needing to get close to the target, yet able to glean all their secrets, potential plans, and even uncover possible uprisings among their kind. The potential for Cullen's usefulness seemed limitless.

Aro remembered when Demetri had first informed him about Edward close to a decade ago. Back then, he had, of course, been keen on acquiring him, but Carlisle was one of the few friends he had whom he actually enjoyed conversing with. He knew if he waited, Edward would eventually leave Carlisle's company; after all, who would willingly subsist solely on animal blood for eternity? He still couldn't fathom why Carlisle did it. And like always, he was proven right, as not even a decade later, he had heard from a nomad's mind that Edward had indeed left Carlisle and was now on his own. To be either enticed or conscripted into service, he would soon find out.

With the quick realization that Cullen was most likely privy to all his thoughts at this moment, Aro knew he needed to exercise caution and shield his mind until Cullen was fully trained and obedient, understanding his role in the world. Signaling for Demetri and his companions to approach, Aro also turned to Sarah. Their rapport was well-established, and she anticipated his needs without requiring verbal cues. Gesturing towards the advancing group, she nodded and offered a respectful bow.

Aro watched as Sarah advanced toward Felix, her gaze fixed intently on the young Mr. Cullen. Sarah had been such an extraordinary find, not even 30 years ago. Once she realized that serving was her only option, she swiftly became an invaluable member of the Volturi, ascending through the ranks until she was granted the honor of joining the coven instead of merely serving as a member of the guard. He frequently delved into her mind, finding it so twisted that he no longer worried about her rebelling; she was one of them now. With a smile, he watched as she glanced at Cullen for a few moments before turning around to bow respectfully to him, then returning to her position beside Jane.

As Edward tracked the thoughts of his three captors, he knew they were about to enter the throne room inside the castle. Right on cue, his mind was bombarded with the thoughts of dozens upon dozens of vampires. It was by far the most vampires he had ever encountered at one time. He struggled to keep track of all their desperate thoughts. Vampires thought much faster than humans and could entertain many divergent lines of thinking simultaneously, making it much more difficult for him to keep up with everything around him. With a bit of practice, he could probably manage, but he had no illusions about what was soon to happen to him. For now, there was only one mind he needed to hear.

He quickly managed to isolate Aro's thoughts, gaining a clearer understanding of the man who had hijacked his life for his own sick purposes. As he listened in to Aro's thoughts during the ongoing trial, his suspicions were confirmed—Aro's mind was one of the most malevolent he had ever encountered. While his captors were indeed monstrous, they were merely following orders. It was Aro who had dispatched his flunkies on their mission and instructed Demetri to frame him.

While waiting for his farce of a trial to begin, Edward listened in on the thoughts of the other supposed kings. Caius harbored so much rage that Edward was convinced Caius would burn the world down if he had the power. Marcus, on the other hand, had barely any coherent thoughts. Something was clearly wrong with him; fleeting wishes for his own death flickered through his mind, but for the most part, Marcus's mind was vacant. Edward couldn't believe these were the three who ruled over the vampire race. It was apparent that the Volturi were, in reality, ruled solely by Aro.

Edward heard Aro realizing he should be mindful of his thoughts around another mind reader. He scoffed hearing of Aro's plans to break him. Aro was deluding himself to believe the he would ever serve a tyrant like him or bow down and call him master like all these sycophants around him. Then Aro's thoughts drifted to a vampire named Sarah, contemplating her potential aid. Edward didn't like the sound of this and began searching through the minds of all the vampires in the room, looking for this Sarah to find out what was going to happen. But before he could isolate her mind, everything went silent.

What had happened? He heard nothing. Absolutely nothing. For the first time since he became a vampire, there was absolute silence. Deprived of all his other senses, he found himself trapped in a void, a prison inside his own body, with no idea of what was happening around him. It was the first time since he was taken that he felt actual fear. What had happened to his ability?

After Sarah had finished blocking Edward's ability and returned to her station beside Jane, Aro stood up to address everyone in the throne room. "Ah, I see we have our next case. Demetri, Felix, Alec, please step forward. Whom do you have there with you?"

Demetri stood before the dais, bowing deeply. "Master Aro, Master Caius, Master Marcus," he intoned with reverence, "this vampire's name is Edward Cullen. We apprehended him after witnessing his complete disregard for one of our most fundamental laws: leaving drained bodies for humans to find. Upon witnessing this transgression, we immediately confronted him. However, he refused to return willingly with us to Volterra to stand in judgment before you. Therefore, we took matters into our own hands to allow you to give him a fair and just trial, and if found guilty, to be punished for his crimes as the law demands."

"Cullen? Does he have any relation to that pitiful excuse of a vampire, Carlisle Cullen?" Caius fumed. Oh, how he wished he had turned Carlisle to ash all those years ago when he caught him proselytizing his damnable ideas. For some reason, though, Aro had favored Carlisle and allowed him to leave on his own accord. Not to be outdone, Caius had sent the guard after him with a very clear message: if he ever returned to Italy, he would never be leaving.

"Yes, Master Caius," Demetri responded, his tone respectful. "He is Carlisle's first progeny. I met Edward with Carlisle several years ago briefly in New York. That's how I knew who Edward was. He was very obstinate when we confronted him. Almost every word out of his mouth was a lie, and he seemed quite unhinged, spouting baseless accusations. We were forced to keep him under Alec's power all the way back to Volterra, as we feared he might even try to expose our existence to the humans by revealing his true nature." Demetri maintained his composed demeanor, recalling the instructions Aro had carefully given to him for just this moment.

Descending from the dais, Aro approached the group. "This is most distressing news. I find it hard to believe our dear friend Carlisle would raise such an obstinate progeny. I will read him and get to the bottom of this." Aro then moved towards Cullen, who remained immobilized, dead to the world under Alec's power. As Aro touched Cullen's hand, he gleaned every thought he had ever harbored in a matter of seconds.

Hmm. This was not good. Demetri had done his job well and followed his orders, but he had drained someone who meant something to Cullen—well, Mason now it seemed. As Edward's memories flashed through Aro's mind, he enjoyed seeing his old friend Carlisle after so many years. It was not often that Aro actually liked anyone, but Carlisle had a keen mind unlike the dullards that made up the Volturi.

Refocusing on Edward, Aro recognized the challenge ahead. Edward would not be as easily broken as he had hoped, and enticing Edward to join now would be a lost cause. What Edward wished for the most was to get free from his bondage so he could inflict his revenge and take out as many as he could before dying himself.

Aro shook his head. No, that would not work. He wanted Edward's ability, and he would have it. Aro thought over all his options in an instant, finally determining that breaking Edward slowly through the years would be his best course of action. He had wanted Edward's ability immediately, but he acknowledged that time was inconsequential. Whether it took 50, 100, or even 500 years, Aro was confident he would eventually achieve Edward's obedience. And when that day came, Edward would kneel before him and address him as Master.

Returning to the dais, Aro stepped up to his throne between Caius and Marcus and settled back into his seat. He surveyed the vampires before him. "Such a shame. It seems Edward Mason here has departed from Carlisle's wise company and has been a relative nomad for the past few years. Indeed, he has been very naughty with his feeding practices, as Demetri asserted, and deserves punishment."

"I'm glad you agree," Caius sneered, then turned to Felix with a gleam in his eye, barking, "Felix, remove his head at once!"

Aro interjected swiftly, raising his hand to halt any actions from Felix. "Peace, brother. While Edward's crimes were heinous, I believe there may be a path to redemption. Of course, he will have to spend years, if not centuries, in our dungeon. And after that, serve as a loyal member of our guard, as recompense for his transgressions. Yes, I find this to be a much more fitting punishment than a swift death," Aro smiled confidently. He would obtain his mind reader. He would slowly break Edward down over the decades or even centuries, if necessary. Over time, all vampires succumbed to the pressures of imprisonment, willing to comply with any demands to escape their confinement. He would monitor Edward periodically, waiting for the opportune moment when his mind was ripe for reshaping, offering him a semblance of freedom in exchange for his eternal servitude.

"Alec, please awaken Mr. Mason," Aro commanded, his eyes fixed on his prize as Felix effortlessly flipped Edward over. Quickly, Felix and Demetri each secured one of Edward's arms, ensuring he remained restrained.

Edward had no idea what was happening around him. This nothingness was the most uncomfortable he had felt since the torment of his change. He couldn't keep track of how much time had elapsed—minutes, hours? He was sure it hadn't been days. Then, suddenly, all at once, his senses returned. Being able to see again was a shock, and he quickly turned his head, looking everywhere to get his bearings. Realizing he was staring at the dais with the three supposed kings sitting regally before him, he began to struggle, trying to move, but found his body was being restrained on both sides.

The realization that his end was near was at the forefront of his mind, and he ceased struggling, determined to speak while he still had the chance. His eyes locked onto the dais and the smug smile of Aro Volturi, which only further inflamed his ire. He raised his voice, calling out for all to hear, "I've done nothing wrong! I am being framed by Aro Volturi. You have no right to do what you have done! I will never join your band of merry psychopaths, Aro!" His words echoed through the large chamber. Even though he knew they would fall on deaf ears, he had to try to set the record straight and make his position clear. The injustice of it all burned within him, fueling his defiance in the face of his inevitable doom.

Edward watched as the vampire on the left of the dais sped down the steps, backhanding him with such force that he had to regain his bearings. The look of pure rage in the vampire's eyes left no doubt, this was Caius. "Silence, boy," Caius spat, his voice filled with anger. "You deserve a quick death for what you've done. I would have executed you already, but it seems your ties to that fool Carlisle, are going to save your miserable hide. I see by your eyes you don't follow his wretched excuse of a diet. At least that's one good thing to say about you."

Aro quickly spoke up, eager to regain control of the situation. The boy was dangerous, as he clearly knew too much, having read everyone's minds before Sarah interceded, and if Edward antagonized Caius any further, Aro feared he might not be able to stop Caius from unleashing his wrath upon the boy.

"Edward Mason," Aro's voice echoed through the chamber, commanding everyone's attention. "You stand accused of negligence and endangering the secrecy of our race. I propose a sentence of imprisonment for an indefinite period of time until such time as you repent for your crimes. At which point, you will serve us in the guard for a term of 1000 years. How say you, brothers? Guilty or innocent?"

"Guilty!" Caius sneered.

Silence descended over the throne room, everyone awaiting the outcome. After a while, the silence started to become uncomfortable. Finally, Aro turned to his brother, his expression softening. "Marcus?" Aro addressed him in a gentler tone.

Marcus turned his head to his brother, who was watching him intently. He noticed Aro subtly motioning with his eyes toward an unfamiliar vampire. Using his true sight, Marcus examined the young man more closely and saw that he had few bond connections, one of which had recently been severed, causing him considerable distress. Marcus understood that pain all too well. At least the broken bond hadn't been solid; the young man would recover in time. Marcus turned back to his brother, who was still watching him with that same expectant look. Aro raised his eyebrows meaningfully. Ah, the verdict. "Guilty?" Marcus intoned, hoping that was the response Aro expected. It usually was. He turned back to stare at the wall.

Aro's face was stoic as he turned to the accused. "Edward Mason, you have been found guilty of your crimes. Your sentence will be carried out immediately." He motioned dismissively with his hand, indicating he was done with the boy. "Felix, Demetri, take him away."

Aro planned to check on Edward in a decade or so. By then, he hoped Edward would have cooled down and become more amenable to serving him. Most changed their tune after being confined in one of the dungeon cages for an extended period.

Edward struggled as Demetri and Felix began to move him, straining with all his strength to break Demetri's grip in a futile attempt to inflict some sort of harm on him, but it was no use. Halfway to the rear doors of the throne room, a thought crossed his mind, and he called out urgently, needing an answer. "Wait! What's happened to my ability?" He saw Aro raise his hand, signaling Demetri and Felix to stop.

"Your ability has been taken from you and will be returned when you have shown remorse for your crimes and are ready to serve in our guard. Until then, you will go without it," Aro said with a smile. Most vampires struggled when deprived of an ability they relied on, and with an ability as powerful as mind reading, Aro was certain Edward would want it back as soon as possible. It was just another notch in his favor, another step toward bringing Edward under his sway.

"Wait!" Caius commanded, stopping Demetri and Felix as they began moving Edward once again toward the exit. He smiled devilishly. "I think we need to respect our dear friend Carlisle during this trying time. Wouldn't you agree, Aro? After all, Carlisle wouldn't want his own progeny feeding on humans while he's with us. We must honor Carlisle's long-standing values. Yes, this is what Carlisle would want and insist on."

He turned to Edward with a malevolent grin. "Edward Cullen, for the duration of your imprisonment, you shall feed strictly as Carlisle would. Don't worry; every two weeks, we'll have a nice selection of animals for you to savor. I think you'll quite enjoy the taste of rats. Goodbye, Mr. Cullen."

Caius exhaled with a rare, genuine smile as they dragged Edward from the throne room.

As Edward was pulled from the throne room, he tried once more to fight off Demetri's hold. This was the monster who had murdered Mindy, and it might be his only chance to avenge her. Despite his struggles, Demetri and Felix held on tightly, their strength far surpassing his. They dragged him through several long hallways, and he continued to resist. Soon, they began descending a long row of ancient-looking stone steps, moving further underground.

Finally, they reached the dungeon with its very long line of cells. Edward couldn't help but wonder how many others were imprisoned down here. He doubted that Aro's framing of him was an isolated incident. Every so often, a guard stood posted to watch over the cells.

At last, at the very end of the long hall, they arrived at a darkened cell. There were no windows, and Edward had no idea how far underground they were. A guard opened the thick metal door, which squeaked from disuse. Felix and Demetri threw him hard against the far wall, causing a crack in the stone and dust to fall to the floor as he landed.

As Edward stood up, he heard the cell door slam shut and lock with a loud metal clang.

"Enjoy your stay, Mr. Cullen," Demetri sneered, peering through the door's slots.

Edward seethed with rage as he watched Demetri, free to continue his perverse ways. With murder in his eyes, he fixed his gaze on Demetri and whispered, "I'm going to kill you for what you did to Mindy. One day, I'll end you."

Demetri paused, looking at Edward curiously. "Who?" he pondered, trying to recall whom Cullen could be referring to. Then it dawned on him—the woman he had been with in Chicago. Maybe she hadn't been just a late-night snack after all.

"Oh, the woman," Demetri remarked, his tone almost nonchalant. "You missed out on a good one there. She tasted divine." He paused, noticing the anger flashing in Cullen's eyes, and decided to really rile him up. Leaning forward until his face was right in front of the bars, he continued, "While I was sucking the life out of her, she really put up a struggle. It really got her blood pumping as I drank, and I drank until sadly there was just none left." He grinned at the boy in his cage. "Good luck with that revenge, though." With a laugh, he and Felix departed. By the time they had ascended the stone steps and exited the dungeon, they had completely forgotten about Edward Mason.

As Demetri and Felix left the dungeon, Edward finally turned around from the cell door to take in his surroundings. The room was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by a torch flickering on the other side of the cell doors, beyond his reach. Despite the dimness, his enhanced vision allowed him to see clearly. The space was small, perhaps no more than ten feet by ten feet, and barren. All there was in the room was a cot with a dusty mattress. He wondered why they even bothered to provide that much comfort.

Sitting down on the cot, he pondered his situation. Glancing around, he observed the left wall, then turned his head to inspect the far wall, and finally shifted his gaze to the wall with the door. Hmm. That was about it. He nodded to himself, surveying the room once more before exhaling heavily. What was he going to do now?

Now, don't fret too much about Edward. I don't write tragedies, and I promise you will love Edward's story once he gets out of that hell hole. When that happens remains to be seen, but I will be having chapters intermixed with Bella's story, going through the decades showcasing Edward's life as well as the Cullens' lives. It was great fun writing the Twilight characters in the past, and I'm particularly happy with the chapters that take place in 1936 and 1975.

I like to think of Twilight fanfiction as a giant multiverse. In my first story, Bella and Garrett were the perfect match. In my next story, it was Bella and a very different Demetri who fell in love. Now, finally, we've come to a reality where it's Bella and Edward's time to shine.

Reviews or comments are welcome and appreciated.