CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴏʟᴛᴜʀɪ

The splatters of blood-coloured ribbons dissolved into the bright sky as Bella disappeared into the crowd, the noon sun high against the blue and clouded backdrop. Large and bustling crowds, paired with the looming threat of death to each of us made me want to go back to the days that were locked within the same, repeating monotonousness.

"She doesn't understand how dangerous this will be... for all of us," Alice whispered, hands still clenching the steering wheel. 

Then she moved to open the door, preparing to slip into the shadowed side of the street, without detection. My hand snapped around hers like a handcuff, pulling her back to my side.

"Keep yourself safe. For me," I said softly. "When we're out of here, I'm not going to hide it anymore. Just remember your promise to me, okay?"

I didn't elaborate on what it was that I'd been keeping from her and would ultimately share. But perhaps I didn't need to. Alice's gifts were great enough that my revelation would probably not come as much of a surprise, given how much thought had gone into my decision, and the feeling that she felt the same, at least an inkling of something underlying, had persuaded me as much as my own desire.

I couldn't keep it hidden anymore. How long had my mask been glued to the outline of my face, shaped around my inner personality? Far longer than the years I'd been a vampire.  But all masks were made to be removed, and it was Alice who had made me want to rip into from my very skin.

Alice smiled and then went to leave the car again, wasting no time to lead the way. I slipped from my own side, stepping out into the strip of sun, letting it soak into my skin for a few seconds before I was following Alice again. Even that one, tiny glimpse of the sun's rays felt dangerous and illegal in some way.

She slid easily through the alleyway, already knowing where to take us. The clanging boom of the clock tower rang through the air. Not seconds later, Bella's shrill scream shattered the following silence, somewhere close by. Alice led us to the rooftops, scaling up a drainpipe and hopping over the slates and disappearing over the other edge, landing smoothly on her feet. I dropped down beside her, elbows grazing.

"Let's behave ourselves, shall we?" she said with her honey-like voice, the worlds dripping over her lips, almost seductively. "There are ladies present."

Across the shaded alleyway, Edward stood with his arms spread to cover Bella, who peered curiously over his shoulder. He looked no different from how he looked those months ago. There was no sign of his distress, of his deep, unfathomable sadness. That was all replaced by the disbelief and urgent need to make sure that Bella was okay.

Alice and I stood between Edward and Bella and two others. The men in the smoked grey cloaks straightened as Alice swung into the short space, arms floating in the air as she spoke in gestures. Their cloaks swirled around their ankles, undulating like waves as a gust of wind tunnelled through the back street, bringing with it a nipping chill that rubbed at Bella's cheeks.

"We're not alone," Alice reminded them.

"Please, Edward, let us be reasonable," the shorter man said, letting the bulkier one- the one that looked like a grumpier and uglier Emmett- close off the end of the alley.

"Let's," Edward agreed calmly. "And we'll leave quietly now, with no one the wiser."

"At least let us discuss this more privately," the same man said.

Edward's teeth gritted, an inaudible growl leaving his lips. "No."

"Enough."

It was clear that the person was another one of us. The cloak was darker, dripping over pale brown hair and twisting around a slim, pale neck. The body was slim and small- at first like Alice- but as they drew closer, looked more slender and androgynous. Her chin tilted, exposing her thin face to the shadows of the alley, wide eyes bathing in the absence of the light, shining a daunting crimson. She looked both like the shape of a child's doll, perfectly petite and soft-faced, almost like a child herself, and simultaneously an aged statue, cracked yet balanced, standing at before the threshold of a church, taunting like the devil himself.

Despite her size and delicate appearance, the two males slid away, returning to the darest corners of the shadows, as if they were one and the same. Even Edward's stance relaxed, his arms dropping neatly to his side. But as I watched him- watched his face fall, I realised it was not with relief. It was in defeat.

"Jane," he said, eyes never leaving her figure.

My gaze shifted to Alice. Her own position was tensed, her arms crossed and face taciturn.

"Follow me," Jane said, her voice even but high, far older sounding than what her face suggested.

"I'm surprised you're here," Edward said. There was no taunting in his voice, no show of disdain, and for that I was thankful.

"I'm here for Alice," I said, glancing at her figure, which led toward where Jane and the two males had disappeared. "She'd be heartbroken if you did this."

I let my hand lean comfortably on his elbow, making him look down at me.

"I'm glad we got here in time. Sincerely."

And, to my surprise, he smiled. His lips upturned, without letting the gesture move his eyes.

"Who were the other two?" I asked.

"Felix and Demitri," he said, face scowling as a reaction to their names.

"Down here." Alice's shout came from somewhere in front, echoing from down below.

I peered down the drain hole, where Alice looked back up at me, eyes wide amongst the dark. I jumped down after her, feeling her arm automatically hold my waist. I chuckled, despite the situation- as if a hand was necessary.

"Alice? Elide?" Bella shouted, head popping into the circle of light.

"We're right here, Bella. Ready?" Alice shouted back. "Drop her."

Bella hissed as she dropped straight into Alice's waiting arms, letting her stand her upright. She blinked against the darkness, shuffling so Edward can slide in easily to stand beside us. The screeching of a metal grate moving back of the drain broke through the silence, blocking the way back to the car as a final act of certitude.

The tunnel was lit dimly by an unseen source, leading further and further to a destination which Alice didn't dare say allowed with the two vampires prowling close behind. The chill in the air grew dangerously frosty as we neared, sending a shiver up Bella's back. Her chattering set off around of sighs from the man behind- Felix.

The tunnel ended with more bars, and the further we went, the more it began to feel as if we were burrowing into the side of a lion's cage. The mosaic of bars was opened by a long, dark arm, and we stepped through into a bright room, hearing the ominous click of a lock soon after.

The welcome addition of light after the trail of the grim sewers didn't seem to calm my companions. Edward stood sharp on his toes, eyes narrowed into a glower, his lips curved into a snarl. Alice, beside me, had her arms crossed, appearing somewhat passive, had it not been for the red lip that was tucked beneath her teeth.

Further through the reems of corridors and the opulent room we were taken, until we reached what seemed to be a reception room. A woman, skin flushed and dark-toned and perfectly human, smiled at us as we strode toward the hall from behind her desk, her green eyes wide in what could be called admiration. I felt a tug on my elbow as we passed, following behind Jane. Her eyes tugged forward and I snapped my gaze away from the woman.

"Good afternoon Jane," she chimed from behind.

Jane nodded, not moving her eyes from her pathway. "Gianna."

The door was pulled open before we'd even reached them. The room we entered was grand, far more polished and proud than the rest we walked through, with doors covered in ornate gold covering most of the far wall. A pale boy greeted Jane, his hair darker and cheeks slimmer, gaunt almost, but definitely related. He grinned slyly, reaching for an embrace.

"Jane."

"Alec," she said, kissing his cheeks on both sides.

"They send you for one and you come back with three... and a half," he said, eyes skipping over us and landing straight on Bella, with a quick flash of his teeth. Jane laughed, the sound odd and unnatural from her full lips. "Nice work. Welcome back, Edward. You seem in a better mood."

"Marginally," Edward said flatly.

"And this is the cause of all the trouble?"

"Dibs," Felix called from behind.

I straightened, following Edward's position as his back snapped up, shoulders puffing out like a tiger. A low, thunderous snarl was unfurling from his throat, threatening to rupture. But an arm reached out, gripping his wrist.

"Patience," Alice whispered.

"Aro will be pleased to see you again," Alec said.

Jane smiled."Let's not keep him waiting."

The room beyond the next hallway was a copy of the sinister stones of the sewers, as dark and as dim as a coffin, with red velvet lining the seats that surrounded the long wooden table in the centre. Slits broke through the old stone of the walls, projecting arrows of lights onto the floors, in the shapes of thin crosses. A man in night black robes passed through them, skin erupting into diamonds of shimmers as he moved to greet us.

"Jane, dear one, you've returned!" he shouted, his voice in near-hysterical delight.

"Yes, master," Jane said, a slight bow to her head. "I've brought him back alive, just as you wished."

The man drifted forward with the same unearthly grace we all contained. His head lifted from beneath his cloak, letting long, sleek-black hair slide down his front. His skin was deathly pale, the contours of his cheeks greyish and eyes a burning red. He was both beautiful and hideous, in some sinister way. Like Satan, a pretty face with horrors laced in between.

"Ah, Jane. You are such a comfort to me," he said, his voice light and high-pitched. He glided forward, taking Jane by her chin and placing a kiss flat on her lips. "And Alice, and Elide, and Bella too! This is a joyous surprise! Wonderful! I have heard so much about you all. Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this."

Felix nodded submissively. "Yes, master."

"You see, Edward? What did I tell you? Aren't you glad that I didn't give you what you wanted yesterday?" He said, a grin still on his face.

"Yes Aro, I am."

"I love a happy ending. They are so rare. But I want the whole story. How did this happen? Alice?" Aro's eyes turned to Alice. I felt myself stiffen, once again. "Your brother seemed to think you infallible, but apparently there was some mistake."

"Oh, I'm far from infallible. As you see today, I cause problems as often as I solve them."

"You're too modest. I've seen some of your amazing exploits, and I must admit I've never observed something like your talent. Wonderful!" Aro said, hands clapping again. "I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced properly at all, have we? It's just that I feel like I know you already, and I tend to get ahead of myself. Your brother introduced us yesterday, in a peculiar way. You see, I share some of your brother's talents, only I am limited in a way that he is not."

The envy in his voice was apparently the only thing that Aro could not conceal.

"And also exponentially more power," Edward added. "Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts, but he hears much more than I do. You know I can only hear what's passing through your head in the moment. Aro hears every thought your mind has ever had."

Aro sighed, eyes flickering between them knowingly. "But to be able to hear from a distance, would be so convenient."

Then his dark, hungry eyes moved to me. His hand reached out, holding his fingers in a motion that beckoned for my own. As if the gesture wasn't strange enough, sending panic striking through my shoulders, I could sense the tension that poked Edward's back, making him straighten even more than I thought possible.

I bit my lip, lifting my hand to place my fingertips against his palm, feeling the smooth, almost glass-like texture of his skin as his hand wrapped around mine. He smiled slyly, pulling my arm closer so he could transfer his hand to my face. His nails dug into my cheeks like talons as he pushed my head from side to side, scrutinising whatever he was looking at.

"And you, my dear. How interesting..." Aro said. "So human-looking. The smell... so un-vampire-like." A giggle left his lips. "I almost want to try a bite."

"The oldest of four, with a gift of hiding. Intriguing. And I believe there is more to your abilities than you know," he said, raising his eye. "Though I'd heard nothing of you apart from Edward's initial anger toward you. What did you do to warrant that wrath?" he said, though he already knew the answer.

I didn't question what he meant by something more. I fought the urge to snap my head away from his hands and stare at Edward and instead blinked, filling the silence in with the sound of purposeless breathing. Aro smiled again, mouth turning comically upwards as if his lip had snagged on a sharp tooth. With one last movement of a finger, he moved away, drawing back with his long cloak draping behind like the trail of a wedding gown.

"Marcus, Caius, look. Bella is alive after all, and Alice and Elide are here with her. Isn't that wonderful!"

Two more men drifted into the room. The first looked similar to Aro, his face silvery and hair the colour of a raven. The second had a feline look, his hair down to his waist, the colour of snow, pale enough that it blended perfectly into his skin. They looked bored, to no determent of Aro.

"Let us have the story," Aro hummed, taking the black-haired man's hand briefly. "Thank you, Marcus. That's quite interesting. Amazing, absolutely amazing."

"Marcus sees relationships. He's surprised by the intensity of... ours." Edward said, first letting his eyes drift to Bella as he paused, and then back to Alice and lastly to me.

"So convenient. It takes quite a bit to surprise Marcus, I assure you," Aro said. He stepped forward once, gaze drifting to Edward's arm, which was slung protectively around Bella's shoulders. "It's just so difficult to understand, even now. How can you stand so close to her like that?"

"It's not without effort."

"But still- la tua cantante! What a waste."

"I look at it more as a price," Edward said with a chuckle, his hold on Bella tightening instinctively at the look Felix shot.

"A very high price."

"Opportunity cost."

Aro's dark brows raised slightly. "If I hadn't smelled her through your memories, I wouldn't have believed the call of anyone's blood could be so strong. I've never felt anything like it myself. Most of us would trade much for such a gift, yet you..."

"Waste it," Edward finished sharply.

Aro gave him a long look and moved on, letting out another laugh. "Ah, how I miss my dear friend Carlisle. You remind me of him much. Though he was not quite so angry."

"Carlisle outshines me in many other mays as well."

"I certainly never thought to see Carlisle bested for self-control of all things, but you put him to shame," he said.

"Hardly," Edward said with gritted teeth, his patience wearing thin.

"I am gratified by his success," Aro said. "Your memories of him are quite a gift to me, as you can imagine. Though they astonish me exceedingly. I am surprised by how it pleases me, his success in this unorthodox path he's chosen. I expected that he would waste, weaken with time. I'd once scoffed at his plan to find others that would share his peculiar visions. Yet somehow, I'm happy to be wrong." Something in his look suggested otherwise. "But your restraint! I did not know such strength was possible. To inure yourself against such a siren call, not just once, but again and again. If I had not felt it myself, I would not have believed it. Just remembering how she appeals to you... It makes me thirsty."

We all tensed, making him laugh out hysterically. "Don't be disturbed. I mean her no harm. But I am so curious about one thing. May I?"

"Ask her," Edward growled.

"Of course," he said, stepping toward her. "Bella. You are Edward's one exception to his talent. Would you allow me to try myself?"

Bella first glanced to Edward, and then finally nodded, letting Aro take her hand in his, his papery fingers sliding up to her wrist and then back again. His eyes widened, then narrowed, and then once again his cheery expression was plastered to his face again.

"A first," he hummed, dropping her hand. "I wonder if she is immune to our other talents. Jane, dear?"

"No!" Edward's booming voice sent shivers down Bella's arms as she tucked herself into him.

Jane stepped forward. "Yes, master?"

"I was wondering, my dear one, if Bella is immune to you," he said.

Edward moved to jump forward, but Alice stopped him with a hand. My eyes flickered between them, to Jane, a small smirk gracing her lips, and then to Bella, who stood still, unaffected by whatever was meant to happen. Alice had talked about dreadful gifts. I found myself fearing whatever formidable trick Jane had so far been hiding.

"Don't!" Alice shouted suddenly.

Edward keeled over, letting out a gruff groan as his stomach was clutched by his fingers. Jane looked dazed, her face glazed over in a sick and twisted joy. As he writhed in sudden pain, his lips sealed shut, I felt powerless, as I had the whole conversation. I was of no use to any of them, no help.

"Stop!" Bella screeched.

"Jane," Aro said, calling her back like a dog on a leash.

"He's fine," Alice said, her voice soothing us all as she came in between Bella and me.

"This is wonderful," Aro crooned. "You're very brave, Edward, to endure in silence. So what do we do with you now?" His gaze went back to Edward. "I don't suppose there's any chance you've changed your mind. Your talent would be an excellent addition to our company."

"I'd rather not," he said, visibly cringing.

"And you both? Would you perhaps be interested in joining us?" Aro asked, though I knew it was Alice he really wanted.

I said nothing and she answered for the both of us. "No thank you."

"And you Bella?"

We all knew why he wanted her. With such capabilities as a human, her power as a vampire would be unmatched. But his followers didn't seem to share the same thought. Caius went to argue, and Aro immediately shut him down.

"No thank you."

"That's unfortunate. Such a waste."

"Join or die? Is that it? I suspected as much when we were brought to this room," Edward snapped, arm going back to Bella.

"Of course not. We were already convened here, Edward, awaiting Heidi's return. Not for you," Aro said with a grin.

"Aro. The law claims them," Caius said. "She knows too much. You have exposed our secrets."

"There are a few humans in on your charade here too," Edward said and my mind went back to the clueless woman in the reception room.

"Yes, but when they are no longer useful, they will be used to sustain us. That is not your plan for her. Are you prepared to destroy her when she gives up your secret?" Caius said with a growl. "Nor do you intend to make her one of us."

"She is a vulnerability. But only her life is in a forfeit."

Aro's face sparked with child-like excitement. "Unless... Unless you do intend to give her immortality?"

He had been leading to that question all along. Edward paused, his hand hovering over Bella's shoulder. I could see the pain in his face- not physical. But it drained him, the knowledge that there was no other way around it than to say yes to the thing he'd refused to even acknowledge.

"And if I do?"

"Why, then you would be free to return home and give my kind regards to my friend Carlisle."

Bella looked up to him, hands clutching the end of his shirt, eyes silently pleading him. He did not allow himself to look down as he nodded. Alice stepped forward lightly, arm brushing against mine as she reached to touch Aro's hand, closing her eyes as she gave him everything he needed to be able to know the surety of it all.

"That was fascinating."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," she said.

"Aro," Caius went to argue yet again.

He waved him away with a cloaked hand. "Dear Caius. Do not fret. Think of the possibilities. Imagine the joy alone young Alice would bring to our household. Besides, I am so terribly curious to see how Bella turns out."

"Then we are free to leave?" Edward asked.

"Yes, yes. Do visit again. It's been absolutely enthralling."

"And we will visit you as well," Caius said. "We do not offer second chances."

For a moment we did not move, too afraid that Aro's friendly words were nothing but false, a trick set to show off his power as he pulled us back, claws sunk into stone. But as Edward moved first, drawing Bella closely by his side, allowing us to surround them, no one moved.

"Ah, Felix. Heidi will be here at any moment. Patience," Aro said, making Bella startle.

"In that case, we'd better leave sooner than later."

"Yes. Please wait below until after dark though, if you don't mind," Aro said.

"Of course."

"Goodbye, young friends!"

The doors closed behind us with a clang. Even as we made our way back through the winding rooms, toward the darkness of the tunnels, the feeling of a trap waiting to be caught would leave. The eyes of the predator were always watching. And we were the prey. 

☾

I love you all!
You can tell I got lazy at the end haha.
I haven't even read this over to check for mistakes