𝘊𝘏𝘈𝘗𝘛𝘌𝘙 𝘍𝘖𝘜𝘙𝘛𝘌𝘌𝘕

(the cursed witch, act two)

THEY BEGAN THE STEEP CLIMB AND THE ROAD GREW CONGESTED. As they wound higher, the cars became too close together for Alice to weave insanely between them anymore. They slowed to a crawl behind a little tan Peugeot.

"Alice," Nina groaned, anxiety rippling through her. The clock on the dash seemed to be speeding up.

"It's the only way in," The vampire tried to soothe her. But her voice was too strained to provide comfort.

The cars continued to edge forward, one car length at a time. The sun beamed down brilliantly, seeming already overhead. The cars crept one by one toward the city. As they got closer, Nina could see cars parked by the side of the road, with people getting out to walk the rest of the way.

At first she thought it was just impatience—something she could easily understand. But then they came around a switchback, and she could see the filled parking lot outside the city wall, the crowds of people walking through the gates. No one was being allowed to drive through.

"Alice," Nina whispered urgently.

"I know," She said. Her face was chiseled from ice. Now that Nina was looking, and they were crawling slowly enough to see, she could tell that it was very windy. The people crowding toward the gate gripped their hats and tugged their hair out of their faces. Their clothes billowed around them.

She also noticed that the color red was everywhere. Red shirts, red hats, red flags dripping like long ribbons beside the gate, whipping in the wind—as she watched, the brilliant crimson scarf one woman had tied around her hair was caught in a sudden gust. It twisted up into the air above her, writhing like it was alive. She reached for it, jumping in the air, but it continued to flutter higher, a patch of bloody color against the dull, ancient walls.

"Nina." Alice spoke quickly in a fierce, low voice. "I can't see what the guard here will decide now—if this doesn't work, you and Peter will have to go in alone. I'll go around and try to find a secluded spot somewhere behind the city where I can go over the wall."

Nina nodded.

"Edward will be under the clock tower, to the north of the square. There's a narrow alleyway on the right, and he'll be in the shadow there. You have to get his attention before he can move into the sun."

Nina nodded furiously.

Alice was near the front of the line. A man in a navy blue uniform was directing the flow of traffic, turning the cars away from the full lot. They U turned and headed back to find a place beside the road. Then it was Alice's turn.

The uniformed man motioned lazily, not paying attention. Alice accelerated, edging around him and heading for the gate. He shouted something at them, but held his ground, waving frantically to keep the next car from following our bad example. The man at the gate wore a matching uniform.

As they approached him, the throngs of tourists passed, crowding the sidewalks, staring curiously at the pushy, flashy Porsche. The guard stepped into the middle of the street. Alice angled the car carefully before she came to a full stop.

The sun beat against Nina's window, and Alice was in shadow. She swiftly reached behind the seat and grabbed something from her bag. The guard came around the car with an irritated expression, and tapped on her window angrily.

She rolled the window down halfway, and Nina watched him do a double take when he saw the face behind the dark glass. "I'm sorry, only tour buses allowed in the city today, miss," He said in English, with a heavy accent. He was apologetic, now, as if he wished he had better news for the strikingly beautiful woman.

"It's a private tour," Alice said, flashing an alluring smile. She reached her hand out of the window, into the sunlight. Nina froze, until she realized she was wearing an elbow-length, tan glove. She took his hand, still raised from tapping her window, and pulled it into the car. She put something into his palm and folded his fingers around it.

His face was dazed as he retrieved his hand and stared at the thick roll of money he now held. The outside bill was a thousand dollar bill. "Is this a joke?" He mumbled.

Alice's smile was blinding. "Only if you think it's funny."

If Nina wasn't so lost in her own thoughts, she would have considered stealing the money Alice had just given away. She was fucking starving and the idea of some good, true Italian food was just about killing her. 

He looked at her, his eyes staring wide. Nina glanced nervously at the clock on the dash. If Edward stuck to his plan, they had only ten minutes left.

"I'm in a wee bit of a hurry," She hinted, still smiling. The guard blinked twice and then shoved the money inside his vest. He took a step away from the window and waved them on. None of the passing people seemed to notice the quiet exchange.

Alice drove into the city, and they both sighed in relief. The street was very narrow, cobbled with the same color stones as the faded cinnamon brown buildings that darkened the street with their shade. It had the feel of an alleyway. Red flags decorated the walls, spaced only a few yards apart, flapping in the wind that whistled through the narrow lane. It was crowded, and the foot traffic slowed our progress.

"Just a little farther," Alice encouraged Nina; she was gripping the door handle, ready to throw herself into the street as soon as she spoke the word. She drove in quick spurts and sudden stops, and the people in the crowd shook their fists at them and said angry words that Nina was glad she couldn't understand.

She turned onto a little path that couldn't have been meant for cars; shocked people had to squeeze into doorways as they scraped by. They found another street at the end. The buildings were taller here; they leaned together overhead so that no sunlight touched the pavement—the thrashing red flags on either side nearly met.

The crowd was thicker there than anywhere else. Alice stopped the car. Nina had the door open before they were at a standstill and Peter appeared behind her. Nina didn't even react to the fact that his skin didn't sparkle like Alice's.

She pointed to where the street widened into a patch of bright openness. "There—we're at the southern end of the square. Run straight across, to the right of the clock tower. I'll find a way around—" Her breath caught suddenly, and when she spoke again, her voice was a hiss. "They're everywhere!"

Nina froze in place, but Peter pulled her out of the car.

"Forget about them. You have five minutes. Go, Nina, go!" She shouted, climbing out of the car as she spoke.

Nina didn't even feel Peter grab her and haul her onto his back before he began speeding through streets so fast they were invisible.

"She's wrong," He muttered.

"What?"

"I got his scent off of something in your room. He's not at the clocktower."

"Where is he?" Nina held his chest tighter when she felt herself slipping off him.

Peter didn't answer. Instead, he ran faster.

As they reached the clock tower, Nina couldn't find him anywhere. Peter was right. Forcing his way through the large double doors, he let her back on her feet.

"Come on. Follow me. We still have time."

Nina frowned, but didn't stop moving. She could tell he was listening in on something.

"Fuck. Have you ever noticed how much of a drama queen your boyfriend is?"

Nina sighed. "Look where we are. It's not hard to tell."

"Just... Don't draw attention to yourself yet."

That could mean only one thing. The attention was all on Edward.

She glanced over and found something hanging off a wall. She shrugged, reaching over and yanked on it.

An alarm sounded loudly through the building.

"Nina!" Peter whisper shouted.

Guards in red robes appeared around them in seconds.

"Jane! Alec! Wonderful to see you," Peter muttered nervously. "Um... How's the day going? Dandy?" 

"Peter." They greeted, their voices sharp. "You disappeared. Aro is very disappointed."

Nina felt Jane's hands grasp her shoulders tightly. "And who is this? Don't tell me you were stupid enough to bring the child here."

Nina glanced over her shoulder at her. Her red eyes stared down at her with hunger.

"That's right. I'm Peter's daughter," Nina admitted, keeping her voice strong.

In seconds, they were in another hallway. This was good, Nina thought to herself, remembering to keep her thoughts hidden. They were taking her right to him.

Double doors appeared in front of them.

"Aro is going to be very pleased," Alec spoke as he led Peter through the hall. His voice was startlingly deep. Nina hadn't expected it. He barely even looked fifteen.

Peter glared at Nina. "I told you not to draw attention to yourself."

"Oops."

The doors opened as soon as they got close enough. Two men stood, holding them open. Felix and Demitri, Nina assumed.

"You brought a snack?" One of them asked.

"Not for you, Demitri," Jane spoke from behind Nina, earning a slight flinch from the witch. Jane smirked at the reaction.

As Nina walked through the doorway, hearing them close behind her, she saw what she had been yearning to see for over seven months.

"Edward," She spoke unsurely.

The figure turned around quickly.

"Nina," He spoke. His face morphed, different emotions flooding through him, till it fell on one. Relief. "You're alive."

"Yep..." Nina replied, glancing away from him to see three men sitting on thrones. "For now."

"See? This is why I said not to draw attention," Peter scolded.

"Fuck off," Nina grumbled. "I got us here, didn't I? If we did your plan we'd still be roaming hallways."

"Brat–"

"Absent father–"

"Annoying–"

"Oh, really? I'm annoying? Sure. Says the guy we had to stop in the airport to buy a pillow because his neck hurts."

A throat cleared across the room. "Am I interrupting something?" A man asked. Aro, Nina assumed.

"Yeah, actually. You are," Nina told him, turning back to Peter. Before she could start another fight, she felt her arms being grabbed by a cool set of hands.

Nina looked back and saw Jane again.

"For fucks sake. What is with people grabbing me lately?" Nina pushed her off of her, shocking the vampires in the room.

Her eyes moved to meet Aro's, and she took a step forward. "Aro?"

The man stood, grinning as he walked toward her. "Yes, dear."

"Whatever Edward did, can you let it go for me? It'd be really chill of you."

"Chill isn't my strong suit, dear Nina."

"Really?" Nina put her hands on her hips, a flirtatious smile doting on her lips. "Never would have guessed."

Edward glanced at Peter and saw him glaring at him.

"Why don't you let the moronic vampire go? He's just stupid because he was turned before his brain could fully form." She glanced back at Jane and Alec before leaning closer to Aro. "I'm sure you can understand."

Aro chuckled, holding his hand up to stop the twins from storming the witch. "Ah. I see. However, that does not help for the fact that a human now knows of the existence of vampires—"

"I got you beat, old man. Bella, the human, is an imprint to a wolf. Therefore, she has the perfect loophole to your laws."

Aro nodded. His red eyes were observing her, she could tell. "May I?" He asked, holding out his hand.

"Aro can read every thought you've ever had with a single touch," Peter's voice came from behind her, warning her.

Nina's eyes widened. "Every one? I don't think you want to read them all– I've got some pretty bad ones about Barry Allen–"

He grabbed her hand before she could react and pressed his insubstantial looking skin against hers. It was hard, but felt brittle—shale rather than granite—and even colder than she expected. His filmy eyes smiled down at hers, and it was impossible to look away. They were mesmerizing in an odd, unpleasant way.

Aro's face altered as she watched. The confidence wavered and became first doubt, then incredulity, before he calmed it into a friendly mask.

She tried her hardest not to think about Melissa Benoist.

"So very interesting," He said as he released her hand and drifted back. Aro continued to drift with a thoughtful expression. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes flickering between the three of them. Then, abruptly, he shook his head. He pulled away and his eyes drifted from hers to Edwards. "Your mate... Rejected."

His eyes moved back to her.

"Dick move, huh?" She muttered nervously. She could feel everyone's eyes on her.

"You're Peter's daughter, yes?"

Nina nodded, unable to speak through his impenetrable stare.

Peter stood forward, brushing off Alec's loose hold. Alec had a slight soft spot for the man. "Aro. You don't need to punish Nina. Punish me. I'm her creator."

"It's dangerous enough for you to exist, Peter." Aro spoke, his voice clear and loud. "But, Nina. A witch and a wolf."

Shit. Wolf's out of the bag... Did I seriously just quote Embry? How embarrassing. 

Nina glanced back slightly and saw Edward's eyes on her. His golden gaze was hard. She couldn't read the emotion on his face.

"If she is turned into one of us, what will she be? Far too powerful... but so much potential."

Wouldn't call it potential, Nina thought to herself, her gaze down casting to the marble floor.

"If, uh... If you're going to kill me," Nina spoke, earning Aro's gaze once again. "Can you let Edward and my Dad go? Please?"

"You would do that? Trade your life for..." He glanced at Edward. "A soulless monster?"

"He has more of a soul than any of you."

"You believe that after everything he left you to deal with... completely alone?"

Nina didn't respond. Her glare only hardened.

Aro smiled, taking a step away from her. "I've seen you can put a block on your thoughts... Let us see if you can block more than that. Shall we, Jane?"

"No," She heard a deep voice from behind her before she felt herself being pushed into someone's cold arm. Nina held the arm, feeling it wrap tightly around her waist, holding her to his back. Edward.

His touch sent shivers through her spine and she gripped his arm tighter, finding herself unwilling to let go.

Edward stayed like a stone, blocking her body completely with his own.

"No!" Edward snarled the word. 

Jane smiled up happily at Aro. "Yes, Master?"

Edward was truly snarling now, the sound ripping and tearing from him, glaring at Aro with baleful eyes. The room had gone still, everyone watching him with amazed disbelief, as if he were committing some embarrassing social faux pas. Nina saw Felix grin hopefully and move a step forward. Aro glanced at him once, and he froze in place, his grin turning to a sulky expression. Then he spoke to Jane.

"I was wondering, my dear one, if Nina is immune to you."

Nina could barely hear Aro over Edward's furious growls. She felt him tighten his hold on her.

Caius ghosted in their direction, with his entourage, to watch. Jane turned toward them with a beatific smile.

"Don't!" Peter warned as Edward launched himself at the little girl. Before Nina could react, before anyone could jump between them, before Aro's bodyguards could tense, Edward was on the ground. No one had touched him, but he was on the stone floor, writhing in obvious agony, while Nina stared in horror.

Jane was smiling only at him now, and it all clicked together. What Peter had said about formidable gifts, why everyone treated Jane with such deference, and why Edward had thrown himself in her path before she could do that to her.

Nina raised her hands quickly and words flew past her lips before she could think. "Corporis impetu." The second the words passed her lips, the young blonde girl was thrown across the room, her body smacking hard against the marble wall, causing a large crack to form.

She stepped forward, stepping over Edward's pained body, creating a distance as she held Jane's body to the wall.

"This doesn't have to happen," She warned them as a ball of fire appeared in her palm. "Just let them go."

Nina's eyes flickered to Jane. She no longer smiled. She glared at her, her jaw clenched with the intensity of her focus.

She stood still, flames trickling against her palm, as she waited for the pain. Nothing happened.

Aro started to laugh. "Ha ha ha," He chuckled. "This is wonderful!"

Nina slowly, very hesitantly, let Jane's body move back down to the ground, though she kept her hand raised. She could feel Edward lift his body to stand behind her. His chest was pressed against her back, ready to flip their positions so he would be blocking her body once again.

Jane hissed in frustration, leaning forward like she was preparing to spring.

"Don't be put out, dear one," Aro said in a comforting tone, placing a powder-light hand on her shoulder. "She confounds us all."

Jane's upper lip curled back over her teeth as she continued to glare at Nina.

"Ha ha ha," Aro chortled again. "You're very brave, Edward, to endure in silence. I asked Jane to do that to me once—just out of curiosity." He shook his head in admiration. Edward glared, disgusted. "So what do we do with you now?" Aro sighed.

Edward and Peter stiffened. This was the part they'd been waiting for.

The flames in Nina's palm slowly ceased as she let her hands fall to her sides.

"I don't suppose there's any chance that you've changed your mind?" Aro asked Edward hopefully. "Your talent would be an excellent addition to our little company."

Edward hesitated. From the corner of her eye, Nina saw both Felix and Jane grimace.

Edward seemed to weigh each word before he spoke it. "I'd... rather... not."

"Peter?" Aro asked, still hopeful. "Would you perhaps be interested in joining us again?"

"If you don't mind, Aro, I'd like it if I could spend some private time with my family."

Aro stared at him for a moment before he turned his attention back to Nina.

"And you, Nina?" Aro raised his eyebrows. Edward hissed low in her ears.

Nina stared at Aro blankly. Was he joking? Or was he really asking her if she wanted to stay for dinner?

It was the white-haired Caius who broke the silence. "What?" He demanded of Aro; his voice, though no more than a whisper, was flat.

"Caius, surely you see the potential," Aro chided him affectionately. "I haven't seen a prospective talent so promising since we found Jane and Alec. Can you imagine the possibilities when she is one of us? Even now, she can take dearest Jane on without a single bead of sweat."

Caius looked away with a caustic expression. Jane's eyes sparked with indignation at the comparison. Edward fumed behind her and Nina could hear a rumble in his chest, building toward a growl. She wouldn't let his temper get him hurt.

"No, thank you," She spoke up, working her hardest at keeping her voice clear.

Aro sighed. "That's unfortunate. Such a waste."

Edward hissed. "Join or die, is that it? I suspected as much when we were brought to this room. So much for your laws." The tone of his voice surprised her. He sounded irate, but there was something deliberate about his delivery—as if he'd chosen his words with great care.

"Of course not." Aro blinked, astonished. "We were already convened here, Edward, awaiting Heidi's return. Not for you."

"Aro," Caius hissed. "The law claims them."

Edward glared at Caius. "How so?" He demanded. He must have known what Caius was thinking, but he seemed determined to make him speak it aloud.

Caius pointed a skeletal finger at Nina. "She is far too powerful. A witch and a shapeshifter. Even her father. Hybrids should not exist. And she has given the knowledge of our world to a human." His voice was papery thin, just like his skin.

"There are a few humans in on your charade here, as well," Edward reminded him.

Caius's face twisted into a new expression. Was it supposed to be a smile? "Yes," He agreed. "But when they are no longer useful to us, they will serve to sustain us. That is not your plan for this one. If she betrays our secrets, are you prepared to destroy her? I think not," He scoffed.

Aro interrupted. He looked unhappy with the way the conversation had gone. "Unless you do intend to give her immortality?"

Edward pursed his lips, hesitating for a moment before he answered. "And if I do?"

Aro smiled, happy again. "Why, then you would be free to go home and give my regards to my friend Carlisle." His expression turned more hesitant. "But I'm afraid you would have to mean it."

"What would happen to her? If she became immortal. If she is like her father, she would keep her other gifts."

Aro glanced down at Nina, his whimsical smile staying in place. "We will decide when the time comes. Whether she is a threat to us or not."

"Nina will not be a threat unless you make her one," Edward reassured him.

Aro nodded after a moment of thought. "Then what is your choice?"

The double doors behind them opened suddenly. "Wait!" A voice called.

Alice walked fluidly into the grand room. Aro quickly held up his hand, stopping the guards that were about to grab her, and let her walk toward him, raising her hand.

Aro met her halfway, and took her hand with an eager, acquisitive glint in his eyes. He bent his head over their touching hands, his eyes closing as he concentrated. Alice was motionless, her face blank. Nina heard Edward's teeth snap together.

No one moved. Aro seemed frozen over Alice's hand. The seconds passed and Nina grew more and more stressed, wondering how much time would pass before it was too much time. Before, it meant something was wrong—more wrong than it already was.

Another agonizing moment passed, and then Aro's voice broke the silence.

"Ha ha ha," He laughed, his head still bent forward. He looked up slowly, his eyes bright with excitement. "That was fascinating!"

Alice smiled dryly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"To see the things you've seen—especially the ones that haven't happened yet!" He shook his head in wonder.

"But that will," She reminded him, voice calm.

"Yes, yes, it's quite determined. Certainly there's no problem."

Caius looked bitterly disappointed—a feeling he seemed to share with Felix and Jane.

"Aro," Caius complained.

"Dear Caius," Aro smiled. "Do not fret. Think of the possibilities! They do not join us today, but we can always hope for the future. Imagine the joy young Alice alone would bring to our little household... Besides, I'm so terribly curious to see how our young Nina turns out!"

Aro seemed convinced. Did he not realize how subjective Alice's visions were? That she could make up her mind to transform Nina today, and then change it tomorrow? A million tiny decisions, her decisions and so many others', too—Edward's—could alter her path, and with that, the future.

And would it really matter that Alice was willing? Would it make any difference if she did become a vampire, when the idea was so repulsive to Edward? If death was, to him, a better alternative than having her around forever, an immortal annoyance? Terrified as she was, Nina felt herself sinking down into depression, drowning in it...

"Then we are free to go now?" Edward asked in an even voice.

"Yes, yes," Aro said pleasantly. "But please visit again. It's been absolutely enthralling!"

"And we will visit you as well," Caius promised, his eyes suddenly half closed like the heavy-lidded gaze of a lizard. "To be sure that you follow through on your side. Were I you, I would not delay too long. We do not offer second chances."

Edward's jaw clenched tight, but he nodded once. Caius smirked and drifted back to where Marcus still sat, unmoving and uninterested.

Felix groaned.

"Ah, Felix." Aro smiled, amused. "Heidi will be here at any moment. Patience."

"Hmm."

Edward's voice had a new edge to it. "In that case, perhaps we'd better leave sooner rather than later."

"Yes," Aro agreed. "That's a good idea. Accidents do happen. Please wait below until after dark, though, if you don't mind."

"Of course," Edward agreed, while Nina cringed at the thought of waiting out the day before they could escape.

"And here," Aro added, motioning to Felix with one finger. Felix came forward at once, and Aro unfastened the gray cloak the huge vampire wore, pulling from his shoulders. He tossed it to Edward. "Take this. You're a little conspicuous."

It was only then that Nina noticed his attire. He was in a deep blue dress shirt that had tear marks riddled through it.

The same shirt he had been wearing the day he left, she realized.

Edward put the long cloak on, leaving the hood down.

Aro sighed. "It suits you."

Edward chuckled, but broke off suddenly, glancing over his shoulder. "Thank you, Aro. We'll wait below."

"Goodbye, young friends," Aro said, his eyes bright as he stared in the same direction.

"Let's go," Edward said, urgent now.

Demetri gestured that they should follow, and then set off the way they'd come in, the only exit by the look of things.

Edward pulled her swiftly along beside him. Alice and Peter were close by her other side, their faces hard.

"Not fast enough," Alice muttered.

Nina stared up at her, frightened, but she only seemed chagrined. It was then that Nina first heard the babble of voices—loud, rough voices—coming from the antechamber.

"Well, this is unusual," A man's hoarse voice boomed.

"So medieval," An unpleasantly shrill, female voice gushed back. A large crowd was coming through the little door, filling the smaller stone chamber.

Demetri motioned for them to make room. They pressed back against the cold wall to let them pass. The couple in front, Americans from the sound of them, glanced around themselves with appraising eyes.

"Welcome, guests! Welcome to Volterra!" Nina could hear Aro sing from the big turret room. The rest of them, maybe forty or more, filed in after the couple. Some studied the setting like tourists. A few even snapped pictures. Others looked confused, as if the story that had led them to this room was not making sense anymore.

Nina noticed one small woman in particular. Around her neck was a rosary, and she gripped the cross tightly in one hand. She walked more slowly than the others, touching someone now and then and asking a question in an unfamiliar language. No one seemed to understand her, and her voice grew more panicked.

Edward pulled Nina's face against his chest, but it was too late. She already understood. As soon as the smallest break appeared, Edward pushed her quickly toward the door. She could feel the horrified expression on her face, and the tears beginning to pool in her eyes.

The ornate golden hallway was quiet, empty except for one gorgeous, statuesque woman. She stared at them curiously, Nina in particular.

"Welcome home, Heidi," Demetri greeted her from behind them.

Heidi smiled absently. She reminded Nina of Rosalie, though they looked nothing alike—it was just that her beauty, too, was exceptional, unforgettable. Nina couldn't seem to look away.

She was dressed to emphasize that beauty. Her amazingly long legs, darkened with tights, were exposed by the shortest of miniskirts. Her top was long-sleeved and high-necked, but extremely close-fitting, and constructed of red vinyl. Her long mahogany hair was lustrous, and her eyes were the strangest shade of violet—a color that might result from blue tinted contacts over red irises.

"Demetri," She responded in a silky voice, her eyes flickering between Nina's face and Edward's gray cloak.

"Nice fishing," Demetri complimented her, and Nina suddenly understood the attention-grabbing outfit she wore... she was not only the fisherman, but also the bait.

"Thanks." She flashed a stunning smile. "Aren't you coming?"

"In a minute. Save a few for me." Heidi nodded and ducked through the door with one last curious look at Nina.

Edward set a pace that had Nina running to keep up. But they still couldn't get through the ornate door at the end of the hallway before the screaming started.