When Edward said dinner, I should have been suspicious. From what I gathered, all humans had set schedules for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; they usually revolved around their vampire, so the vampire would have the richest blood possible after a hard days work. Only the best for the vamps, after all. Not that I could tell time in this place, but it didn’t seem like it was time for dinner yet. Entering the suite, I undeniably knew something was up. There was an unknown vampire sitting and laughing with Jasper.
My hand went for my gun on instinct. He knew we were here—Edward slammed the door, as if to announce our arrival—but he seemed more interested in his conversation with Jasper than wondering if someone would shoot him in the back. Edward didn’t let me draw my pistol. He anticipated my movement, catching my left hand, and leading me into the room. This wasn’t the first time he had caught me before I could complete the motion. If I was this predictable, was that a sign I pulled my gun too much?
I fought against his grip, but he didn’t let me go. I already got the hint; don’t shoot the guest. My skin crawled with our contact, but not in way I was used to. Before Edward’s little “test,” I’d feel infected. Now, it was a different sensation. The kind that made me quiver and feel tingly at the same time. I did not like it one bit. Edward led me forward, only letting me go when we stood behind the sofa where the unknown vamp sat.
Jasper looked up at Edward, cutting his sentence short. The other vamp followed his gaze, turning in his seat. His red eyes sparkled with laughter, and there was a big smile on his face from the conversation. For once, I could see the elongated fangs that the Cullens were missing. Yeah, I really wanted to pull my pistol now.
The vamp stood, stepping around the sofa to stand in front of me. Probably just to make me feel small. He was built like a warrior, but instead of overwhelming muscles, he was incredibly tall; my neck didn’t hurt this much from looking up at Sam. His platinum blond hair was pulled back to give the illusion it was cut short, but I saw the long braid swishing along his back. He held out his hand for a shake.
“Can I introduce myself before you shoot me?” he asked cheerfully. “My name is Peter. I’m Jasper’s friend.”
I stared at Peter’s hand as if it were a snake ready to strike. What did friend even mean in the vampire world anyway? I crossed my arms tightly under my chest, my fingers grazing the cold pistol. He dropped his hand, looking a little awkward.
What did I say? I was still acting like a Renfield, so I had to treat him with a little respect, right? Well, I already messed up if I was going for the Renfield approach. Ugh, I was getting tired of these stupid games. It wasn’t good to meet him, and it definitely wasn’t a pleasure. Until I figured out exactly what kind of friend he was, I would treat him like the others vampires. I’d think of him as a threat, but I’d treat him politely.
I dropped my arms to my sides and answered with—what I hoped sounded polite—a normal hello. “Nice to meet you,” I said, yet it sounded more like I was choking on the words.
Peter’s smile grew. “The act is unnecessary. I know about the plan; Jasper told me already.” He glanced over his shoulder to Jasper. “I’m willing to help however I can. You are the reason I’m back in this nightmare, after all.”
Great. Apparently in the vampire world friend meant, ‘Go ahead and tell everyone the truth.’ I tried to be angry that yet another vampire knew more than me, but at the first spark of anger, I felt a heady rush of lethargy. It was strong enough to knock me off balance. Edward was there to catch my arm, keeping me upright until the room stopped spinning. I shook him off, mustering up a weak glare to give to Jasper. He didn’t even blink.
With a frustrated sigh I asked, “So why is Blondie here? A distraction before dinner?”
Peter held a hand to his chest, gaping at his friend in shock. I swear if he said anything about wounding, I was going to give him a wound. After my crazy day, the dramatics were not welcome.
He opened his mouth, but Jasper must have caught the spike in my emotions. He quickly interrupted. “Peter is here as an escort. Edward, did you tell her?”
I glanced at Edward. Tell me what?
“No way,” he answered. “I wasn’t taking the chance without your help. She’d kill me,” he chuckled.
“I’m surrounded by cowards,” Peter sighed. Turning to me, he continued, “Bella, I am your escort tonight because Aro requested you and Edward eat with him. He’s looking forward to talking with you.”
Jasper had shut off all emotions so I could only look between the three vampires, completely indifferent. Were they expecting an outburst? If anything, I’d laugh. This was the chance I’d been waiting for—I could get close to Aro and put a stake through his heart. Or blow his head off. Yeah, I liked that one. Was I scared to do it? Was I afraid to sit down with a vampire as old as time and pretend to be civil? If I was, I didn’t feel it.
Maybe Jasper’s power wasn’t half bad.
I went for my room without a word, leaving the vampires to stand in silence. The further I got from Jasper, the more I felt like myself. Was he slowly backing off or was there a range limit to his power?
“This is a formal event, Bella,” Jasper called. “That means no jeans.”
“So?” I snapped, my hand on the doorknob. I wanted to whine. I knew exactly what he was going to say. There was a reason that gown was in the closet.
“Make yourself presentable, please. As my Renfield, your attitude reflects on me. You can show a little respect toward Aro.”
I slammed the door, groaning as I leaned against it. I didn’t want to wear another dress, especially one that could get tangled around my feet. Knowing Edward wouldn’t let me leave the suite in my holster made it worse. I had to wear the thigh band with that long skirt or go without. Gee, wonder what the answer was to that question?
I went to the closet and pulled out the gown, throwing it across the bed, trying not to look at it. Stripping out of the rig, I set it beside the gown before moving toward the bathroom. Hopefully there was enough time for a shower; it might relax me enough to successfully go through with this. I doubted I’d ever get the feel of this place off my skin, but showers had a magical way of curing almost anything.
After my quick shower, I used the blow-dryer on my hair until it lay flat. Inside, I was silently giggling with glee that I wouldn’t be made-up this time around. No styling, no make-up, and no jewelry. I wouldn’t miss it, but I had to give
Thankfully the room was still empty when I opened the bathroom door. I thought someone would have something to say by now. Namely, Edward. We ignored the conversation in the Athenaeum on the way back to the suite, but it had to be grating on him that I could tell anyone.
Shaking all thoughts of Edward aside, I pulled what I needed from the armoire and slipped the thigh holster on, leaving it empty for now, before struggling into the gown. I tried to step into it, but I quickly found out the top was a corset, which had trouble getting over my hips. The boning made a bra pointless. It even had laces, but not like other corsets; the back was open, with only some laces holding the top on at all. Either way, I couldn’t tie them myself.
When I finally had it on, I adjusted the bodice, feeling way too uncomfortable with how well this thing pushed everything up. It fit snuggly down to my hips, and I wondered if it would fit at all after I was tied in. I knew corsets were supposed to crush a girl, but I had to wonder if
I carefully went to the floor-length mirror in the bathroom. The hem dragged on the floor, and I knew it was no accident.
I quickly pushed that chilling thought aside and took in the full affect of the gown. It had enough fabric in the back that I knew it would have a small train, even with heels. The gown was one color, a deep, almost navy, blue. The bodice was satin that quickly turned into a beaded design; they were silver, breaking up the gown so it wasn’t boring. The skirt was obviously chiffon—reminding me of calmer days in
There were no slits in the skirt, which I liked and didn’t like. Without them, it would take longer to get to my holster; with them, I’d keep worrying someone could see the holster as I walked. But at least the material wasn’t too heavy. I could easily push it up and draw the pistol. At least
I walked back into the room, going for the door. I called for Jasper to come help me with the laces, but surprise, surprise, Edward volunteered. When he stepped into the hallway, I almost did a double-take. He strode purposefully down the hall in a sharp black tuxedo complete with long coattails swishing behind him. His hair was still wild, but this time it was actually styled. He didn’t look half bad . . . for a vampire, anyway.
I kept the door partially closed, leaving just enough space to glare at him. “I asked for Jasper,” I said. “I’m pretty sure he’s taller than you and has blond hair.”
“Let him visit with Peter a little longer, Bella,” he replied, placing his hand on the door. “It’s been years since they last saw each other, and they didn’t part on good terms.”
“I don’t care. They can swap war stories later. Tell Jasper to come here.”
He shook his head and pushed on the door gently. “Just let me in. We need to talk.”
Oh, so we were doing this now. It made no sense to me since Jasper was right down the hall, able to hear every word. But I knew he wouldn’t leave. Stupid stubborn Cullens.
I stepped aside and let Edward into the room. He closed the door behind him. He wanted to get serious, or personal, or—God forbid—both. I didn’t want to have another heart-to-heart with a vampire, especially after what I learned about him. I really, really didn’t. Just being alone with him now bothered me. Not because he was a vampire, but mostly because his past made me uncomfortable. I didn’t care if he wasn’t like that monster anymore. He still had the drive in him and could pull it up whenever he wanted. Maybe I was just afraid he would try to kill me with that monster? I’d rather be drained dry by a real vampire than to be seduced by an incubus.
“Turn around,” Edward instructed. “I’ll tie it for you.”
I sighed and did as he said, pulling my hair aside so he could see what he was doing. The laces had to go through little loops on the sides of the gaping back that started just above my butt and ended underneath my shoulder blades, so I was prepared to feel his cold fingers on my lower back. I wasn’t, however, prepared for the finger that traced down my spine.
I yelped, ready to spin around and find someway to hurt him, but he placed his hands on my shoulders, holding me in place. Not like I could really hurt him, but damn it, that was uncalled for.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, sounding way too distracted as he threaded the laces. “It was an accident.”
My heart was still flip-flopping inside my chest and my hands started to shake. Damn it, why was I acting this way? The discomfort hung around, but I managed a hard scoff. “That was the farthest thing from an accident.”
He quickly changed subjects. “Listen, Bella, about what you found in the archives—”
There it was. I had been waiting for this and already had my reply. “Why should I keep it to myself?” I interrupted. “You said your family didn’t know. Why not? You know about their pasts, right? That doesn’t seem very fair. Besides, this is the perfect opportunity to blackmail you. Get Charlie out of here, and I’ll consider not saying anything.”
“You don’t blackmail someone like that, Bella. Besides, you wouldn’t blackmail me,” he stated confidently.
“And why not?”
He gave a sharp tug, tightening the corset to make me gasp; the pressure quickly dissolved so I could take a deep breath. I wondered bitterly if that was another ‘accident.’
“Because that’s not who you are,” he answered. “Keep your hard front as long as you want, but I know underneath there’s a scared girl. That girl would never resort to blackmail. It’s cruel, and that’s one thing you are not.”
There was another tug, and I felt him tie the laces, officially done with his work. He stepped back, but I didn’t turn around. He thought I wasn’t cruel? Who did he think he was talking to? I was very dangerous! If I wanted to, I could destroy him. The Striker was more than enough to blow his head off.
Except he was right, I wasn’t cruel.
I almost opened my mouth for a reply, but it was useless. Instead, I ignored him. Stepping around him, I went for the closet on the far wall to find a decent pair of shoes. Inside the closet, the shoe rack was empty, but against one wall, I found several neat stacks of shoeboxes. I didn’t feel like searching through every one. Would anyone care if I went barefoot?
“No snappy comeback?” Edward asked, still standing in the middle of the room.
“You don’t deserve one,” I replied, opening a box to find teal stilettos. No, they would look ridiculous.
“What a shame,” he chuckled.
That patronizing chuckle did it. I threw the box down before stomping back to the doorway. He stood with a small grin on his face, obviously baiting me. “Fine. You win, okay? At first I was uncomfortable with it, but oh, news flash! You are a vampire. I don’t give a damn about your past. You killed people in a number of disturbing ways—who cares? You were disgusting before I knew, and you still are. And you know what else? You’re right. I’m not cruel, but I’m still capable of holding my own against your kind, so don’t make me have to kill you too. I will. Your attitude is wearing on my nerves.”
His smile turned into a scowl. “My attitude? What about yours? I’ve been trying to help you, yet you throw it all back in my face. It’s grating on my nerves. If anyone deserves killing rights here, it’s me.”
Now was a bad time to notice my pistol was on the bed. I knew I should have put it in the holster.
“We both know I don’t need a gun to kill you,” he said, watching my gaze shift between him and the weapon. “You don’t need it to defend yourself either. I’m not going to kill you. It would be counterproductive to the reason I’m here.” He sighed heavily, shrugging his shoulders as if to relax. “Anyway, let’s not fight anymore. Vampires might not be able to sleep, but we still get exhausted. Especially when bickering about pointless topics with stubborn women. What’s done is done, and that’s the end of it.”
The end? I gripped the door frame until my knuckles cramped, my teeth digging into my bottom lip. Why was he changing tracks so suddenly? We were supposed to be arguing, not making up! I didn’t want to make up yet!
Edward smiled again, rubbing his hands together. “So, Peter is wondering what’s taking so long. Better finish up before he comes knocking on the door. We’re already two minutes late, and around here, even a second late is a bad thing.”
I went back into the closet, once again questioning my sanity.
By the time I dug through the boxes and found a good pair of heels—it had come down to silver or a type of gray the box dubbed ‘gunmetal’—there was a brisk knock on the door. I could hear Peter pacing nervously just outside. Apparently he was done with Jasper and was anxious to get the show on the road.
I pulled the gunmetal sandals from their box, simply because of the name. Maybe fashion and I could get along for once. Edward still stood in the middle of the room with that eerie vampiric stillness, only his eyes moving, following me. He was obviously waiting to see if I would agree to the no arguing thing.
I sat on the bed, the corset making itself apparent. Never in my life had I sat up so straight. It made bending to slip the shoes on difficult. What was the boning made of, steel?
Fuck it, I groaned. “A little help here?”
Edward inhaled sharply, shaking himself as if he was some kind of bird, ruffling its feathers. “Help? Bella Swan?” he asked with a joking lilt. “Are you ill?”
“Your outfit isn’t suffocating you,” I replied, “so you either help me, or I go barefoot. I don’t mind.”
He knelt in front of me without another word, taking one shoe from the bed and lifting the proper foot. My skin crawled with the contact in that awful way as his cold hands wrapped around my ankle. I wanted to pull away, but that would be childish of me. I had asked for his help. I held my breath as he secured the buckle around my ankle, then moved onto the other foot, repeating the process.
When he finished, he stood and dusted off his pants before offering me his hand. The heels weren’t that high, but as I stalled for time, sitting on the bed mindlessly smoothing the material of the skirt, my fingers brushed against the holster. That’s when my nerves kicked in.
Edward must have heard the difference in my heart rate. He looked ready to touch me; he even came closer, hand lifted, but thought better of it. I stared at his hand, now clenched in a tight fist by his side. “Bella?” he prodded gently.
“Is this really a good idea?” I asked gently.
“Has any of this been a good idea?” he countered.
“Good point,” I muttered, fisting my hands in the gauzy material. “But what if he tries to poison me or something?”
Edward knelt again and slowly stretched his hand toward me. I watched that hand come closer to mine, but I didn’t move. When he saw I wouldn’t recoil, he touched my hands, gently prying them away from the skirt before I could wrinkle it. He was right in my line of sight, and once again, I had trouble looking away from his black eyes.
“I won’t let anything happen to you, Bella,” he whispered. It was so quiet, if I didn’t see his lips moving, I wouldn’t have believed I heard it. “I’ll protect you. You just have to let me.”
What was this, a teen romance novel?
Still, I sat there and let him hold my hands. The chill was starting to get to me, but I didn’t say anything. The pleading in his eyes was visible. Was he afraid something would go wrong tonight? Well, so was I. I was still trying to hide the fears and doubts. Having dinner with the ancient vampire in charge of my town’s awful condition? Yeah, great opportunity, but fucking scary all the same. I couldn’t shake the picture of Aro literally having me for dinner. I shuddered.
Edward brought my hands to his mouth, lightly kissing my fingers. Another chill ran up my arm, causing goose bumps. “Truce?”
We were supposed to be partners coming down here. We were supposed to work together to get Charlie and kill Aro. Where did that truce go? Was it even still in affect? I shook my head quickly, clearing the thoughts. If he was asking for a new one, obviously the other truce ran out. Edward continued to wait for an answer, his eyes begging.
I didn’t want to agree, but I was well and truly scared. I could admit that much to myself. Private time with Aro—this could either help us or hurt us. I had a feeling I’d mess up in their word games.
Okay. I can do this.
Breaking out of my reverie, I finally nodded. “Truce,” I said thickly.
Edward smiled brightly and stood, pulling me with him. “Thank you,” he said. “For cooperating, I mean. It’s a huge surprise that you even agreed to dinner so easily, but this must have really tried your self-control.”
“Yeah, well, what can I say? I’m full of surprises, Cullen,” I replied.
He laughed loudly as he led us to the door. Was it just him, or was every vampire capable of jumping conversations and emotions so easily? It once again had me questioning what was truth about Edward, but I guess being scared and depressed wasn’t the best way to go to a dinner party. I was actually glad for the uplifted atmosphere.
Peter sat with Jasper in the main room, but both immediately stood when Edward and I entered. Jasper let out a low whistle and did that thing I’d only read about in romance novels: his eyes started at my feet and gradually climbed up my body. I felt my face heating up.
“You look absolutely stunning,” said Jasper. “
Edward scoffed. “This isn’t
Jasper gave Edward a look I didn’t understand, and the air turned slightly stale. There was obviously a conversation going on in that awkward silence.
I hung on Edward’s arm, fumbling again with the skirt. “I feel like I’m going to prom,” I mumbled. Not that I’d actually been—I was missing my senior year, the year I wanted to attend, by escaping vampires—but it had to be this awkward, right? Like when you don’t actually know the guy. If I ever got the chance to attend prom, I really hoped it wouldn’t feel like this. Or be with a vampire. God, what would Charlie say?
Edward seemed to snap to attention with a smile. “Well at least your date is a handsome devil,” he chuckled. I resisted the urge to slap him and settled for a glare.
“In that case, make sure you have her back by eleven sharp, Edward,” Jasper said with mock severity, trying to control his laughter. “Fully dressed is preferred, but I know how crazy you kids can get. A few beers and you turn into animals.”
There were masculine chuckles all around the room. My blushing wasn’t getting any better, thanks to a bunch of insensitive vampires. I wrangled free of Edward and started down the hall, calling over my shoulder, “I’m going to eat now. If you want to stand around sharing jokes at my expense, feel free. I just don’t want to hear them.”
Edward and Peter were suddenly at the door, the blond vamp holding it for me. I hated vampiric speed; it reminded me that I really had no chance against these things. Must be nice to have that kind of speed, I thought bitterly. Edward held out his hand for mine, but this time I ignored him. I could walk, damn it.
Peter led us down the staircase, continuing around the corner that I thought had been just a wall, but no, it was the rest of the odd steps leading down. When I was told Aro was beneath us, I didn’t think they meant directly underneath. How good was a vamp’s hearing exactly? Could they hear through stone?
I struggled with the uneven stairs in the gown and heels, and after my fourth stumble, I finally grabbed onto Edward. I held the stupid skirt in one hand and clung to him with the other. He was patient as I hobbled down, but the stairs seemed never ending, and we didn’t get very far until I broke the silence. Like always.
“So why did Aro invite us for dinner?” I asked, concentrating on my feet.
“Truthfully,” replied Peter, just a few steps ahead, “he’s desperate.”
“Desperate?”
“Very desperate. I don’t know his entire reasoning, but his mouth has been running recently. He thinks no one listens to him, but there are a few who hang on his every word. To put it bluntly, Aro is infatuated with you, Bella.”
I missed a step, and suddenly I was grateful to have Edward there. He caught me around the waist, not even the slightest off balance, and set me on my feet on the next step. I was still staring at the back of Peter’s head. It took me a second to remember how to move.
“Infatuated?” I whispered hoarsely. “Infatuated as in . . . love?”
“He loves the promise you hold,” Edward explained.
“You’ve fought against Aro’s power—literally shut him out—and now he can’t get enough of your mind,” Peter said. “He wants to know what makes you tick; he thinks it might help when trying to break down your wall. I honestly doubt it. What you did—a rejection that large and natural—there’s no way around it. He was talking to me before I was sent to fetch you; actually it was more like rambling. He’s distraught. He wants to appear more human for you, and was expressing curiosity about human food. Try not to gawk if he eats tonight. I suspect he’ll ask you personal questions, maybe one or two about Jasper. You can pass the conversation off to Edward then.”
“Yeah, about that. Is there a reason Edward is coming along, but not Jasper?” I asked.
“Jasper is busy tonight,” Edward explained. “Aro really only wanted you for dinner, but he thought you would be more comfortable with one of us around. Don’t worry about anything, Bella. I’ll take care of you.”
“Exactly,” Peter said. “Let Edward do the talking.”
“And how would I go about doing that? Because I already know Aro mostly wants to talk to me. How would I pass the conversation over?” I asked. If it meant I could skip conversation with Aro, I’d do the Chicken Dance.
“Just. . . .” Peter paused on a step, considering. He glanced at Edward, and this time I could hear the mental conversation.
“Aro’s not stupid; you don’t live for millennia by being stupid,” I continued, exasperated. “He’ll figure out I’m avoiding topics if you keep jumping in. He wants to talk to me, right? Edward’s just coming along as flair.”
“Basically,” Peter nodded.
“How about a code word?” Edward suggested. “It’s practical, and if not abused, he won’t notice.” I agreed, but since when did vampires think practically? “It has to be something that sounds natural in conversation, yet something you rarely say.”
“Mighty,” I replied instantly. “I’ve never used it unless I was teasing Mike; he hated the word.”
“Mighty it is,” Edward said.
Peter continued down the stairs, Edward and I following. The further we went, the sicker I felt. How many times had I wished to take back my decision to come down here? A million? Make that a million and a one. As the end came in sight, I was taking bets with myself that the number would keep climbing tonight.
Stepping off the stairs, we stood in a long hallway ending with an ancient wooden door. This was it. We were entering Aro’s personal domain. I took a deep breath, steeling my nerves.
Peter knocked on the door but didn’t bother to wait for a reply; he opened the door, holding it to let me and Edward through.
The air I’d slowly been releasing was knocked out of me. This place was . . . colossal. I felt like a kid again, standing underneath the shadowed ceiling. It was bigger than the first one I saw—the room guarded by the portrait. And it was as if stepping back into the 1700s; it was a gothic palace. This was just the foyer. I couldn’t imagine the rest of it.
The foyer seemed to be two rooms combined; entrance and sitting room. It was in the shape of an octagon, complete with pillars connecting the walls. Floor-length candelabras sat against the walls, small flames barely lighting the room. A large palladian-style window was on the far wall and stained-glass windows lined the others. With no light to shine through, it was hard to tell exactly what the pictures were. It took a few seconds of careful staring to figure out they were macabre pictures of women and evil-looking creatures; they matched the murals in our suite. I stopped trying to make sense of it and focused on not tripping on the hem of the gown.
Peter took us off to the right of the room, through a round doorway; this room looked a little friendlier. It was dark, but thousands of white candles set the room dancing with shadows. The wall—from what I could see between the hundreds of picture frames hanging—was wallpapered red, the floor a rich wood; it was decorated with two overstuffed chairs and matching loveseat.
Peter saw that we were comfortably seated before returning to the doorway. “Aro will meet you here,” he said. His voice wasn’t as warm as it had been, but I noticed he wasn’t as formal as the others. I hadn’t heard a single ‘master’ out of him, although he had red eyes. “For now, he requests that you relax. Dinner will begin shortly.”
He gave Edward a meaningful look before producing two hidden doors from the wall, closing us in behind them. As soon as they clicked, I stood to pace. My heels clacked loudly against the wood, but I liked it. The room was too quiet; it was stifling.
As I paced, I tried to think of any questions Aro might ask. He wanted to know more about me, so he’d probably start with my childhood. I had to have some rehearsed answers that were safe. Getting into trouble with a few measly vampires was one thing, but getting into trouble with the creator of vampires was something else entirely. I could at least try to behave.
My hand brushed against the holster without thinking and felt . . . nothing. My heart dropped into my stomach as I groped my thigh. Where was my pistol? Where the fuck did I leave it? I pulled up the skirt, just to make sure the material wasn’t playing a trick on me, and found it really wasn’t there.
Shit, shit, shit.
“Bella?” Edward’s voice came from behind me, closer than it should’ve been. I jumped, dropping the skirt. “Any particular reason you’re trying to undress? I know I’m attractive but—”
I grabbed his hand and placed it over the holster. His eyes went wide, but I had a feeling we weren’t feeling the same shock. Hell, I was a step away from reaching panic attack territory.
“It’s missing,” I mouthed slowly. I wasn’t sure where Aro was, and I wasn’t taking the chance of him overhearing my defense was gone.
Edward’s hand slid up to cup my hip, pulling me into him. He had an easy-going smirk on his face, and it was that look that almost made me fight to put distance between us. But he was the one with mind-reading abilities. He would know where Aro was hiding.
“I thought you intentionally left it in the room,” he breathed close to my ear. Goose bumps broke out across my arms at the husky quality of his voice. I shook my head quickly, and we were so close that my hair slapped against his face. I only had to struggle a little before he released me, letting me take a step back. How could we make this sound like a trivial conversation?
I almost wished Edward could read my mind right about now.
“You said we were going to be late,” I said. We weren’t talking about a weapon; nope, not at all. “I was hoping you’d remind me.”
He raised an eyebrow in suspicion. “It really doesn’t matter, does it?” he asked, still grinning. “You’re here with a handsome date, and I can be plenty distracting. You’ll forget all about it.”
I rolled my eyes. Not exactly the response I was looking for, stupid vampire. What I really hoped to hear was, “Sure, let’s go back and get it. Oh, and why not pick up the FAMAS while we’re there? Aro won’t mind.” Reality sucks.
I shoved his chest, and he made a show of stumbling backwards, masterfully flipping his body over the loveseat, and landed without hurting it. I giggled at his antics.
Wait. I did what?
I quickly distracted myself by staring at the portraits on the walls, scared of my own reaction. Most of the pictures were black and white stills of
It looked like a scene from Greek mythology. The bottom was painted in dull blacks, grays, and browns; it was a mess of people violently reaching up to four figures on a balcony. On the balcony was where the color began; popping reds, blues—every color of the rainbow combined. The four men, angelic and regal in appearance, looked on, utterly bored. I touched the gilded frame, leaning closer, noticing something a little odd about the blond man further from the three grouped together.
“Is that
“It was a gift from Aro,” he replied. “He had it painted after
“Doesn’t seem very good,” I mumbled, staring at the death and destruction under the angelic men. Was it symbolic or just random? “But wait, if it belongs to
The doors swung open before he could reply. I thought it was Aro and quickly drew back from the wall. I turned to find . . . Jessica? I blinked in astonishment, wondering if she was real. She was dressed in a tight, black halter dress; her curly hair straightened and piled on her head. She wasn’t staying for dinner, was she? I approached her slowly. I thought she might have been a figment of my imagination. The shadows could be playing with my eyes; she was just standing there, as still as the wall behind me.
When I was just a few steps away, Jessica stumbled through the door and released a giggle I knew too well. Mike and Jess used to get into his parents wine stash, and then I’d receive a call at two in the morning asking me to pick her up from his house. I almost smiled at her—she looked like she was doing okay, despite a few new scars—until I remembered something very important as she fell into my chest. A drunken Jess is a handsy Jess.
“Bella!” she squealed with delight. Her arms wrapped my waist as she nuzzled my breasts. She was always kind of short, and the heels I wore compared to her flats made her the perfect height.
I patted her head awkwardly. “Hey Jess. I haven’t seen you in ages,” I said. “How have you been?”
“Sooo good,” she slurred. “But what are you doing down here?”
“Um . . . just . . . seeing the sights?”
“Oh, I know what you mean! When I first came down here, I was like, ‘What is all this?’ But Demetri said not to worry. So I didn’t.” She sighed and rubbed her cheek against my dress. “God, I missed your boobs. They’re so much bigger than mine. So big. Oh my god, hey! Do you remember when we kissed?” She giggled, still rubbing against me like a cat.
Gee, thanks for bringing up uncomfortable memories, Jess, and in front of Edward. Speaking of Edward, I looked over my shoulder to see him relaxed on the loveseat, his head tilted in curiosity. I could only imagine what he was seeing in Jess’ head. It was a stupid game of truth-or-dare.
“You were so red! And you smelled so good—kinda like right now.” Jess stood on tip-toe to reach my neck where she inhaled sharply. Her voice was a sultry whisper as she asked, “Why do you always smell so good?”
My palms actually started to sweat from nerves, but there was definitely something wrong. This wasn’t Jessica’s normal drunken behavior. I grabbed her arms, still locked around my waist, and tried to push her off. I couldn’t budge her grip. The bodice struggled to stay up as her hands tightened around me with inhuman strength, crushing my ribs against hers. I gasped from the sudden pressure as her lips pressed to my neck.
Before I could think to call for him, Edward grabbed Jessica by the neck, breaking her hold effortlessly. He dragged her away from me, pushing her against a wall of frames. She struggled, kicking and clawing at his hands, as pictures clattered to the floor. As she fought, I saw the reason was acting differently. Her eyes were red fire focused directly on me.
Jessica finally became one of them.
She continued clawing at Edward’s hands until he was bloody, her face turning into something ugly with rage. “Let me go!” she wailed. “I want her! Master said you brought her here for me!”
Edward changed his grip, bringing her back to his chest with an arm around her waist, pinning her arms, and controlling her head with a hand in her hair, dislodging the nice up-do. It would give his arms time to heal, but the fabric of his sleeves was shredded. She roared with her rage, redoubling her efforts to break free, but Edward had her secured.
One side of me was struggling with this new information. I didn’t want to believe my childhood friend was dead, completely claimed by the vampires. No, I really didn’t want to believe loud-mouthed, gossiping, hilarious Jessica Stanley was dead. I could feel tears welling, and I blinked them away furiously. Another part of me was mentally cursing myself for forgetting my gun. She was a vampire; she wasn’t the same girl I grew up with. She was dead.
I clung to that side, pushing the emotional one away. I’d deal with it later; I would deal with it all much later. I tried to move, tried to think of a way to help Edward, but I was frozen. Edward had it under control, though. He wrestled Je—the newborn towards the door.
A different vamp appeared in the doorway. He wore a long black robe similar to the one I had seen when I first met Aro, but the hood was down, showing a very cat-like face for a man. He stormed into the room, tearing the newborn from Edward’s grasp. She immediately calmed down. “What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded hotly. “I told you not to touch my property, filthy Fangless.”
Edward stood straight, adjusting his tuxedo. Without the tears, I’d never guess a fight had taken place; he looked completely normal. Despite the sleeves, the tux barely had a wrinkle, but he still smoothed everything down. I couldn’t tell if it was to avoid answering the question or a nervous habit. I thought it was nerves; kind of like
“She attacked Bella first, Demetri,” Edward said. “I didn’t mean any harm, just to restrain her. Master Aro wouldn’t appreciate blood spray on his prized possessions, now would he, Dima?”
So this was Demetri. I’d never met him personally, but I’d heard plenty about him from . . . Jess. He wasn’t what I was expecting. He was scrawny compared to the image I’d had; his short brown hair was slicked back, almost like a duck tail. But his eyes were exactly what I imagined; cold, hateful, and red. The newborn whimpered and snuggled against his chest. He stroked her head absently, like a pet.
Demetri growled. “You lost the right to use that name, Eddie. You’ll only embarrass yourself in front of your whore.”
“I could say the same for you,” Edward replied with nonchalance.
Peter materialized in the doorway, towering over Demetri menacingly. Just in time. A staring contest took place, but I guess Peter won, because Demetri stepped back, taking the newborn with him.
Peter turned his attention to me. “Plans have changed,” he said. “Aro is waiting for you in the dining room. If you’ll follow me, please.” Demetri went ahead of us without looking back. Peter barely contained the curiosity on his face, but Edward shook his head. At least I wasn’t the only one confused.
Edward came to me and offered me his elbow. I wanted to refuse, but I needed help moving. I felt sick, not to mention a little nauseated. I placed my hand in the crook of his elbow, following Peter as we reentered the large room.
Peter took us through an arched walkway on the opposite side of the octagon room, where we came out in the smaller, round dining room. A spider-like brass chandelier took up the ceiling, lighting the room exceptionally well. The room itself looked bare and unfinished; the floor was sandstone and the walls were the same cinderblock that made up the rest of the fortress. I liked the parlor better.
In the middle of the room was a round, ancient table big enough for a family of six. It was set for three. I’d been hoping Aro had a table like in movies; long and wide, with little personal interaction. No, it seemed I was surrounded by vampires who enjoyed a more personal touch.
Aro stood next to the table. He was dressed in a black vest and white
He smiled that polite, empty smile and made a sweeping motion with his arms, taking in the whole room. “Welcome! Welcome, friends, to my humble abode,” he said with a loud, theatrical voice. He came closer as he continued, “Did you make it here all right? I sent one of my best warriors to fetch you, after all.” He patted Peter’s shoulder, standing three heads shorter than the other vamp. “And yet it seems you failed me. What happened to Edward’s handsome tuxedo?”
“Just a little scuffle,” Edward replied.
“I’d never harm a hair on their heads,” Peter assured Aro.
Aro went to Demetri, staring intently at the newborn. “It was her, am I right? Dima, you must get better control over your fledglings, otherwise she’ll be put down like the rest. Understood, mio anatra?”
Demetri nodded glumly. Aro smiled. “Very good. Now, I believe our business is done for now. I always enjoy our conversations. Be off with you, and take your darling girl and Peter with you. Jane and Alec will take care of us. Go on, shoo!” Aro waved his hands at his subjects, and they obediently left. The sound of the door closing echoed through the silent chamber.
I hated ominous sounds like that.
The air was thick with an awkward silence. Aro kept his odd smile as he moved back to the table. He tugged on the tablecloth and straightened the silverware, picking imaginary lint from the surface. They were all infinitesimal adjustments to minute details. He looked nervous. No, anxious was a better match. His actions were absolutely fussy.
“I told them to make the room spotless, but I find the help will often cut corners,” Aro said. “I apologize for making you wait. It’s been quite a long time since I had company. I forgot just how nerve-wrecking it is to be a host. Come, have a seat.”
Aro motioned to the table, and Edward led me forward. Two sets of hands reached for what I guessed would be my chair. Aro stepped back with an abashed smile, letting Edward get my chair. It was weird being treated like an actual girl; I never had a guy pull out my chair. When I was seated—the corset making me sit up so straight was extremely uncomfortable—Aro and Edward took the other chairs. The table was big enough that we weren’t crowded, so why did I feel like I was sandwiched between them?
Jane and Alec—dressed impeccably in a dress and suit, respectively—entered the room with old fashioned goblets, setting them on the table in front of us. Was there any way to check for poison without seeming obvious? Just because there was none in the food or drink didn’t mean they wouldn’t try the utensils.
“What would you like to drink, Isabella?” Aro asked, staring at me with eager red eyes. “Wine, brandy, ale? We have soda as well.”
Alcohol? Even if I did normally drink, that’d be the last thing I wanted right now. I’d like to keep my inhibitions, thanks. “Water is fine,” I replied, watching him carefully. Would my request upset him? He only smiled.
“Very well,” he said. “I’ll have my usual. Edward, what about you?”
Edward answered without hesitation. “Water.”
Aro frowned. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like something stronger? I picked a nice one today. 1963—very good year, and it’s still warm.”
Edward showed no reaction, but I had a feeling they were talking about blood. “Water, please,” he told Alec.
Aro pursed his lips. Sweet, I wasn’t the one to piss him off first!
The room was silent as the twins disappeared to fetch drinks. What was Aro thinking right now? Was he anxious to start questioning me? I purposely kept my eyes away from him, looking around the bland room instead.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” piped Aro, making me jump. “This area was once part of the old
Under the Space Needle? We were in the heart of
Sitting under all that noise, I realized just how blind we had been. Before the Cullens, I thought vampires only existed in our area, but I never imagined how many. After staying down here, people on the surface had no idea what they were missing. Vampires could claw their way out of the earth all over
Alec and Jane returned. Alec had a dark bottle that looked like it should’ve held wine. He set it on the table before he turned to Jane, who held two tall glass water bottles. He took one to Edward’s side of the table while Jane made a show of opening mine. I knew it was to show me it was a new bottle; nothing nefarious going on here. When the bottle was drained into the goblet, she went to Aro and picked up the dark bottle. The cork came out with a pop, and I tried not to look so close at the thick, red liquid pouring into his goblet. The air suddenly smelled tinny.
Alec stood straight, speaking up with a small, polite smile. “Tonight’s appetizer is a fresh garden salad with your choice of dressing. The main dish is cannelloni tre sapori.” He motioned to me. “What would you like on your salad?”
Why did I suddenly want to eat at Denny’s? “U-um,” I stuttered, “Italian?”
“A fine choice. Edward?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he replied curtly.
“Very well. Master?”
“French, please,” Aro said.
Alec nodded and left again, Jane right behind him. My gaze danced between the remaining vamps. Why was Edward acting like this? He seemed normal in the parlor, yet now he was closed off; I got nothing from his face. I was told time and time again to be respectful—I was even making an effort here. He should have to follow the rules too. It didn’t take long for the twins to return with the salads. A sparkling white and gold bowl was placed in front of me.
One thing I noticed was that the table wasn’t set with hundreds of different utensils; there was a fork, a spoon, and two knives. It was nice to know I didn’t need a crash course in fine dining.
As I placed a napkin over my lap, my hand brushed against the empty holster. Most of my confidence came from my weaponry, but so far I was doing okay. The real test laid in the upcoming interrogation. If I could do it without screwing up what I knew of the cover story, I could do anything. Right?
I looked over to Edward to see he was poking at his salad with his fork. I wanted to ask if it was safe to eat—in all honesty, the salad looked delicious—but I couldn’t exactly ask out loud. He gave me a faint nod, so I picked up the fork. I figured if I took it in the wrong sense, he’d find a way to stop me.
My first bite was very small, but Edward didn’t make any motion. The salad was as good as it looked; the lettuce was crisp, the tomatoes and cucumbers were juicy, and the cheese was fresh. Curiously, I glanced at Aro. Was Peter right? Would he try human food? He also got a salad, but I had always heard vampires didn’t eat; they didn’t have a digestive system. Guess Aro didn’t get that memo. He was eating his salad with no problem, unlike Edward. He still had yet to take a bite.
Aro took a short swallow from his goblet before breaking the silence. “So Edward, tell me, how is your family doing? The last I heard, they were in
He was starting with Edward? I thought I would be on the chopping block first. My heart slowed with relief.
Edward sat straight, staring into his bowl. “I’m not sure where they are now. It’s been a while since I’ve talked to them.”
“A pity,” Aro said with a frown. “But surely you spoke with
“He’s still bitter, but every day is a little better. I figure it’ll be another hundred years before he fully recovers from the betrayal.”
Aro chuckled. “Is that how he sees it? That man is ridiculous. It wasn’t betrayal, just simple politics.”
Betrayal? Sounded like
Aro turned to me with his empty smile. I struggled to remember my answers under the weight of his gaze. “It seems Edward is being anti-social today,” he said with a pleasant chuckle. “Why don’t you tell me more about yourself? I want to know what Jasper sees in you.”
“Uh, well, there’s really nothing special about me. I went to school, made friends, and fought vampires on the side,” I started. “I’m just your average modern girl.”
“Nonsense! There is more to you than the eye can see. That is the nice thing about us vampires; we do not believe our eyes.” He reached across the short space of the table to grab my hand. His skin was cold, but it was nothing compared to the skeletal hands clawing at the back of my skull. It was the same feeling from our first encounter. “Tell Uncle Aro your secrets.”
Uncle? This vamp was delusional if he thought I’d call him that. No fucking way. I fought to get my hand free, my head pounding from the pressure of his power.
“I grew up in Forks with my dad,” I said, gritting my teeth against the pain. “I had a normal childhood. Piano lessons, ballet—anything, really.”
He realized I was having trouble speaking through the pain and released me. I hid my gasp with a slow, deep breath, shooting Edward a murderous glare over the table. I took a small sip from my goblet; the cold water was soothing.
“Tell me about Forks,” Aro encouraged.
Now that I could think again, I fell back on my original plan. Play naïve and hoped he didn’t look too closely at my acting skills. I’d gotten lucky so far, but this was an ancient vampire. He created lying.
“What would you like to know?” I asked politely, my voice barely shaking with the fear I felt.
“What is it like? Bustling with energy like
“Forks is very green . . . and wet. It’s not like
He huffed, finishing the rest of his salad. “Perhaps it’s best I stay away then. I am tired of silence. I love little
“You’ve been to the surface, Master Aro?” Edward asked, surprised.
“Of course, all the time,” he scoffed, as if it was completely ridiculous Edward would think otherwise. “It is very different from Volterra. There is little rainfall throughout the year; it would only continuously rain during certain months. Here, it almost never stops, no matter the month. I like to walk through
I choked on my mouthful and reached for the goblet, guzzling half the water. Picturing Aro playing with innocent kids was not what I needed; it seemed impossible. They obviously had no idea what they were doing. Didn’t they get weird vibes from him? He didn’t exactly blend in with the human public. He looked too much like a demented Botticelli angel; a painting gone wrong.
“Are you all right, Isabella?” Aro asked. I hated the concern on his face; it looked real.
I took a deep breath and sipped the water. Yeah, all better. I smiled and nodded at Aro, trying not to cough up a lung. Edward drew the attention back to himself, taking charge of the conversation. I happily let him have it.
“What made you decide to come to the States?” he asked curiously. “Surely Marcus wasn’t thrilled with the move.”
A hand reached for the empty bowl in front of me, and I jumped. Alec and Jane had returned, silent as ever, to deliver the main course. The bowl was replaced with a large plate covered in melted cheese. I tried to resist poking it, wondering what was underneath.
Aro waited until the twins left and then continued the conversation. “That man is never happy about anything,” he said, picking up his knife. “He called it nonsense, but I was determined to see the
I pretended to listen, not actually caring about Aro’s personal history, as I popped a piece of the mess of cheese in my mouth. It was an explosion of flavor. It was ground chicken, eggplant, and mushrooms wrapped in noodles. For being dead, these vampires really knew how to cook. I glanced across the table to see Edward still hadn’t touched his food. At least he wasn’t trying to pretend, but he didn’t have to look so irritable. I could practically see steam coming from his ears.
At least one of us was having a nice time. It was the most uncomfortable position I’d ever been in—having dinner with a vampire—but surprisingly, I didn’t mind. Besides the quick attempt to get into my head, Aro hadn’t hurt me yet. Not to say he wouldn’t try, but I didn’t think dinner would go like this. So far it wasn’t bad. Company excluded, I’d say it was great. Or maybe I just really liked the food.
That is, until Aro said, “Isabella, you have barely said a word about yourself. Tell me more about your life. What is your family like?”
I dropped the bite of canne-something I was about to take. Was this his way of bringing Charlie into the conversation? What could Aro possibly want to know about Charlie? I didn’t prepare an answer for this. I touched the holster, but damn it, no confidence there. I looked to Edward for an answer. Maybe he saw something in Aro’s mind? He focused his attention on his plate in response. Great.
I scrambled to reply. “Um, well, my mom lives far away right now. We don’t really talk much. I live with Charlie and, uh, he is a great dad. Really. I couldn’t ask for anyone better.”
“So, he’s irreplaceable,” Aro stated, staring intently.
“Yes, definitely.”
“I see. What else? What does he do to provide for you?”
“Nothing, recently anyway. He used to be chief of police in Forks, but. . . .”
“But?”
I bit my lip, debating. Did I tell him the truth about his vampires and risk making him angry? What was I thinking? This wasn’t about sparing his sensibilities. Besides, he already knew the worst behavior from his loyal subjects.
“But when the vampires came to town, they made it hard for him to do his job. So he quit.” There, that was okay.
The old vamp looked confused. “He quit his job? How do you pay for your house and simple things?”
“It doesn’t matter. My house was burnt to the ground.”
“What happened?” he gasped.
I shoved another forkful in my mouth as he spoke, trying to stave off the outburst I felt bubbling. What happened? As if he didn’t know! Did he really have no idea what his vampires were doing? Didn’t he realize who Charlie was, and what I was part of? Did he think I forgot about the resistance just because, as far as he knew, I was Jasper’s Renfield? I swallowed, chasing it with some water. Aro waited with wide, curious eyes.
“Vampires,” I answered simply. “Vampires burned down everything I owned.”
“That’s outrageous!” he yelled, slamming a fist on the table. It rattled but didn’t break; a great show of restraint on his part. Unless the table was as sturdy as it looked. “Why would they do such a horrendous thing? I demand to know who did this. He will pay.”
Edward looked up from his plate to me, questions bubbling behind his eyes. Did I want him to step in? I had a feeling this was about to relate to Jasper. I still wasn’t clear on our cover story; definitely should have asked about that one.
“That’s a mighty big population to—”
“Bella was part of the resistance group,” Edward interrupted. “Her father oversaw both Forks and
Aro raised an eyebrow in question. “Yes, I know that. I had many discussions with the Quileute elders over the state of Forks, but the truth is I don’t associate myself with that town. My coven seems to think of it as our territory, though honestly, I never said such a thing.” He waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Yet that is not our topic right now. I want to know why they would attack Isabella directly. Only because Charles leads the resistance? Ridiculous. They know she’s not to be touched.”
“Your order turned into a competition,” Edward replied.
“Really? What for?”
“Who could catch her. She was on the run from your minions until Jasper came across her.”
Aro frowned, looking between me and Edward. Why was he confused? Didn’t he know what his own vampires were doing?
“I told select few to find her but to bring her in unharmed. They never returned. How others found out, I will never know, because I only told my most trusted, my most powerful. They would never spread the news.”
“Apparently they did. Every vampire in a five mile radius had been sniffing around for her,” Edward snarled.
The frown on Aro’s face smoothed away to a smile. Without a word he set down his silverware and stretched his hand toward Edward. Edward didn’t even question him, just obediently gave his hand to Aro. What was he sharing now? Aro closed his eyes, his grip tightening around Edward’s hand. It had to be bad if that happened, right? It was a few seconds of silence before either vamp moved. I thought about ditching while Aro got the information he wanted, but some invisible force kept me in my seat, patiently munching on the canne-whatever.
Edward pulled his hand away, his face stoic, not giving me even a pinch of information. Aro kept the grin. Whatever he got, it was exactly what he wanted. “La tua cantante, correct?” he asked smugly. Edward’s eyes flinched, and he tried to hide it with a blink. “I thought so. It’s killing you that Jasper found her, is it not?”
“What is he talking about?” I asked Edward.
“My dear Isabella, Uncle Aro has found the keystone of Edward’s problems, and more importantly, his jealously.” Aro turned to me, discreetly moving his chair closer. “You, my dear, are his singer.”
That uncle thing was starting to creep me out. I never thought a simple word would give me the fucking heebie-jeebies. “What does that mean?”
“It means he wants to kill you but for a different reason. For instance, I think you smell divine. I can hear your beating heart; you smell of freesia. I wish I could crack your chest open for a bigger lungful! Yet Edward does not only smell it. He tastes your pulse right on his tongue; even when you’re apart, the memory of your scent calls to him like a siren. I believe he’s not content to just smell it, or perhaps even sample your blood. If he had his way, he would bathe in it. He would soak in your essence. He would lick your bones dry for every possible succulent drop.” He turned back to Edward, grabbing his goblet and raising it in a toast before taking a drink. “Am I wrong, Edward?”
My face was pale as I looked across the table to Edward. A vampire like him could kill me—I knew that—so why was I terrified to hear it explained like that? Probably because I could see the heat in Edward’s eyes to back up Aro’s statement. Imagining it—Edward’s mouth and arms stained with my blood—wasn’t helping. Suddenly, my meal didn’t look so good.
“I’ll take your silence as answer enough,” Aro continued. “It’s such a shame you are devoted to this lifestyle; you would be an excellent right hand. Not to insult the strength you have now, of course, but with Bella’s blood you could be much stronger. Especially with the promise of the incubus in you. I saw it for myself, the way it still slithers inside you, replacing the soul you once had.”
Edward immediately looked uncomfortable. So even Aro knew. “I don’t see what that bit of information has to do with anything.”
“There has to be some part of you that yearns to break free. A part that wants to defy
“Actually no, I never feel like that. I’ve learned to ignore that part of myself.”
Aro frowned again in confusion. He focused solely on Edward, giving me the chance to really look at Aro’s face. For once I got to see the wheels turning inside a vampire’s mind. The flurry of emotions in Aro’s blazing red eyes projected his frustration, complete with small grimace. In a blink it was all gone, and I was looking back into the pleasant, empty mask.
“I didn’t realize you had become such a comedian, Edward,” he said. “Look at you. Your skin is so soft, eyes so dark and vibrant. You don’t even look your age. I have seen
I was definitely missing something here, and I didn’t like it. I thought when Edward said he was an incubus, he meant that he liked to feed while he fucked. I didn’t think it was a completely different side.
Edward shifted, leaning his elbow on the table. “There are different kinds of lust to feed from. I don’t need a woman to fall in love with me to be satisfied.”
Aro gave a cocky smile. “Yes, I know that quite well. I watched you in
Edward looked away. Fuck, he was playing me for another victim? What was wrong with this vampire? What was wrong with me? I was sitting here like it was completely normal to hear something like this—with a couple of vampires. One that wanted to own me and another that wanted to kill me. Or maybe he just wanted to eat me or screw me so I’d get out of his system. I don’t know! I didn’t care to know! I just wanted to get out of here immediately. My knees were nearly knocking together.
Aro turned to me with his pleasant smile, but there was something different about him. The polite host was slowly giving way to the unstable vampire the Cullens and Peter had warned me about. Much to my horror, the conversation suddenly shifted back to me. “I do almost feel bad for taking her away from you, but such is life. Tell me, Isabella, when does Jasper plan to turn you?”
“Excuse me?” I asked weakly, pushing the plate away from me. My appetite was officially spoiled.
“I thought you might have discussed it with him by now. Before you killed vampires, you must have noticed how happy they were. No one can resist the temptation of eternal life, not even a young girl brought into this lifestyle against her will. The promise to stay young forever is often very popular.”
“Unless they’re wanted by a crazed master,” Edward snapped. “Tell her the real reason you want her changed.”
Aro sighed, rolling his eyes gracefully. “So stubborn, Edward, and so very rude for peeking. While it’s true I would love to have you for my ranks, Isabella—there is much potential in you—I admit my true intentions are a bit more selfish.” He grabbed my hand from under the table in a firm grip. I tried to struggle before those painful fingers ran across my brain, but I didn’t feel anything this time. It was just his hand, but his face was way too sincere as he stared at me.
“You remind me so much of my past,” he admitted quietly. “You look like my darling sister. I knew from the moment I saw your glowing eyes eagerly drinking up the
Oh my god. I fought not to vomit. I focused on my hand freezing in his and not the heavy weight in my gut. Oh god, I was going to be sick. He had been chasing me, ruining my life, because I looked like his sister?
He released me, and I quickly pulled my hand back, wiping it on the gown. He didn’t notice. His eyes had a faraway look.
“Didyme was very precious to me,” he continued. “Her power was unlike anything else, spreading happiness and love wherever she went. I had to kill her, you know. Would you like to hear the story?”
I felt like my eyes were so wide they’d pop out. I shook my head, unable to find my voice.
“Of course, of course. How very rude of me, trying to tell horrific stories over a wonderful meal. We don’t want you to lose your appetite. Please, continue eating.”
I didn’t move. My stomach wasn’t interested in more food.
“Now where was I? Oh yes, Didyme. You see, she was a beautiful creature. In her human life, her eyes were the very same brown, yet her hair was darker. You may look alike, but your personalities could not be more different. How would that translate for your power? Like she spread love, would you spread fear and death with every step you take? Or perhaps you would attain a psychic ability? The very thought of it excites me! When did you say Jasper was turning you?”
“Never!” I screeched hoarsely, trying to sink into my chair. “I never want to become a vampire.”
“Nonsense!” he laughed. “If this is about Jasper as your sire, never fear, my lovely. Uncle Aro is here for you. I will take you under my wing for your new life, and Sulpicia would be happy to groom you into a proper young lady. No more silly weaponry, unless you’d like to try rapier. Now there’s a sport. But we’ll talk details in a bit.” He wasted another smile on me before turning back to Edward.
“Now my young friend, it’s as the Latin texts say, lex talionis. An eye for an eye,” he said, his voice dark with accusation. “I told Isabella my deepest secret; now tell her yours. Specifically, about her father. What exactly happened to Charles?”
What? I wanted to ignore Aro’s goading. I wanted to go back to the suite, retrieve my guns and give up. Yes, I, Bella Swan, wanted to give up on trying to kill this psycho. But then he mentioned Charlie. A jolt raced down my spine at the sound of his name. This whole thing wasn’t just about me, damn it. I was here for Dad. With a tired sigh, I sat up. I can do this. It’s for Dad. That’s all I had to remember. That was my resolve.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” mumbled Edward.
“Come now, Edward. Verità tra ci. We both know I never ordered Charles’ capture. But why would my people bring him here nearly a day before your arrival?”
Edward muttered something, but it was too low for me to hear. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. It had to be something terrible if Edward was acting like this. I’d noticed he wasn’t capable of hiding his emotions completely like Jasper, but he was better than this.
Aro waited patiently, tapping a finger on the table. I was grinding my teeth. What did Edward know about Charlie’s capture? The Cullens had nothing to do with it, right?
Finally, Edward shook his head, and when he looked up at me, there was no emotion whatsoever on his face. His voice was clear as he said, “
It felt like a whole minute had passed as I stared stupidly at Edward.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I asked. I tried to think of any reason the Cullens wanted Charlie taken hostage; absolutely nothing came to mind. Was this some kind of sick joke? My father was probably dead in a cell somewhere by now, and this was how he made light of it? Familiar warm rage flooded my veins, and I felt like myself again. I stood up, slamming my hands on the table. “Stop playing games. I want the truth!”
“This is the truth,” Aro said. “The Cullens intentionally sent you into danger. You thought you were doing something good, coming down here to rescue your father, and leave a hero. They were stringing you along for their own plans.”
I glanced at Edward. “He’s lying. He brought Charlie down here, didn’t he?” Edward stayed quiet, his face immobile as he stared at the table. Desperation raced through me, and I heard it like a child’s plea in my voice. “Didn’t he? Answer me, damn it!”
“No, Aro had nothing to do with it,” Edward replied quietly. “It was us. We told the vampires to steal Charlie.”
“Why would you do that to him?” I screamed.
“It was the only way we knew you would agree to come down here.”
Aro interrupted our argument. He stood and eased my shaking body—whether from rage or fear, I couldn’t tell—back into the chair, although I really didn’t feel like sitting. I felt like strangling a bunch of vampires before I turned them into target practice. Starting with the one sitting across from me. I trusted him. Somewhere along the way, I trusted Edward. He was an evasive son of a bitch sometimes, but despite all that I subconsciously relied on him to help me. How stupid could I be? An old joke ran through my mind. “How do you know a vampire is lying? When his lips are moving.” Yeah, all true.
“Bella, Bella, Bella,” Aro said quietly, as if testing the nickname for himself as he stroked my hair. If he wasn’t so fucking old and powerful, I’d do my best to break his fingers. “You see, Bella? He was hiding this from you all along. How could you ever trust the Cullens again after this, especially
I moved away from him, feeling disgusted with myself for even letting him touch my hand. “Why does everyone keep calling him that?” I demanded.
“You don’t know? Look at those eyes, Bella. They are fierce, and behind them lies a killer unlike anything you’ve ever seen waiting to be unleashed. It comes from the incubus in him; he’s addicted to killing. That spirit is why
There was a deafening crack as wood splintered in Edward’s fists. “Don’t talk about him as if you know him,” he snarled. “After what you did, you have no right to call him friend.”
Aro scoffed. “If he was truly insulted, he would have come after me many years ago. Instead, he sends his demone to threaten me. You can hide behind your mask, but I know why you are here. Why else would I send Caius and Marcus away? I knew you would go behind my back, clipping loose strings.”
Edward’s jaw clenched, and Aro gave a smug smile. By that look alone I could hear the word racing through his mind: Checkmate.
“You’re not as senile as I thought,” said Edward. “So how did you figure it out?”
The old vamp laughed. “Senile? Oh Edward, you slay me. It wasn’t very hard; you actually made it easier. Your memories were vague compared to the last time we met, and you made a devastating mistake when conjuring up your last conversation with
The rage subsided, replaced by a cold rush of shock. What did he mean by that? He’s lying. He’s a fucking vampire—he’s lying about all of this. But between Jessica and Lauren, the only one still missing was. . . .
“I believe her name was Lauren,” Aro continued with a confident tone. My heart plummeted. “She was a modern girl through and through, right Edward? Always talking. Her master didn’t want her anymore, and no one else would take her.” He turned to me with mock sorrow. “We had to do away with her, I’m afraid.”
“You killed Lauren?” I asked Edward. “For what?”
“I made him do it as a test of his loyalty,” Aro answered. “I did not expect him to do it so easily. He struggled at first, but he did it. He killed her simply because I told him to.”
“Why didn’t you let her go?” I yelled. “It’s not always about killing, damn it!”
Aro looked genuinely surprised. “Felix had damaged her beyond repair,” he explained calmly. “He does have a very addicting personality, after all.”
I looked between the two vampires, trying to control the rage bubbling inside. I knew I couldn’t trust Aro, but from the look on Edward’s face, it was all true. And Edward—even after his smartass remarks and disgusting past—I’d trusted him only to find out he was part of an elaborate subplot. I really couldn’t trust anyone down here, could I? But I should have known that getting into this crazy thing.
The chandelier rattled overhead just as Aro sat up in his chair. He looked to the ceiling with a small smile. “Ah, so it has already begun,” he said softly, standing. “I must admit, your family is very fast, Edward. Very well. If
Aro was gone in the blink of an eye. Good riddance. For once, I was faster than a vampire and stood before Edward, heading towards the exit. He was right behind me, of course, and easily keeping pace. I didn’t care what he was going to do, but I was going back to the suite to get my pistol; there was a whole magazine with his name on it. What had Aro said? Lex talionis. Eye for an eye—life for a life. Even if he was just a walking corpse, I really wanted to explode his head. Just because Aro claimed Lauren was broken, that didn’t make it true. She could have been completely stable and wide awake. Edward didn’t have to kill her to follow up with some charade.
When we were in the stairwell, I figured out the reason the chandelier shook. A tremor passed under my feet, knocking me off balance. Edward swept me up in his arms without hesitation and ran up the stairs.
“Put me down!” I screamed, wiggling in his hold, and pushing against his chest.
“Stop squirming or I’ll drop you,” he complained, holding me tighter.
“That’s the—”
Before I could complete my sentence, he threw me over his shoulder. I gave a frightened shriek at seeing the blurry steps so suddenly. He was using his vampiric speed now. I closed my eyes, trying not to be sick, and before I knew it, we stopped moving. We were already back in the suite. He set me on my feet only to feel another tremor.
“What is that?” I asked.
“Explosions. Your friends are on their way in to clean house and collapsing any escape routes Jasper or I might have missed,” he replied tensely.
I stared up at his hard face, his jaw set. The resistance was storming the castle? Already? I thought Sam might get impatient and bust me out of here at some point, but not so soon.
“Go get changed. We’re leaving,” he said. “We’re going to have to fight our way to Charlie, so bring all your weaponry.”
When I didn’t move, he barked, “Go! We don’t have a lot of time!”
“What the hell is going on?” I demanded. “Why should I believe anything you say?”
He tugged on his hair and gave an agonized groan. “I scre—no, I really fucked up, Bella. I could have stopped this, or at least told you what was going on, but I’m such an idiot. I knew something was wrong. I just didn’t think it would go this far.”
“What are you talking about? Did
“It wasn’t his idea, trust me. It was an informant’s.
I was barely following his rapid words; he was basically spitting them out, trying to rush our conversation. “Whose idea was it?”
Another tremor passed, and this time, I heard the faint explosion. “Please Bella—”
“It was you, wasn’t it?”
With another groan, he pushed me towards my bedroom. I dragged my feet against the floor, the heels scraping against the tile. “We don’t have time for this, but I’ll give you a hint,” he said, effortlessly pushing me. “You know him, and he’s the only one who can supply army-grade technology.”
I stumbled over the carpet of my room. Edward wasted no time in grabbing the door, closing me in. I didn’t even have to think about it; it instantly clicked. The only person capable of that—the one who helped orchestrate this mess—had been with us all along. I whispered the name in shock. “Embry.”
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