Crescent Moon (Stopped! Don't read!)

------------- Chapter 10 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               “Don’t. He would use any excuse to hurt you. I’m ready Edward,” I murmur walking slowly to the middle of the room.

With each step, I feel the tension rise. My heart beat gets erratic and my mind is all over the place. Tanya stares at me, her eyes worried, but other than that, not betraying any emotion.

My heart aches for her, yet at the same time my mind tells me to cut the losses. There’s something wrong with the relationship we have. If she really did love me, why didn’t she say something when I came back? She was contented with just standing there...

I come to a stop when I’m in the middle of the room, slightly in front of Bella and Tanya.

               “You betrayed the Volturi!” Caius spits, breaking the silence.

               “I did no such thing!” I defend, yet my voice shakes a little.

               “You let them go! Despite being told not to. That is called betrayal,” Caius continues as if talking to a mentally challenged person.

Before I can respond, my father’s warm hand closes around my shoulder. He stands beside me, his body tensed, ready for the inevitable conflict.

               “Dad? I can-” I begin, my voice breaking.

               “I know you can. But you shouldn’t have to stand alone,” he murmurs, his eyes tight. It seemed to me as if his words had a double edge to it. It’s almost as if he were admonishing the rest of the family.

Squaring my shoulders and with a new sense of security wrapped around me, I raise my chin up haughtily in defiance. “I never betrayed you! You wanted Amun and Kebi. You got them. There was no mention of punishing Benjamin and Tia. Perhaps you didn’t hear, but Aro granted them pardon. Doesn’t that mean they are free? Or is that a just a misconception? Perhaps to the Volturi ‘free’ means something else?” I question arrogantly.

               “No. Free means the same thing it means to you,” Aro murmurs, his face drawn.

               “Brother, there is no need to pretend anymore,” Caius responds, taking a step closer to me.

               “Silence Caius,” Aro snaps, more emotion on his face then he usually displays. Gone is his calm demeanour, he finally resembles the mad men Alice described to me a lifetime ago.

               “You allow him to talk to you like that, Cauius?” I ask, trying to sow the seeds of discord within their ranks.

What I didn’t factor in was the fact that Chelsea was also manipulating the Ancients.

With no warning, Caius springs on me, knocking me into one of the intricate pillars, causing a resonating crack through the room. His hand closes around my neck. Were I a full vampire, this would have merely been a show of dominance, the way I did it to Amun. However, seeing as I actually did need to breathe, it had the effect it would on a human.

I suck in a ragged breath, my eyes widening as my mind registers how pathetic I really am.

In the blink of an eye, Edward is behind Caius, spitting mad. And then I sink to the floor, as my neck is released from Caius’ grasp.

               “Stop!” I shout at Edward, at the same moment Felix wraps his thick arms around Edward, crushing him slowly.

               “Stop it!” I shout once more, and to my surprise, Felix releases Edward.

An uneasy silence fills the room, as everyone composes themselves once more. Felix looks mortified. Using Edward’s ability, I delve into his mind and see his confusion. He doesn’t understand why my words had such an effect on him. He is fond of me, yet...the way he obeyed my command was as if I were his master.

Aro watches this exchange with interest. With his head held up high he glides towards me, his hand outstretched. I stretch out my hand in response, knowing what he wanted.

               “Don’t! He’ll know everything!” Bella cautions from Edward’s side.

Ignoring her, I close the distance between Aro and I. Our fingers connect and the mental mind-meld begins.

Aro can see that I have no intention of forfeiting my life. And I see that he has no intention of eliminating me.

What now? Aro sends through my mind.

You release me, I send back simply.

And that will not happen. We can keep this exchange up, but I will not change my mind, my boy.

He’s right. Alec was right...the Volturi will not give me up. I was stupid to have ever joined them! How could I have been so foolish as to think that I could walk out when I wished?!

Aro. Caius. Marcus. Didyme. I let the words float through my mind, picking up the response each word made in Aro’s mind. Perhaps he forgot, or mayhap he couldn’t help it. But just as I expected, the moment the name entered his mind, he relieved the memories I was hoping to see.

Didyme. His biological sister...he killed her. Just to get Marcus to stay.

I broke the contact and took a step back. I gave Aro a crooked smile before turning my attention to Marcus.

               “Marcus, ever so quiet and faithful,” I murmured softly, my voice taking on a hypnotic quality. “Ever the loyal one, always sacrificing for the greater good. Doesn’t it frustrate you? Isn’t it irritating having to be the one to give everything up, all the time?” I asked.

Marcus watched me calmly, betraying no emotions.

               “Didyme,” I whispered her name, and finally broke through Marcus’ carefully composed facade.

               “How do you know that name?” he asked quietly, uncertainly, as if he didn’t really want to know.

               “I can read Aro’s mind, like he can read mine. I saw what happened, Marcus. Aren’t you curious? Don’t you want to know the truth? Surely you don’t believe that she left on her own accord,” I continued, my grin getting feral.

               “Enough! I tire of these games!” Aro announced. He glanced at Santiago, and in a matter of seconds, Santiago had me in a vice like grip.

               “Wait! I can tell you everything!” I shouted.

Santiago grinned and pinned me against the column. “I’m going to enjoy this so much,” he murmured bringing his face closer to my chest.

               “Stop! Release the boy!” Marcus suddenly exclaimed, shocking everyone in the room.