I know what you're keeping

[Bella Cullen]

devoted-everlasting.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=secrets&action=display&thread=374

Her daughters voice made her want to cry, knowing she'd have to witness this. "Ness! Don't" She said between her teeth as two guards held her arms, making her kneel before Aro. He contemplated his next move. She knew death was imminent and welcomed it if it were to save her family. Her daughter, so much like herself willing to make deals with the devil just to protect family. Like mother, like daughter. Jane narrowed her eyes at Renesmee and Bella struggled against Felix and Demetri. "Don't you dare, Jane!" With that she smirked and sent a wave of pain her way, making Renesmee crumple to the ground as she was unable to shield her. Bella screamed out as her daughter fell in pain from what Jane was doing to her.

[Alice Cullen]

-We didn't bother going back to Forks. I'd called Carlisle and told him we were heading straight to Volterra but that was all I'd told him. I couldn't breathe a word of anything else. He wasn't happy but he truste me. I knew Bella was there already, Edward was too, I'd seen it. I was trying to keep track of them both but things had gotten very...clustered. There were alarming holes now, grainy blank spots and it was frustrating. The flight to Italy was spent in quiet contemplation. Jazz and I sat together, our hands laced together tightly, Henry behind us, calmy reading a magazine. I was edgy. Even more so when the pilot announced we were running into a storm ahead and may be delayed. Jazz and I exchanged long looks, saying nothing. My hand tightened in his as I stiffened, face going blank...-

I gasped, trembling and lost in my vision that whirred by so quickly. Bella dead. Leah, too. And ...me. An orgiastic look of triumph on Aro's face as he got what he wanted at last. Renesmee. I shivered once more and came out of it to see Jasper looking at me expectantly as I blinked- We..we can't be delayed. Not even 10 minutes, Jasper....-pausing again as I saw Em in my mind's eye-Emmett is on his way to Volterra as well. -I was almost panicking. If we were even marginally late, my vision would become fact...

Hurry, hurry, hurry....

[Henry]

*leaning back in my seat, not really reading. I was thinking about what I was about to do. I'd sworn never to go back to Volterra the day I'd left and here I was, centuries later, breaking my own vow. But for Alice...yes. I'd do it. For her. I watched her darker head bend towards Jasper's lighter caramel colored one, their hands held tight. I'd never found a love like they had. No. Not true. Life. I loved life like that. The captain's voice over the intercom broke into my thoughts, announcing the storm he was going to try and fly above, that may take us a bit off course and delay our landing. Best REALLY get to reading then. We had hours on our hands*

*As it turned out, the pilot was quite good at what he did and we flew high enough above the storm that we landed about 5 minutes before the original arrival time. Alice took charge, getting us through customs with her elegant aplomb. Jasper rented the fastest car he could; a Ferrari. As we raced through the countryside, it blurred by. My daughter pushed the car as fast as it could go. It was..impressive. She was alarmed by something she'd seen but wouldn't tell me what is was. Skidding down the cobbled streets of Volterra, she slid the car to a shuddering stop in front of the castle, hopping out and running ahead of both Jasper and I* ALICE! WAIT! *she, literally, kicked the doors open, knocking them off the hinges and darted inside* ALICE!

[Edward Cullen]

Edward had been trailing on Jane and Alec's tail since they had turned up and taken Bella against her will. He did not have the chance to make things right with Bella, before she was taken and that pained him to his very core. He knew where Jane and Alec would have taken Bella, to the place that they had all met once before. The Volturi Chambers. His eyes darted around him as the hall was dark and only lit by the flicker of the candles.

He was drawing closer to the chambers as he could hear Bella argue with Aro, that was his Bella, never to accept anything from anyone, he smirked silently at that as he crept closer.

"Ness! Don't"

Renesmee!

Renesmee was here! He sped towards the double doors and slammed them open with all his might as he watched Jane inflict her fury on their daughter as she crumpled to the floor in pain.

"STOP!" his voice echoed as they all turned to him.

Seeing their daughter writhe on the floor as Jane flooded her with her gift, wave after wave as Renesmee curled on the floor with each wave that she sent to her.

"STOP!" Edward bellowed again to get Jane to stop, but it seemed that it only encouraged Jane more as Alec took a step closer as Renesmee screamed that she could not see as her body continued to shake with agony as she collapsed on the floor unconscious.

"NO!" Edward screamed again as he tried to run to her, only to be cut off by Alec as he could no longer see, smell or hear anything as he collapsed to the floor as he felt Jane unleash upon him as his hands clamped in his hair to fight the agonizing pain.

[Alice Cullen]

-racing down the shadowed hallways, I wasn't listening to Henry or Jazz. I was in a race against time! I saw Chelsea step out, a hand raised as though to stop me and I brushed her aside like a bothersome fly. The elevator ahead, I jammed my finger on the button and even as the doors slid halfway open, I jumped inside and hit the level I needed. I barely saw Jazz and Henry chasing after me, pausing to help the fallen Chelsea. I didn't have time for their gentlemanly ways and yelled for them to follow...they knew the way. Dropping down, I bolted as the door opened once more and sped out towards the main chamber. I could hear voices. Aro's smug tone. Bella's rebellious voice. Then Edward crying out. I didn't hesitate, bursting through the doors and skidding to a stop in the middle of the marbled chamber. Demetri and Felix scowled, Caius and Marcus only looked mildly annoyed. Bella's eyes found mine and held for a timeless moment before I swung my gaze onto my poor niece and brother, both being attacked by the twin terror's Alec and Jane. Unwinding my scarf, yelling out with firm authority* STOP! *craning my head to Aro* Now! *remembering my place however and trying to level back the scorn* Please. -Hearing the elevator doors ping down the hallway, allowing a small smile to etch along my face, eyes glowing. Aro had no idea...none.-

[Aro Volturi]

Aro smiled smugly at Renesmee's fight, just like her mother. Jane and Alec showed her obedience, dropping her to a helpless heap on the floor, her senses taken as she passed out. Her human side unable to fight through their gifts. As it were she was visibly exhausted and now she was less of a problem.

He grinned and clapped his hands together at the arrival of Bella's beloved Edward. Falling into place nicely indeed. He tilted his head to the side looking up from where he stood before Bella.

"Nice of you to join us, Edward. I'm sure you won't want to miss this show."

He chuckled and looked down at Bella. "Any last words for your mate, I'm feeling....generous."

With his constant protests to stop, he became annoyed and nodded towards Alec and Jane who then used their gifts on him. The agony in his face gave Aro a grin. The doors swung open as he inched closer to her, grinning.



Snapping his head up to meet the golden eyes of the one Alice Cullen, the one whose gift of the future gave him pause, oh he wanted her in his guard. He needed her in his guard....and he'd get her one way or another. The pieces of the game were all moving in his favor, and it couldn't have worked out any better. He stood up straight and gasped sarcastically. "Well, look who we have here...Alice sweet, sweet Alice." The kick across the face she'd delivered him five years prior had not left his memory, but he was determined to let that slide. She was a valuable piece in his chess game, and he was a pro chess player.

[Henry]

*We tore down the stone hallway, I heard that whispery, elegant voice I hadn't heard in centuries and didn't even hesitate, I could tell by the lethal surety of his tone that he firmly believed this was THE moment he'd been waiting for. The way he even rolled Alice's name over his tongue made me bristle. Pulling a bit ahead of Jasper, sliding into the room, I didn't bother with anyone else but two beings. Alice and Aro. Smirking as I stepped up behind my progeny and laying a hand on her shoulder as my bright green eyes met Aro's crimson ones, feeling the atmosphere shift as Cauis and Marcus half rose from their own seats at my arrival* Hello...boys. Long time.

[Bella Cullen]

She watched everything unfold. Her daughter passed out from the hell inflicted by those evil twins, Her husband writhing in pain. "STOP!" She screamed out to make them stop hurting him. Jane inflicted another wave at him and she struggled against the guards, getting closer to him but still being held. She closed her eyes and focused her shield to cover him, his body stopped tensing once it covered him and Jane growled lunging forward towards her.

Everyone stopped when the doors flung open and Alice walked in shouting to stop. Jane looked to Aro then back at Bella giving her a glare as she stepped back by her brother Alec. Edward protected under her shield as she looked at him and mouthed the words, 'I love you, I'm sorry.' Oh Alice, why did you come? They were now all certain to die, or Aro would get what he wanted...either way they were screwed.

Hearing another voice enter the room, she looked away from Edward sensing the tension in the room. Caius and Marcus looking as if they'd seen a ghost...but Aro....Aro looked like he was staring at death himself. The shock and disbelief on his face was priceless. Alice held a grin on her pixie face when the stranger touched her shoulder. Alice...she always had a way of saving the day.

[Edward Cullen]

Edward could feel his body become lifeless again, waves of pain thrust at him as he tried to fight it off, but Jane kept over powering him as he fought against it, but always failed. He cast glimpses Renesmee who had passed out from all the intense pain that Jane had cast upon her.

"STOP!"

He could hear Bella scream at Jane as he continued to writhe on the floor in agony, wishing it to be over, he hated to feel defenseless. And it seemed that Bella answered his wishes as he felt his body come back to life, shielded by her shield. Rubbing his eyes as he stumbled to his feet. He turned to Bella, his eyes weak and swollen

'I love you, I'm sorry.'she mouthed at him.

I love you he mouthed back at her, offering her a comforting smile, hoping that it would ease her worry about him, but all he wanted to do was go to their daughter, but did not dare to move as guards hoovered around her, not wanting to cause a stir.

"Alice" he whispered as she barged through the doors to the chamber, followed by someone who he had never seen before.

Scanning the room as the look on Aro's face said it all, he was worried, who was this man? And what was his connection to Alice. He turned to Bella to send her a quizzing look, did she know anything about this?

[Emmett Cullen]

*He'd made it to Italy after speaking with Rose, making her understand he had to do this...he had to stand behind his brother. Kissing Rosalie and Ryder goodbye was hard, not knowing if he'd make it out. Esme and Carlisle agreed to take Rose and Ryder and run if they never came back. Instead of the traditional entrance, he thought a surprise attack would be best....until Chelsea spotted him and it turned into a chase....but he was faster*

*He bust through the doors, Chelsea on his heels almost running into Jasper as he made it into the chambers, smirking and nodding. Chelsea growled and looked at Aro who was staring at a strange man he'd never seen before.* "Am I late to the party?" *He said with a chuckle, then noticed Renesmee out cold on the floor, Bella being held and Edward looking weak as if Jane had just tortured him. Jasper gave him a look and then turned back to the man who stood behind Alice, staring at Aro. What the hell did he miss?*

[Alice Cullen]

-I felt Henry's hand laying on my shoulder, keeping my eyes on Edward's, communicating in our special way so he knew what was going on. Then my eyes skipped to Bella's again down to our Nessie once then up to Aro's again even as Jazz rushed in, Emmett nearly colliding with him. But the focal point of my concentration was on the man behind me..and the priceless look of utter concern on Aro's pale face. Caius and Marcus exchanged long looks and sank back down after giving the slightest of head bows to Henry, who merely gave his deep chuckle again and stepped around me, as though protecting me. With a slow gait, he walked over to Aro, a few inches taller and every bit of his being bled that same regal stance as the oldest of the Volturri did. Things were about to get....real.-

[Henry]

*Glancing finally at the golden eyed Edward, his mate and their child, Renesmee, I smiled briefly and bowed my head before focusing on Aro. I knew Jasper and the other Cullen brother, Emmett were behind me, with my Alice. I spread my hands wide and almost barked in absolute delight when little Jane stepped forward and twittered at Aro. "Master, shall I...?" His eyes still holding mine, he shook his head sharply and muttered, "It won't work, my dearest. Stand down." The tiny terror didn't look pleased. The air was tinged with tension and concern. And it was all coming from....Aro.* Well, are you going to stand there gaping or are you going to greet me properly....*long drawn out pause*...little brother?

[Aro Volturi]

His gaze stayed locked on his brothers, not moving an inch in total disbelief. Jane's question if she should was dismissed at once knowing fully well it would do no good. Refusing to show any sign of trepidation, he remained calm and level as he spoke.

"Ah, Brother. Shall we go into a more private setting to speak?" He inclined his head, greeting him with a grin. A face from his past he'd not seen in centuries. Marcus and Caius sworn to the secret he'd kept and now intended to be sure it stayed hidden. What connection he had to Alice, he was dying to know. The way he stood by her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder as he used to do to their sister Didyme. Henry had been upset at her death and vowed never to stand by him again, what made him come back now after all this time? What did he want?

He motioned his hand towards a door that led to a private chamber, grinning. A simple pawn from the opponent that must be overtaken. If he played right, a simple rook would be all he needed.

[Henry]

-I inclined my head, following him after I looked back at Alice and mouthed "Don't worry. Take care of Bella, Edward and Renesemee." Passing Caius and Marcus, I stilled long enough to whisper "You WILL let Miss Cullen tend to her brother and sister with no interference from Thing One and Thing Two there.." *snide look at Jane and Alec who were glowering at me with rage. I swept past them and into the small, airy antechamber behind Aro, closing the door. He was still holding his smug countenance and I just shook my head, crossing my arms as I regarded him* You can fool the others all you like, Aro. But I know you. So drop the holier than thou, all praise Saint Aro act. You'll let the Cullens go. And you'll do it now."

[Aro Volturi]

Aro led the way towards the private chamber, giving Caius and Marcus a glance to stand down as they knew the power he possessed. He opened the door and stepped aside for him to enter then closed the door behind his brother, keeping his back to him.

You can fool the others all you like, Aro. But I know you. So drop the holier than thou, all praise Saint Aro act. You'll let the Cullens go. And you'll do it now."

He smirked and turned slowly to face him. "Brother, must we act so smugly? What I do with the Cullens is none of your concern." Stepping around him in thought as he tried to process it all. Like pieces of a Chess game he had to think strategically. "Seems we once again have a common interest...Alice. What are your connections to her exactly, I am intrigued to say the least." He said smoothly as he took a seat and looked up at his brother who always towered over him. Deep emerald eyes staring into his crimson ones.