Rising Sun - A Twilight Saga Sequel

CHAPTER 18 : TRACKING

“Come in” I told them in a hushed tone.

They walked in with their heads still down.  I wondered why they were keeping their heads down and hiding their faces until Edward mouthed the word ashamed to me.  I understood then.

“Aro, Marcus, Demetri” Carlisle said calmly.  “We are not angry at you.  It is only Caius and the other five members with him that we are angry at.  We do not blame you, so you should not blame yourselves.  We know you had nothing to do with this.”

Aro’s head snapped up when Carlisle had finished his little speech.  “We have every right to be ashamed.  Caius is Marcus’ and I’s brother and the other five are our family.  They have disgraced us and made us look worse than the vampires committing crimes.  I should have spotted this.  We all should have.  But we didn’t.  Caius was never one for doing good things, or doing what he was told.  He was outraged when I was made head leader of the Volturi.  He wanted to rule this world, make everything how he wanted.  But his ideas were wrong and the rulers before us recognised that. I should have touched his hand and read his mind before he left.  And the others, what can I say.  I knew Jane was always tricky and Felix too.  But Alec and Renata had never been like that.  They were quiet, and I wouldn’t expect them to do something like this.  And Abree, I didn’t know what to expect.”

“Who’s Abree?” I asked.

“The new member” Demetri answered, lifting his head up.  Marcus slowly lifted his head up too, so all of them were now looking at us.

“Interesting powers” Edward commented.  “That would explain what Joham was saying. 

“What kind of powers” I asked curiously.

“She is very talented.  Perhaps the most talented out of all of the vampires in some aspects.  She can hide her own scent and mind.  It’s like she’s in her own little bubble.  She can also take somebody else’s scent and use it as her own or disguise it too.  The mind shield works differently.  She can protect herself all the time but the other people she is protecting are only under her shield for a maximum time of twenty-four hours” Aro explained.

“Can’t they just go back under when the twenty-four hours is up?” I asked.

“No.  It’s as if the shield recognises the mind.  It can only go under two days later” Marcus answered.

I looked him directly in the eye.  Marcus was never a man of many words.  He always looked bored, but this time was the first time I had seen him without that expression on his face.  He looked like the other two standing by his side.

I looked at each of them individually.  They had taken their hoods down as well. Aro’s jet black hair had been cut.  It was about a quarter of a centimetre shorter than what it was the last time I saw him.  Not visible through a human eye but certainly visible through these eyes.  Nothing could hide with theses eyes.

I moved on to Demetri.  There wasn’t a change at all.  Not even a haircut like his leader.  Marcus also had no change.

“Are we ready?” Emmet asked excitedly.  He knew there was going to be a fight.  He loved fighting, and I don’t know why.  I felt sorry for Rosalie with him always like that.  It must be worrying for her.

Demetri closed his eyes and focused on tracking.  It reminded me of Alice trying to see a vision that didn’t come itself.  She goes into one of her little trances.  Completely unfocused on the present, miles away focused on the future.  Only there in body, mind doing other things.  Demetri was exactly like that.

We all waited patiently for Demetri to track them.  After what seemed like an hour he opened his eyes.  He sniffed like a human would if they had a blocked nose and breathed in deeply.

“Ten miles away.  North-east.  Middle of the forest in a small brown hut.  All six disowned members there.  Not separated.  All five kids there too.” I was amazed, but surprised at the term ‘disowned’.  Caius, Jane, Alec, Felix, Renata and Abree were probably extremely important in the Volturi guard.  Probably the most important.  Without them the Volturi would need another six new members with better powers.  And now they were just

We were just about to head out the door when Aro stopped us.  “Wait.  You” – he pointed at Joham – “Well done.  You will be allowed to see your kids whenever you like after this.  Just don’t make any more.”

“Really? I get to see my kids?  Thanks.” Everyone could tell how happy he was.  He was elated.  His happiness was oozing out of him and it felt like you were lying in a nice hot bubbly bath.  It was lovely.

“I have a plan” Joham started.  “A plan of attack I mean.”

“What?” I asked.

He looked to Edward for confirmation.  When Edward nodded his head he started telling us his plan. “I will run a few minutes ahead of you and say to them that I brought the Cullens.  When you come I will act like I’m on their side, pretend.  Then, when they are not looking, I’ll attack.  Fight against them.  Trick them. What do you think?”

“Brilliant.  Can we just go?” Emmet said impatiently.  We just ignored him.

“Great idea” I commented.

“I agree” Alice said quietly.

“Me too” Jasper agreed.

Everyone agreed and we set off out the front door straight into the woods.  Demetri led the way. We left the front door wide open. We didn’t care.  We were going to find the six ‘disowned’ Volturi and the five children.  For the first time since they were taken, I had hope.  And a lot of it.