herumtreiber

Title: Confrontation in Volterra
Author:

herumtreiber
Rating: R for violence
Characters: Jacob/Edward, Emmett, the Volturi
Word count: ~3,249
Warnings: Bella bashing
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, not me. This is for fun, not profit.
Summary: Jake faces the Volturi and Edward.
Notes: The previous parts are: Moonlight is for lovers, Moonlight's end, The wolf's Aurora and The moonlit skies

The light filtered through twin slits at the back of the catacomb which had been built during the Middle Ages, leastways the wiki page I consulted said so. The page also provided juicy links which led me to drawings of the drainage system of Volterra. Couldn't understand Italian beyond pizza, but the schematics were easy to follow. Damned useful things to know if you wanted to creep up unawares on people with inhuman sense of smell. The dog scent all damned leeches complained about? It was completely washed out by the pungent scent of the sewers.

I smirked at the Italian vamps while the pretty blond glided towards me in that creepy way they had; he stopped when the sound of the masonry falling behind their thrones startled him. The vamp turned to snarl as heavy pieces of stones glimmered on their way to the marble floor.

Emmett's heavy presence by my side reassured me as he patted my shoulder. "Nifty plan, Jake."

"Glad you approve, man."

"Jake, what did you…?" Edward started to say, but he shut up when I scowled at him. He wasn't my favorite person at the moment.

The old guy who had the poise of a Quileute elder turned to the vampire with slicked black hair. He said, "Aro, it would seem our security is compromised."

The blond leech jumped at me. There was a blurry movement on my left as Edward lifted his hand, hitting the blond's face as he tried to bite me. Emmett tackled the hulking bodyguards, and I was too busy to pay attention to the other leeches. I could hear the crumbling walls, though, and after I phased I shook my muzzle to get rid it of the remains of my clothes which fluttered to the floor in slow motion. Meanwhile, the wolves broke through the walls.

The heavy cloud of dust made me sneeze as I shook my muzzle. Edward had things in hand as he jostled with the bitchy blond guy so I turned to Emmett, who was wrestling with two bodyguards. I was glad that my vamp and Emmett defended me, but I would be damned if I behaved like prissy Bella and just stood there to see the guys battling in my stead.

The world felt surreal inside the dim subterranean hall. I was used to the bright colors of the woods when I saw through wolf eyes, but this place was dark and brooding. There was no sun or moon to guide my steps and it stank of leech.

My nostrils flared as I snapped my jaws shut around the arm of the big guy who wanted to strangle Emmett. Edward's muttered curses were a relief to me, meaning he was alive. The vamp whose arm I'd bitten clawed his fingers around my fur while Emmett twisted his other arm. From the corner of my eyes I saw the pixie leech glide towards Edward, and I heaved my head to free myself because that vampire held no good intentions towards my lover, to judge by her evil smile.

Edward screamed and sank to the floor, the veins on his forehead bulging. The tiny leech glided away when she noticed me, not without bowing mockingly at me amid Edward's cries. My hackles rose and I barked at the vampire before pouncing on her. Sam's big bulk, black as night, stood between us. I had no time to lose and Sam was busy defending himself from the vampires anyway, so I just leaped over him. The marble floor cracked after I landed and snapped my jaws shut around her arm, twisting my head so the sadistic leech would cease hurting Edward. My eyes followed the fissures on the marble spreading away from me; actually, the former neat floor looked like the moon now because cracks extended in all directions as a result of my pack and the Cullens fighting the leeches.

She ceased her attack on Edward and turned to me. I didn't have time to react because I felt like she was driving nails through my body. The pain was awful, just like the time the newborn crushed my chest. Didn't last long because Edward jumped on her, his face twisted on a snarl. As I lay on the floor and panted heavily, I couldn't help but notice how sexy and wild Edward looked. To know that he was angry on my behalf, willing to risk his life to end my pain made me feel loved… and horny.

In the gloomy light, the movements of the people fighting felt eerily disjointed, like we were all inside a night club. Felt like the time Quil dragged me to Seattle when he insisted I had to check out the chicks who hung there, back when he wanted me to forget about Bella.

I heard the wolves barking and yelping in pain, but also agonized screams from the leeches. Seemed to last forever while I rose to my forelegs to pay back the pixie for the pain she'd caused me. In the heat of the battle, I saw the dismembered arm of a leech just below the marble steps that led to the thrones of the Italian leeches.

The battle hadn't lasted that long when the leader of the Volturi shouted, making himself heard amid the noise of his followers and the barking of the wolves. "Stop, all of you! I command you!"

"We should kill them, Aro!" The blond moaned; he was rolling on the floor under Leah's weight. She snapped at his face as the man held her at arm's length, mindful of her menacing jaws.

"It seems we are unable to, dear Caius."

The evil-looking pixie glanced at the struggling leeches and lifted her arms. "You have heard our leader. You must stop fighting!"

The leeches were either very disciplined, or afraid of her. They all stopped, except for the hulking, largest vamp. He stared at her. "But…"

"It's such a shame!" said the man they called Caius. "We have been caught by surprise by these mongrels…"

I snarled at the guy as I advanced towards him; if he thought he could just insult us after we beat their asses to a pulp, he was wrong!

"Caro mio, you are insulting our guests." The leader said, trying to appease me by sounding diplomatic after the battle in which they couldn't prevail over us.

Caius stared at Aro in surprise before bowing shallowly. "I won't apologize to these beasts, even if you command me."

"I don't expect you to," said Aro as he glided towards me. His eyes looked like gleaming buttons from hell in the gloomy room, but I wasn't afraid. Fear had no part in my plans so I stared at him with defiance.

"If you would deign to assume a shape more fitting for talking, caro lupo." Aro smiled crazily as if he heard jokes only he could understand.

I glanced at Edward and he hastily took off his cloak. I had to admit that my tongue lolled while I stared at his sculpted, marble chest.

"Come on, Jake," he said with a smirk. "Don't leave Aro waiting after he's called you dear wolf."

I shook my muzzle, glaring weakly at him. Edward really had no business being all sexy and alluring while we were in mortal danger. After I shifted, I had no time to dress because Edward gently wrapped the cloak around my shoulders, shielding my bare body from the other vamps. I narrowed my eyes at him while I grabbed the hem. So Edward thought he could manhandle me and be all jealous, after he left me alone to come here without talking about it first? Damned leech!

Edward gulped. "Allow me to explain, Jacob…"

"Later." I said curtly, swirling the cape while I stepped away, pretending I didn't see his befuddled expression.

The cloak was short, it barely reached my knees. I glanced down and then looked up at Emmett, who was walking towards me.

His hands moved in a blur as he took off his beige pants. "You will need formal clothes if you are to parlay, wolf," Emmett said gently, trying to ignore the sound of Edward snarling at him.

I heard Sam barking an order to the pack. Probably he wanted them to phase since we were out of danger for the moment.

I glanced at Emmett's bare thighs, realizing the guy was built all over; I leaned on him as I put on his cargo pants as I blushed hotly. It felt nice to be cared by the two vampires, even if my boyfriend was growling because he was jealous.

Meanwhile, things had quieted down. The vamps were on one side of the vaulted room and formed a ring around their three leaders while Aro tried to reason with the uppity blond.

I noticed Quil's burly body standing protectively in front of Leah while she dressed. He and Embry were adjusting their cutoffs, forming a screen behind which Leah was safe from the vampires.

I had to smile at that; my friends were protective of the tough girl, even if she sometimes drove them crazy.

"Aro, we shouldn't listen to them," whispered the deadly blonde girl.

Aro lifted a hand to stop her. "Nevertheless, we will listen, Jane. I agreed to hear what this cucciolo has to say."

"That cub, Aro, just proved to be more resourceful than your guards," said Edward.

I raised my eyebrow at my lover, who had crossed his arms. "Thanks, man."

Edward pouted at me while Dr. Cullen whispered to Sam, "Is everybody all right?"

"Paul has a dislocated shoulder, I think," said Sam.

I glanced at my pack mate, who was wincing in pain. Hopefully the Doc would fix him soon.

"They attacked us!" Caius said in shrill voice.

"Please," said the old vampire who stood next to Aro. "They were only defending themselves. I am most interested in what the young man thinks."

"Marcus, I refuse to just stand here and…"

The old vamp, Marcus, just shook his head and disregarded the blond while he glanced fleetingly at me. It was unnerving the way he stared at Edward as he puzzled his eyebrows, his gaze sliding towards the other Cullens until he stopped at Emmett.

"Interesting," mumbled Marcus.

Aro smiled fondly at him and then glided towards me. "Why did you come, young wolf? We had come to an agreement with Edward…"

I said eagerly, "So you'll help us get rid of Bella?"

"No. We had come to an agreement regarding your safety." Aro's red eyes glittered with malice. "Until your friends interrupted us in such an exciting fashion."

"Bella is dangerous," I said exasperatedly, my fingers brushing through my hair.

"She isn't, young man." Aro turned to his companions before he added, "She is a newborn, therefore she will be unpredictable. She is free to do what she wants as long as these newborn things do not threaten to expose us to the mortals."

"She is a danger to all! Why don't you believe me?" I shouted at him, and then shook my head at my inability to make him understand. I had to do better because I was starting to sound as shrill and whiny as Bella.

"Why should we change the way we deal with our own?" Aro said, obviously enjoying my exasperation.

"Bella isn't like the rest of you!" I growled at him. "You don't understand her like I do! I have loved her and mourned her. I get the way she thinks."

Caius glared at me. "Why should we listen to you, whelp?"

"That's enough, caro mio." Aro smiled in a grim fashion. "Let the wolf speak."

Aro's condescending tone betrayed him, though. The Volturi wouldn't listen to me unless I forced him to. I needed this guy's cooperation and also the power of the Volturi, having glimpsed it during our confrontation.

I wasn't one of the mortals they obviously despised so I used my fast reflexes to reach towards him, grabbing his wrist before the guards could react.

Aro closed his eyes, grimacing in pain as he stumbled backwards. The vampire guards rushed towards me and held my arms, but Marcus stopped them. The leech, who seemed a bit kinder than the others, raised his voice. "Do not harm this young man unless we command you!"

Shaking his head, Aro stared at me with wide eyes. I hoped that Emmett had been right and this vamp had the power to read all the thoughts I'd ever had, that he could grasp everything I had ever gone through. Because the Volturi knew about me and Edward, I had nothing to hide and it might even do us good to show this guy that the Quileute pack was not to be tampered with. We would defend ourselves with claws and jaws.

Most of all, I hoped he would realize how dangerous Bella was; my former crush was nothing like the usual newborns with that freak power she had.

I swept my gaze around the room, crowded with otherworldly beings, and I said loudly, "Bella is a danger to you guys because of what she wants! She craves immortality and eternal youth, among other things; that's why she clung to Edward."

Hunching my shoulders, I bowed my head and looked at my lover. 'Sorry, Cullen, but that's my conclusion.'

"It's fine, Jake," Edward said softly. "I don’t think you're correct, but..."

"Whatever." I interrupted him because I was still pissed off at him; then I looked at the Volturi.

"Bella wants immortality so much that she was willing to forsake her family to get it. Now that she's strong, she will get rid of whoever stands in her way." I scowled at Caius, the blond. For once, the guy kept his fucking mouth shut.

"You know what she told me? She can deflect the power of any bloodsucker, even yours. You know what that means, right?"

"Is it true, caro mio?" Aro's glance softened as he spoke to Carlisle.

"I believe so, Aro."

"Bella will get an army of newborns behind her; she will come and attack you because she's as sanguinary as the redheaded bitch we fought!" I said earnestly.

"She won't succeed, dog." The blond guy sneered. "We are the invincible Volturi."

"I'm afraid the wolf is right." Aro nodded at me. "I have seen the evidence in the mind of this handsome youth. Do you remember the tourists we had for lunch last week?"

"Can't say I do, dear Aro." Marcus twisted his face in a grimace.

I shook my head at the weird imagery of the Volturi dining with mortals, and then the truth hit me like a hammer: they hadn't shared food with people; instead they killed them to drink their blood!

I scrunched up my face in revulsion and thus missed Aro's next words.

"…. the physicist from CERN had interesting thoughts which merge with Jacopo's words."

"What do you mean?" said Edward.

"Cara Bella has a strange power, not unlike Benjamin's." Aro looked towards the destroyed wall with a pensive expression. "The thoughts of this young man hint at something deeper; Edward's cantante appears to bend reality to her will."

"What?" Edward muttered uncomprehendingly.

Aro smiled sinisterly at us. "Why else would such handsome creatures fight for every scrap of her attention? Obviously she is a threat to our existence."

Aro said with finality. "We will support you to get rid of her."

oOoOo

I squinted at the brightly lit plaza while the Cullens followed me, wrapped in thick cloaks that covered them from prying eyes. The pack was at the other side, near the mouth of a narrow alleyway as they waited for us.

My hand reached toward Edward's because I wanted the reassurance of his presence. I still hadn't forgiven him completely, though.

"I don't need or want your forgiveness, Jacob."

"What the hell!" I muttered through clenched teeth.

"I did what I had to do to save you."

"You could've told me. I am your partner, you know." I turned to glare at him. "I won't do with you what I did with Bella. I refuse to be your toy!"

I poked his chest, my indignation rising. "You just up and left to offer yourself to the Volturi without consulting me!"

"Jacob, I had to…"

"I'm not your Bella whom you had to protect every step of the way!" I shouted, letting him have it in full. I wouldn't repeat with Edward what I did with her. I should have yelled at Bella and made her realize how selfish she was. Maybe then she wouldn't have persisted in her stupid course, though I doubted she would have listened to me.

"If that’s the way you think about me, we're finished!" I said.

"What?"

"I'd rather be with someone who cares about me than with a person who thinks they are the center of the world, like Bella." I looked at the startled faces of the Cullens and found Emmett's sympathetic eyes. "I'd rather be with someone like Emmett."

"Are you suggesting…?"

I didn't let Edward finish. "Why not? Emmett did what you didn't have the patience to do; he explained things and listened to me."

I was fed up with Edward, so I walked away from him and yelled over my shoulder, "Leave me alone!"

"Wait, Jake!"

I snarled at the pigeons which descended in a cloud to peck at the grains lying at the center of the square.

"I'm sorry, Jacob." The desolate tone of Edward's voice made me stop. I felt him behind me, and the coldness near my neck meant his hand was poised over my shoulder. "I love you; truly I do. You're not some toy, but the most precious being in the world for me."

"Go on," I muttered when he stopped. Despite my anger, I sympathized with him. Maybe I would have reached the same conclusions Edward did; the difference was that I would have talked matters with him and reached an understanding the way I tried to do with Bella so many times, in vain.

"When you walked into the Volturi's lair, I died inside." Edward's voice almost broke and I closed my eyes as he continued. "I despise them with all my heart, but I was willing to endure their hell because there's something else in this world that outweighs my hate for them."

His soft hand on my shoulder soothed me as he said softly, "It's you, Jacob. You're the one I've always waited for, even before I met you."

I turned to look at him. "Do you mean that?"

"I wish you could read my mind." Edward said with a sad smile. "You would find yourself haunting my every thought. You would discover the plots I weave endlessly to ensure your safety, because if something happened to you… life would cease to mean anything."

He sighed and hid his hands inside the cloak. "I know that my existence can't be called life, but…"

I kissed him. I tried to erase his doubts the only way I knew how, by anchoring him to my world, joining our bodies so he would briefly forget his doubts which so eerily mirrored mine. Under the bright Italian sun, his coldness soothed my soul like the sheltering shadows of the woods that were home. He was Edward, the man who drove me nuts because I loved him so much.

Toscana interlude