The volturi

I should talk to her, Zoë thought, her eyes closed. Jackson's arm was wrapped around her waist.
"How long were you holed up at the Volturi?" Luke asked.
"100 years."
"Wow. Long time," Courtney murmured.
"Yeah."
"How'd you manage to get there?"
"Well, I'm Christian's little brother and Aro knew it. He kidnapped me and told Christian that if he wanted me back that he'd have to relinquish his whole army to the Volturi. I told him not to. I told him that I had a plan to keep me alive. I told him to never try to get me back. It's been hard for him, but he stuck to his word. I told Aro that I can only be killed by a form of exorcism, but never told him the exact words to perform it. They used me in raids, battles and as a bodyguard for various members. It kept me alive for 100 years until Alec overthrew Aro and sought to kill me, not that Aro didn't. He tried various things, which hurt like heck but never killed me. I was lucky. Zoë came along around 60 years ago and gave me a reason to keep on living and to not give them the words to kill me. I was considering giving them to Aro around that time because of all the pain he was putting me through."
She could feel Jackson's arm tighten around her. She smiled and kissed the underside of his jaw, her eyes still closed.
"So, what's your all's story?" Jackson asked them.

I shook my head, signifying that I really didn't wanna talk about what was bothering me, but I knew Jamison too well, and he wouldn't give up that easy. He sighed and wrapped his arms around my waiste, "Jami..stop.." I said quietly, pushing his arms away. "I'm really not in the mood right now okay?.." I said. He sighed and his face saddened. "Well. I was just trying to cheer you up a little.." he said. "Maybe even try and comfort you..." I turned and looked at him. "The only comfort that I need right now if from my father..." Jamison pointed towards the backdoor. "Well, he's right outside..." I shook my head.

"No..I'm not talking about Carlisle...I'm talking about our DAD...Mine and Edward's REAL dad.." I said, feeling tears swell up in my eyes. Jamison sighed and just stood next to me. I shook my head. "I don't know what's wrong with me.." I admitted through my tears. I buried my face into my hands and sobbed quietly. I felt Jamison wrapped his arms around my shoulder and made me leaned into his chest. "Shhh..." He cooed. I hugged him tightly around the neck and sobbed into his shoulder, he rubbed my back. "I know you miss him...Edward does too..he just doesn't want to admit it.." He kissed the top of my head and continued to rub my back. I sniffled and looked up at him.

"You're beautiful...did you know that?..." He said, putting a hand underneath my chin. He was the only one that made me feel butterflies in my stomach whenever he looked at me, or spoke to me that way. "Wh-where's my brother?.." I stammered. Jamison sighed. "He's with Bella..he went off a little while ago after Jasper and I had a talk with him..." I huffed. So much for staying and protecting his family.. I thought to myself. "Bella's his family too ya know.." Jamison said. I looked down, he was right. Bella was his family. "Hey..hey..now.." Jamison said, bring my face back up. "Stop being so glum.." He said with a crooked smile that reminded me so much of my brothers. "You really shouldn't smile like that.." I muttered. He smiled wider and inched his face closer towards mine. "Oh?...and I guess I really shouldn't do this either..should I.." He said, he put his hands on my waiste and turned me so that my legs were dangling over the side of the countertop. He stood in between them, so that both my legs were on either side of them.

"What are..." I bit my lip, seconds later, I felt an icy finger against my cheekbones. He smiled at me again and moved his hands from my waiste, to both sides of my neck. "..I'm trying to make you..realize...how amazing you are.." He whispered, then crashed his lips against mine in an icy kiss. This kiss wasn't forceful, it was almost perfect. It felt like it was taking all the pain and hurt I felt inside away from me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me, so I was leaning up against the kitchen window.

Then we broke the kiss. "Wow..." Jamison breathed. "I didn't think it'd work that well.." He grinned again. I bit my lip and stared at him. "Thank you.." I whispered. He cocked an eyebrow. "For?..." "For...being here for me..and my brother..." I whispered. He kissed my cheek, then planted kisses on my jawline and down my collarbone before moving up to my lips again one last time. "You're welcome..." He said.

Marcus' screams subsided, and the talking resumed. I put a hand over my chest in a gesture of relief.
"Besides, Marcus, you don't need to worry," Alec said. "The plan's been set in motion. Too many vampires understand what's at stake for them if we're gone."
But Carlisle would never force anyone to do anything they didn't want to! I thought. Then I realized the truth didn't matter in this case; people only had to think the lie was the truth for the plan--whatever it was--to work.
"So, what?" Marcus asked. "Do they just converge on the Cullens?"
"No," Alec said, "it's better."
Jordan and I both pressed our ears to the wall, eager to hear more.

I listened to the turmoil both inside and outside my head. Leonor sent me a message, but I was listening so hard inside her head to hear what was going on that I didn't answer. At the same time, I answered Jackson's question.
"Well, before I was changed, in high school, I was very athletic. You know, in all the sports teams like badminton, volleyball, basketball, floor hockey, soccer, you name it, and I was in it! So my parents went away for a conference one weekend. They were buisiness people. Well I was left alone for that weekend, and one night I decided to go for a jog. Well I was running down a particularely dark street and BAM! Something hard as rock hit me, knocking me to the ground. IT happened to be Luke, here. He was creating an army of vampires, to kill his own clan. I escaped. Only narrowly, though. End of story. Oh, and as you may already have figured out, my ability is athletics." I looked towards Luke as I finished my story.
"I am in love with Courtney. My clan didn't like that I was in love with a human. I tried to kill them, but before that Courtney escaped. My clan abandoned me. I was left searching for Courtney. And now that I've found her, I'm never leaving."

They're loyal to each other, Zoë thought. She was happy for them, she really was. She loved to be around them, but no one seemed to like being around her very much. She put her lips next to Jackson's ear and whispered, "I'll be in my room."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"No. I need to be alone for a little while."
"Alright." He kissed her cheek and released her from his grip.
Zoë went to the bathroom in her room and ran water over her face. She looked at herself in the mirror. She pulled her red, black and blonde streaked hair over her shoulder and stared at her amber eyes. She saw Leona in the mirror with her. Her light brown, long, wavy hair shimmered slightly. Her beautiful face was gentle and caring.
Tears flowed down Zoë's face. She saw the face of a murderer. She crumpled to her knees and sobbed.
Seconds later arms enveloped her. It was Carlisle. He sat down on a chair with her still in his arms.
"Zoë, what's wrong?"
"I'm so sorry for what I've done to you and your family. I'm sorry for what I did to Leona."
"Shh. Shh." He kissed her forehead and rested his head on hers. "We forgive you."
"I know. But, every time Edward looks at me or I see myself in the mirror I see a murderer. I wish it would stop. I wish I could take back what I did. I wish I could bring her back. I wish I could take her place. I wish I could take Edward out of his misery." She sobbed into his chest.
Carlisle stroked her hair. "We know you've changed, and we know that you're still changing."
"You'll have to thank Jackson for that. If it wasn't for him I'd still be the way I was."
"I know and we love him for that. Alice told me that you were planning on leaving. There's no need. We love having you around. If you want to be part of this family, you can."
"No, I'm not worthy enough. Your family is perfect. I'd be the dark blemish on the rest of you."
"No, you wouldn't. We don't look at you and see a murderer. We see the way you really are: The caring, tender self that you are. You just haven't had the chance to show it in all this turmoil. Edward will eventually realize that you mean well and forgive you."
Zoë didn't reply. She sniffed and looked up at him. She was so thankful that she had a person like Carlisle to talk to. "Thank you, Carlisle."
He kissed her forehead again. "You're welcome. Is there anything else that's wrong?"
She gave him a small smile. "Not at the moment."
"Alright. Emmett's looking for a hunting partner. Are you up for it? He loves to hunt with you."
She grinned. "Tell him I'm coming. I'll run down and tell Jackson and the others."
He smiled back. "Emmett will cheer you up."
"He always does."

"Zoe's the key to the plan, you see," Alec said, and someone, likely Marcus, scoffed. "It doesn't matter whose side she's on, really."
"Why?" Marcus asked.
"Because we can control any dead she brings up," Jane replied.
"How?" Marcus asked, sounding shocked.
"One of the people concerned with the idea of the Cullens being in charge can do what she can do, only he has ultimate control over the dead he or anyone else raises," Alec explained.
"Brilliant, isn't it?" Jane remarked. "I found him."

I hugged Jamison around the neck again, and he hugged me around the waiste. "I'm worried about him.." I muttered. "I know..I am too..what Zoe did happened a long time ago..and I honestly don't think she's any danger to this family anymore..But you know how damm stubborn your brother is.." He added. I nodded and bit my lip, he kissed me again. "Maybe you should go talk to Bella..." He said. I tilted my head. "Why would I need to talk to her?.." I asked innocently. He shrugged. "I don't know..Maybe she'd be able to talk some sense into him?.." I bit my lip and looked at the tile floor in thought. Jamison was right. If Edward listened to anybody, it would be her. "You trust her?.." Jamison asked finally, taking me out of my reverie. I sighed "She doesn't seem that bad to me..and I guess the only reason that I'm thinking like that is because I'm overprotective of my brother and the rest of my family." Jamison chuckled. "I'd knew I'd get the truth out of you one of these days.." I sighed and kissed back again, this kiss was hard. "Mmmmmm.." He mumbled, then I broke it. "Thank you..for making me realize how dumb and stubborn I was being..I think I need to apologize to her.." I said.

Jamison smiled slightly and wrapped his arms around my waiste. "You're welcome..and she's talking with Carlisle, and I think Emmett's gonna take her hunting for a little while..so maybe we could go see Bella and then talk to Edward when we get back.." I shook my head. "Edward's with Bella.." I said. Jami sighed. "Well, maybe we could talk to Carlisle about our plan and then way you're feeling?.." He asked. I nodded and bit my lip. "Yeah..but I honestly think that I need to do that on my own.." Jami nodded "Of course..he's in his study with Zoe right now and I think she's just getting ready to leave with Emmett.." He said. I nodded and took a deep breath. Jamison put his hands on both sides of my face and made me look at him. "I'm proud of you.." He said quietly. I smiled slightly and pecked him on the lips once more. "I'm glad you're here to be proud of me.." I said, he smiled slightly and chuckled, pulling me into a hug again.

Zoë flew silently down the stairs. "Jackson, I'm going to go hunting with Emmett, alright?"
He smiled up at her. "Have fun."
She grinned back and walked out the door where Emmett was waiting.
"Ready to go, squirt?"
"When you are."
Together they ran into the forest.
"Let's look for some irritable grizzly bears," Zoë teased.
Emmett laughed. "Agreed."
They ran in a crouch now, keeping low and quiet as they searched for their prey.

Jamison sighed. "Zoe's gone.." He said finally. I nodded, sensing it too. I knew Emmett would give her a run for her money when it came to hunting. I hopped down from the kitchen counter and laced hands with Jamison, who squeezed my hand back. "You know..we spent all that time kissing and we're not even a couple.." He said, chuckling. I smiled slightly and walked out of the kitche into the hallway towards Carlisle's Study. "Yeah..I know..." I agreed, looking at the pictures on the wall as we passed. Jamison stopped me, then turned me around to face him for a second.

"So..will you?..." I tilted my head slightly. "Will I what?.." I asked. He sighed and pushed me gently up against the wall and put both of his arms on the sides of my head, pressing his palms against the wall. He nudged noses with me and stared into my eyes. "Be mine...as in...." He kissed me gently. "..my girlfriend..." He added with a slight grin. I kissed him back again, putting my hands on both sides of his face and stood on my tip-toes to put more into the kiss.

"Does that answer your question?.." I asked, breaking the kiss and grinning at him. He hugged me around the waiste, making me giggle. "Yeah..it does.." he grinned, kissing my neck. I smiled and laughed a little more. "Can I go see Carlisle now?.." I asked. He nodded and grinned, taking my hand again. "Sure..let's go.." He said. I walked towards Carlisle's study and knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in.." Came a voice from behind the door. I sighed and pushed it open slightly, making my way inside.

The talking in the room ceased until Alec broke the silence by saying, "I smell someone in your room, Marcus."
"I do too," he said quietly.
"It's Leonor," Jane said. "She's got a friend with her too."
Jordan and I didn't need another hint. We turned and looked at each other; mouthed the words, "the Cullen Mansion," and were back there in a second.
"We know what the plan is," Jordan shouted as we appeared in the kitchen.

Carlisle was sitting at his desk, looking through old books on mythology and vampires. He usually did that when there was nothing else to do, or if he wasn't working long hours at the hospital. I stepped into his study slowly, with Jamison right behind me. Carlisle stood up and smiled when he saw us. "Ah..Well, isn't this a pleasant suprise." He said cheerfully, walking over from behind his desk and pulled me into a hug. "Hello father.." I said quietly. He smiled down at me and kissed my forehead, then looked over at Jamison and ruffled his hair, making him smirk a little. "So..what can I do for you two?.." He asked, sitting on the edge of his oak desk and folded his arms. I bit my lip. "Well...Jamison and I were talking..and we were kinda wondering.." I looked up and saw Carlisle studying my face intently.

"We were kind of wondering..if you think it'd be a good idea for us...or Lynn..to go talk to Bella about Edward.." Jamison piped in finally, finishing my sentence for me. I sighed and nodded at Jami's words Thank you.. I said to him through my thoughts, he smiled slightly and nodded at them. Carlisle sighed. "Well..Lynn..I think that'd be a great idea..if only Edward would listen to someone.." I looked at him confused, he shook his head. "He's been overly stubborn as of late..and I honestly don't know how talking to Bella would help him get over the little wall he's built between himself and Zoe.." I sighed and nodded "Yes..I know Father....But I think I'm starting to get over the fact of what she did was such a long time ago..and if he'll listen to anybody...it's Bella.." Carlisle bit his lip and ran a hand through his hair. Then sighed. "Well..Lynn..if you think it's something that'll have any effect on Edward..since he is your brother and you probably know him better than any of the rest of us..I don't see why you shouldn't go talk to Bella.." He said finally.

I smiled slightly and sighed, then walked up to him and gave him another hug. "Thank you.." I said, He smiled and chuckled, hugging me back slightly and kissed the top of my head "You're welcome.." He said, he and Jamison exchanged glances. "You two seem to be getting along pretty well.." He added. I smiled slightly, feeling a slight hint of color rush to my face. Carlisle chuckled. "Ahh..I see what's going on here.." He said, then turned to Jamison. "Jami...I know you'll take care of her..won't you." Jamison nodded "Yes sir I will.."

He said, smiling at me while he answered Carlisle's question. Carlisle smiled. "Well, you two go talk to Bella..I'll be here if you need anything.." he said. I nodded and walked out of Carlisle's study, with Jamison right behind me, we walked down the hallway, and I looked at Jamison. "Where's Edward?.." I asked him in a whisper. Jamison shut his eyes. "He's....getting ready to leave Bella's and go hunting for a little while, then he's coming back here..and probably going to study or talk to Carlisle.." I sighed and nodded.

"Good...okay..Let's go to Bella's.." "Uhh..Lynn.." He said, grabbing my arm. "Don't you think we should take one of the cars instead of running?.." He asked, nervously. I shook my head. "Charlie's asleep by now..and she usually keeps her window open for Edward to crawl into...It'll be faster if we run there..trust me okay?.." I said. He nodded and let go of my arm. I smiled slightly and laced fingers with his, then walked towards the backdoor. Then stopped again.

"Someone's here..." I said, sensing someone in the kitchen. The scent was somewhat unfamiliar. "We should hide for second.." I suggested. Jamison nodded and wrapped an arm around my waiste, pulling me over to him next to the wall, "We need to be quiet.." He whispered. I nodded and bit my lip, pressing my body up against his and buried my face into his chest. He held me close to his body as we listened to whatever was going on in the next room over.

Unfortunately for Jordan and I, our dramatic re-entrance was spoiled by the fact that nobody was in the kitchen.
"Oh, how come this is the time when the kitchen's empty?" Jordan asked.
"It's just bad luck, I guess," I said quietly. "But I do think that Lynn and Jamison are in the next room, and Carlisle is in his study."
"Okay, then," Jordan said. "Let's go."

I sighed slightly as we stood next to the wall. "It's just Leonor and Jordan.." I said, hearing the sounds of their voices. Jamison let me go and I walked into the kitchen where I found the two of them. I smiled slightly. "Hey guys...long time no see.." I glanced over my shoulder to see that Jamison wasn't behind me. I reached around the corner and grabbed his hand, making him walk to my side. "Sorry..he's a bit shy.." I said, looking up at Jami, who hung his head. I sighed and looked back over towards Leornor and Jordan. "So..how was your trip?.." I asked lightly.

"We found out Alec's plan!" Jordan blurted out.
"He's counting on Zoe using her powers for them or for us," I explained. "It doesn't matter what she does though because they've found a vampire who can control any dead she raises up and bring up his own in the first place. And yes, they're sure it will work."

I took a deep breath. "So...basically what you're saying..is she's working for us...and them still?.." I asked slowly, I balled my hand up into a fist and Jamison put a hand on my shoulder. "Lynn..calm down.." I shook my head and took another deep breath. "How in the heck can I calm down?..." I looked over at Jamison, then sighed. "I'm sorry..." I said, turning my attention towards Jordan and Leornor again. ""Is Zoe working for Alec still?.." I asked them, keeping my tone low.