Redshift by Ashlynn Chantrea (free ebook reader for ipad .txt) 📕

We landed outside the gates of Voltura. Carlisle’s family, the Denali’s and my family went inside while everyone else made a perimeter around the city. They were making sure no one got out.

Tanya, Carlisle and I led the way to the center of the city. We stopped in front of the clock tower. Our families formed ranks behind us, leaving the leaders in front.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are.” I said with a slight sing-song quality to my voice.

They came from the alleyway, flowing in near perfect synchronicity. They younger ones weren’t as fluid as the old ones. But they had a definite unity to them. They all wore varying shades of gray cloaks. The recruits we had been trapped with all wore the lightest shade, an ash color.

Aro, Marcus and Caius along with two females were the last to come out. Not surprising, really.

“I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, Aro.” Carlisle said, his tone full of regret.

“As did I, old friend.” Aro sighed.

“Then this is your chance.” I said, “Let the army go and agree to a peace treaty.”

“As I told you before, I would never hold anyone against their will.” Aro replied and then spoke to his troops, “Any of my dear ones that do not wish to remain with us may go.”

“And you guarantee they will incur no retribution for leaving?” I asked.

“Of course.”

This time, I addressed the army, “You don’t have to fight for them. You can leave. We will make sure you are allowed to remain free. If you choose to stay and this becomes a fight, I cannot guarantee your survival.”

“Tess,” Laney begged, “Please, I know you don’t want to be a part of this. Run! Run while you still can.”

The girl with spiky red hair that had warned me not to try to escape from the camp looked over at Laney. There was no recognition in her eyes. There was no fear, either. Whatever was keeping her there, it was stronger than her fear of death.

Tess remained, not even flinching at the offer of freedom.

I looked at Aro, “Last chance. What shall it be?”

“You have brought this war to our doorstep. We have no option but to fight.” He answered.

“You know this would have happened anyway, with many more newborns in tow, if you had been given the time.” Alice growled.

“Lying to us is trite at this point.” I commented.

“You know I can hear what you are thinking,” Edward said, “And I have no incentive to keep from sharing your deceptions with everyone.”

“Understand this, you cannot win. But we don’t want to be like you. We are offering you the chance to live. All you have to do is stand down. And mean it.” I said.

“You want me to admit defeat? To submit to a new ruling class?” Aro asked like we were crazy.

“We have no wish to rule anyone.” Carlisle said.

“You’re the only one seeking conquest and domination.” Edward added.

There was silence. It was heavy with intention and anticipation. Aro would never back down from this. And he was arrogant enough to think he might have a chance at winning or at the very least surviving.

“You’re more organized this time.” Bella commented, her eyes on Jane.

“They’re all attacking at once.” Edward explained.

“I’m truly sorry, Carlisle.” I whispered.

He placed a hand on my shoulder but didn’t speak. He didn’t need to.

“Hector, Meadow, it’s time.” I sighed.

The vampires with ash colored cloaks started towards us. They only made it a few feet before half were frozen in place and the other half levitated a foot of the ground. Aro, Caius and Marcus were frozen at the back, held in place by Hector.

“I made a promise,” I said to Carlisle, “I intend to keep it.”

He nodded.

“Fred,” Edward called. He came quickly from behind the city wall. Edward pointed to Felix, “He’s the one that destroyed Bree.”

Fred wasted no time tearing Felix to pieces. I couldn’t help but feel the slightest twinge of pity for him. Poor Felix didn’t stand a chance. It really was like shooting fish in a barrel.

“We should start with the ringleaders.” I said.

Carlisle, Tanya, Edward and I moved through the frozen army. We lined up side by side, facing the three ancient vampires.

“Hey Edward!” Hector called.

Edward smiled just before Caius slapped himself in the face.

“Aw! Come on, man! That was your cue! You were supposed to say, ‘stop hitting yourself.’” Hector said, sounding both amused and disappointed.

There was a soft chuckle that surfaced from those with the same maturity level as Hector.

I sighed and shook my head.

“Hector,” I said with as much patience as I could muster, “Not appropriate, under the circumstances.”

“Yeah,” Emmett said, grinning, “But still hilarious.”

I moved to stand in front of Marcus.

“I wasn’t really one to buy into the idea of an afterlife when I was human. I don’t have a good explanation for why I do now. Something about the way I think now makes the idea of Heaven seem plausible. The complexities and nuances that I understand about this life, I can see the design. I can’t say for sure what or who, but I can say with a fair amount of certainty that there is something. Whatever the other side is, I do believe Didyme is there, waiting for you. If nothing else, I hope there is some peace in that.” I murmured to him.

His eyes shifted to meet mine. He couldn’t speak but there was gratitude in his hazy red eyes.

I slowly reached out to him, fighting my hesitation. I didn’t want to kill him but I felt like it would be cruel to ask him to live after this, all alone. I placed my hands on his neck, my thumbs on his jaw.

“Wait!” Edward called.

I looked over at him, releasing my hold on Marcus.

“There’s something you should know, Marcus.” Edward said with a pained look on his face. “About who killed Didyme.”

“Hector, release Marcus, please.” I said.

Hector looked uncertain but I nodded to him, assuring him everything was fine and then Marcus was free.

“It wasn’t the nomad Aro told you that killed her.” Edward whispered, “Aro killed her.”

“No,” Marcus sighed lightly, “Didyme was his sister. His true sister from his former life. He wouldn’t hurt her.” He didn’t seem perturbed or even a little disturbed by the implication. Something wasn’t right.

“It’s Chelsea.” Edward growled.

“Zephyr, teach Chelsea some manners, would you?” I said, looking sharply at Chelsea.

Chelsea was levitating and could still move, talk and use her ability. When Zephyr started in on her, she grabbed her ears and started screaming, squirming in midair. I waited five seconds before I signaled for Zephyr to stop. Chelsea was quiet again.

“Kindly stop influencing the others or I’ll let Kate teach you manners next.” I said in a menacing tone.

The expression of those still able to control their muscles, changed rapidly from determination to fright.

“Aro didn’t want you and Didyme to leave. When he changed her, he had hoped she would do something useful for him. But all she could do was make others happy. Not useful in his opinion.” Edward said to Marcus.

He didn’t look quite so lethargic now. His brow creased as he contemplated what he had been told.

“What a wonderful gift.” I said without thinking, “There is so much good that could be done with such a beautiful talent.”

He met my eyes, pain and rage burning full force in his.

“Hector, let Aro speak.” I said to him and then turned my focus to Aro, “How could you?”

“Lies, brother!” Aro insisted fervently, “They mean to turn us against each other! You are free! Fight them!”

“She knew, didn’t she?” I asked Marcus. “She knew what Aro really wanted, what he was planning and she didn’t want any part of it.”

“She and I wished only to be together. We cared nothing for the army he desired.” He replied.

“And she convinced you that you both should tell Aro that you planned to leave.” Edward whispered, seeing Marcus’s memories.

“She loved her brother. She would not leave without first saying goodbye.” He replied.

“Then she was killed. And you never questioned the timing.” I sighed.

“He was never allowed to question it. Chelsea made sure he felt too deep a commitment to even think of Aro being responsible.” Edward growled.

Marcus didn’t seem to question it now. He knew we were telling the truth. He faced Aro, standing toe to toe with him.

“Why?” He snarled, “She was your sister! Your true sister! Why did you not kill me instead of her?”

Aro stared helplessly into the eyes of his once brother-in-law. But he said nothing.

“You know the answer to that.” I mumbled softly. You serve a more useful purpose than she could.

“Brother!” Aro sighed, maintaining his tone of innocence to the last.

Marcus screamed, a sound so loud it shook the walls of the city. A sound so full of agony and loathing it made my heart physically hurt to hear it. This was worse than any pain Jane could have inflicted on him. This was beyond betrayal. He had served the one that had killed his soulmate. He had been forced to suffer through this existence, desolated without her and betraying her by protecting the one that had taken her from him. None of us could possibly fathom the intensity of what he was feeling right then. I certainly hoped I never would.

“You are not my brother!” He shrieked, “You were her brother! And you killed her!”

Then, faster than even I could see, he ripped Aro’s head from his shoulders. He proceeded to tear Aro into small pieces, throwing them into a pile that looked like a mound of jagged rocks.

“Benjamin.” I called. He came to us, looking slightly nervous. “If you would be so kind.” I said as I pointed to the pile.

He ignited a flame by snapping his fingers and threw it at the destroyed vampire. A thick pillar of purple smoke rose from the burning pieces.

When Marcus was finished he watched the rubble turning to ash. I walked over to stand beside him. I didn’t look at him, I didn’t think I could handle it. The intensity of his despair and anguish had to be a thousand times what it was the last time I had looked in his eyes and I could barely stand to see it then.

“I am ready, young one.” He sighed, speaking to me.

“Marcus, you are as much a victim as the rest of us.” Carlisle said, “You are free to go.”

Marcus took no note of what he had said. He turned to face me. I did the same, keeping my eyes trained on the ground. He took my hands and placed them as they had been before.

Laney came up behind me and placed her hand on my back.

“Tell Didyme we’re sorry.” Laney whispered.

“There is no need for regret. This is a mercy.” Marcus sighed.

“Not that we ended your existence here.” I clarified, “That it took us so long. It’s a crime how long she’s had wait for you.” And then I tore his head from his shoulders and quickly threw it on the fire before I could change my mind. His body collapsed to its knees and then fell to the ground. I picked him up and placed the rest of him in the fire as well.

Then I gasped for breath. I couldn’t explain it. My eyes burned and my lungs constricted without my consent. I was crying. Tearlessly sobbing. I hadn’t wanted to kill him. I knew it was what he wanted, but it didn’t make it any less of a tragedy for me.

Laney was there, hugging me tightly around the waist. Rain, Zephyr, Bianca and Pim formed a circle around us, hugging each other and us. I couldn’t seem to get a grip.

“You did the right thing.” Laney assured me.

“Trust me,” Edward said, confidence in his tone, “Living would have been unbearable for him.”

Esme came over, followed closely by Alice and Rosalie. They all had sympathy in their eyes. Esme reached up