Chief and I ⇢ Charlie Swan Fanfiction

xxviii. legends never die

Forgive me this old habit. There is a danger in making suffering beautiful.

xxviii. legends never die

"Alistair is gone," Edward murmured.

Inside the front room, the main confrontation was physically apparent. Lining the walls was a ring of spectators, every vampire who had joined, except for Alistair and the three involved in the quarrel.

Esme, Kebi, and Tia were the closest to the three vampires in the center; in the middle of the room, Amun was hissing at Carlisle and Benjamin.

Edward's jaw tightened and he moved quickly to Esme's side.

"Amun, if you want to go, no one is forcing you to stay," Carlisle said calmly.

"You're stealing half my coven, Carlisle!" Amun shrieked, stabbing one finger at Benjamin. "Is that why you called me here? To steal from me?" Amun asked Carlisle.

Carlisle sighed, and Benjamin rolled his eyes.

"Yes, Carlisle picked a fight with the Volturi, endangered his whole family, just to lure me here to my death," Benjamin said sarcastically. "Be reasonable, Amun. I'm committed to do the right thing here—I'm not joining any other coven. You can do whatever you want, of course, as Carlisle has pointed out." Benjamin continued.

"This won't end well," Amun growled. "Alistair was the only sane one here. We should all be running." he said.

"Think of who you're calling sane," Tia murmured in a quiet aside.

"Alistair is sane; everyone has the right to their own opinion on this matter," Inadu said.

"We're all going to be slaughtered!" Amun exclaimed.

"Stop the dramatics," Odessa told Amun.

"It's not going to come to a fight," Carlisle said in a firm voice.

"You say!" Amun exclaimed.

"If it does, you can always switch sides, Amun. I'm sure the Volturi will appreciate your help." Carlisle said.

Amun sneered at him. "Perhaps that is the answer." he said.

"Idiot," Inadu said.

Carlisle's answer was soft and sincere. "I wouldn't hold that against you, Amun. We have been friends for a long time, but I would never ask you to die for me." Carlisle said.

Amun's voice was more controlled, too. "But you're taking my Benjamin down with you." Amun said.

Carlisle put his hand on Amun's shoulder; Amun shook it off.

"I'll stay, Carlisle, but it might be to your detriment. I will join them if that's the road to survival. You're all fools to think that you can defy the Volturi." He scowled, then sighed, glanced at Renesmee and Bella, and added in an exasperated tone, "I will witness that the child has grown. That's nothing but the truth. Anyone would see that." Amun said.

"That's all we've ever asked." Carlisle said.

Amun grimaced, "But not all that you are getting, it seems." He turned on Benjamin. "I gave you life. You're wasting it." he said.

Benjamin's face looked colder than Inadu had ever seen it; the expression contrasted oddly with his boyish features. "It's a pity you couldn't replace my will with your own in the process; perhaps then you would have been satisfied with me." Benjamin said.

Amun's eyes narrowed. He gestured abruptly to Kebi, and they stalked past us out the front door.

"He's not leaving," Edward said quietly to me, "but he'll be keeping his distance even more from now on. He wasn't bluffing when he spoke of joining the Volturi." he said.