Citizen Erased -- Chapter Nine
Summary: Disoriented after her transformation into a vampire, Bella struggles with amnesia. As she learns to control her new powers and abilities, she must also come to terms with what she is ... and with the vampire she doesn’t remember marrying. Bella/Edward.
Previous Installments:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four & Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
***
Citizen Erased
Written by Coquette
Author’s Notes: Another long chapter. A few of the comments I’ve received from the previous chapter had to do with why Edward didn’t know Mikhail was in the taxi. Previous chapters mentioned Mikhail’s gift, which is the ability to manipulate the gifts of others. Because of this, Edward can’t hear Mikhail’s thoughts unless Mikhail allows him to. Mikhail is also a gifted tracker and knows how to hide his scent if he needs to. Additionally, there might be a little more to Mikhail’s gifts than has been revealed yet. ;) Hope that clears up some of the confusion.
***
Previously...
Still keeping my eyes averted from the headlights, I jogged toward the taxi with what I hoped was human speed. I slipped into the backseat breathlessly, shaking raindrops from my hair as I looked up to smile at the driver. “My husband will just be a--”
My words faltered, mid-sentence.
I smelled him before I saw him, but by then it was too late. The vehicle was already moving, accelerating into motion before I could even gasp.
“Really...” lamented Mikhail, turning around to face me from the driver’s seat. “Is he always that easy to distract? You two are making this far too easy for me. Hardly any sport in it at all.”
***
Citizen Erased
Written by Coquette
Chapter Nine
I was so stunned by Mikhail’s sudden appearance that I found myself only able to stare at him blankly. That lasted for approximately two seconds. Then the rage overtook me. I could taste the fury - a dry, fiery heat in the back of my throat, burning like thirst. I grit my teeth, nails digging into the upholstery as I addressed the object of my hatred in low, ominous tones.
“You...” I broke off, so angry, I could barely form sentences.
Mikhail’s answering smile was smug. “Me.”
“My husband is following us,” I pointed out, trying to remain calm. “Don’t doubt that.”
Mikhail chuckled, his amber eyes glinting at me in the rearview mirror. “Yes, I know. I’m rather counting on it, actually.”
“And how long do you suppose it will take him to catch up with us? Not that it matters one little bit if he’s here or not.”
“Running at human speed? About one minute and twenty seconds.”
I cursed under my breath. I had forgotten that Edward wouldn’t be able to pursue us at his full speed, not in Volterra where we had to hide our vampire strengths. It seemed Mikhail was fully aware of that limitation. Still, he didn’t appear concerned by it. He didn’t even attempt to speed through the winding streets of Volterra to put a greater distance between us and Edward. Still, what could Edward do even if he managed to catch up with us? He couldn’t exactly tip the car over or stop it with his hands any more than I could open the door and jump to safety. We could manage it, of course, but that would garner dangerous attention if the wrong people were watching. We would have to play this carefully.
“Stop the car, or I’ll stop it myself by ripping your head off your shoulders,” I ordered. “I’m fully capable of protecting myself without my husband around, you smug little-”
It was an empty threat, and he seemed to know it. Mikhail started to laugh but broke off short when I grabbed a fistful of his coal black hair and twisted it cruelly. “Now,” I growled through my teeth.
He glanced back at me, vaguely impressed by my forwardness, though to my vexation, he also appeared completely undaunted. Still, he brought the taxi to a stop a moment later, so I loosened the death grip I had on his hair. I took a quick, speculative look around and saw that we’d come to a stop in a busy plaza I’d seen on my walk through the city earlier. Mikhail cut the engine and turned around in his seat to face me, smiling at me as if he knew something that I didn’t.
“Get out of the car,” I snarled, reaching for the door handle.
He raised his eyebrows suggestively. “Only if you do.”
It was still raining when I emerged from the taxi, panting heavily with anger, but I didn’t care about getting wet. I kept my attention locked on Mikhail and nothing else. He slid from the vehicle with feline grace, his eyes never breaking their hold on me. The look on his face was triumphant, as if he’d won a game I didn’t even know we were playing. Did he have any idea how angry Edward was going to be when he caught up to us? Exactly what did Mikhail expect to do to me, a strong newborn vampire, in the remaining thirty seconds he had alone with me? I didn’t understand why he’d gone to so much trouble just to take me on a two minute joyride to nowhere.
It wasn’t until I caught the concentrated scent of humans did it really register what Mikhail had done. Edward and I had emerged from the Volturi’s lair by way of a side exit that let out onto a dark, secluded street with barely a person in sight. In contrast, this plaza was probably the most crowded part of the city, at least at that time of day. It was dinnertime in Volterra, and there were a variety of bars and restaurants all around us, their doors open, people seated inside as well as on outdoor patios, shielded from the rain by awnings and patio umbrellas. Music filled the streets, along with the jovial conversation of the restaurant patrons.
In other words, we had an enormous audience. Mikhail had brought me to a location where I wouldn’t be able to attack him without drawing immediate attention. On the plus side, it also meant that he couldn’t attack me here either, not unless he wanted to be killed by the Volturi. What was he up to? Though I felt certain of my safety, I didn’t trust him enough to let my guard down one little bit, even when I heard Edward’s footfalls rapidly approaching from the distance. He would be here in less than thirty seconds. How he must despise being forced to run so slowly.
“You’re going to regret this,” I said to Mikhail in a low voice, backing away from him as he came around the car towards me. “Why did you bring me here, of all places? What was the point of taking me if you knew Edward would just follow right after us?”
Mikhail looked over my shoulder pointedly. “Well, I needed him to follow blindly, didn’t I? He’d hardly follow if I merely asked him to, even if I said pretty please.” He gestured a gloved hand toward a nearby restaurant. “Shall we, my dear?”
My reply was decidedly less polite than the request. “Like hell.”
“Hmm. Well, feel free to discuss the invitation with your husband before you follow. I trust you know the laws of Volterra well enough to know you’re safe here. You know where I’ll be should you and your husband decide to join me.”
With a small bow of his head, Mikhail turned toward the restaurant gracefully, his long black coat sprinkled with raindrops. I kept my eyes on him until he melted into the restaurant, lost amongst the press of human bodies. My fingers itched for violence, but what could I do? Gritting my teeth, I wheeled around to face Edward, who had come to a stop behind me. He was surprisingly calm, but his face was unrecognizable - a mask of stone. I knew him well enough to recognize that the calmness was a façade, barely managing to conceal his abject fury.
“Why did you leave me alone like that?” I accused. “You just up and disappeared without any kind of explanation!”
Edward exhaled sharply, annoyed with himself. “He called to me from an alley behind us. When I sent you to the taxi, I thought I was sending you away from the conflict, not toward it.”
“I didn’t hear anything,” I argued, not following his meaning. “And Mikhail was in the taxi, not an alley. He couldn’t have been in both places.”
“He called to me in my thoughts, which is why you didn’t hear him,” Edward explained. “Led me in the wrong direction. I could see the alley in his mind. I could see him watching us from that angle, not from the taxi’s. I know he’s able to block my ability to read minds, but I didn’t know he could also manipulate it to alter what I see and hear. There’s more to him than I realized at first. Caius’s faith in Mikhail’s abilities is starting to make a bit more sense.”
“He wants us to go into the restaurant after him. I can’t tell if it’s a trap or not. I think he just wants an audience so we don’t rip him to shreds.”
“It’s always a trap with him,” said Edward. “But I can’t just walk away now, and he knows it. To be able to talk to him, to figure out what he’s after and maybe even identify a weakness or two ... I can’t pass that up. Perhaps you should go back to the hotel. I can deal with him myself.” Edward looked at me with a mixed expression; his eyes pleaded with me, but the set of his mouth said he knew that I would refuse. He was right.
“Yes, because splitting up has worked for us so well in the past. Do you really think I’m going to leave you here by yourself? I’m not some weakling, Edward. You keep forgetting that I can take care of myself.”
“Physical strength means little to him, Bella. I have the feeling he’s not very strong physically. He overcompensates too much with his brain. It’s a mind game he’s after, not a fight.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Well, it’s a good thing I have a shield in my mind then, isn’t it?”
Edward raked his fingers through his hair, frustrated and torn. I knew he didn’t want me in there, but he was also unwilling to leave me alone again. I offered him my hand to reassure him and with a sigh, he took it. But instead of heading toward the restaurant, he pulled me into a tight embrace, tucking my head under his chin. “If at any time you feel afraid or like you’re not in control, I want you to get up from the table and walk away.” He paused and kissed the top of my head. “There’s nothing he can do to stop us from leaving. We’ll seek refuge with the Volturi if it gets to be too much.”
I nodded but couldn’t help the shiver that ran down my spine when we turned toward the restaurant, hand in hand. I wasn’t sure who frightened me more - Mikhail or the Volturi. “Out of the frying pan, into the fire,” I muttered.
We found him at a table in the center of the room, watching us with a beatific smile as he traced the lip of a crystal wine glass with his finger. Edward held a chair out for me, placing me as far away from Mikhail as possible. The table was circular, which meant I was seated directly across from him. It was difficult to avoid his probing gaze. Edward pulled his chair close and put his hand over mine, his thumb tracing over my wedding ring. The gesture calmed my nerves minutely.
“I took the liberty of ordering us a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon,” said Mikhail pleasantly, gesturing to the bottle on the table. “For appearances sake, of course. I must say, Mr. Cullen, I’m so very glad you moved our little game to Italy. Of course, castling your chess pieces indicates that you’ve begun to panic, but it was a good move all the same. Bravo. And of course, it allows us to talk out in the open like this without worrying about a fight breaking out between us.”
Edward’s stone-like mask didn’t waver. “What do you want from us?”
Mikhail’s eyes shifted to me, though he spoke to Edward. The attention sent a fresh thrill of fear through me. “Want from you? Why nothing. Have I somehow given you the impression that I’m after something?”
Edward and I spoke the answer simultaneously. “Yes.”
Mikhail flashed his teeth at me. “Perhaps you’re right. But I’m hardly going to reveal that to you, am I?”
“Don’t look at her,” Edward snapped in a low voice.
Mikhail didn’t listen. He kept his eyes on me as he swirled the dark liquid in his glass. “Do you know what I like best about you, Mr. Cullen? Your blind devotion. How you rush in headfirst to protect your wife from the smallest hint of danger, whether it be real or imagined. It’s your chief weakness, and it makes you terribly easy to manipulate. I’m telling you this, of course, because I don’t like easy games. No challenge in it, you see. Do try to use your head from now on.”
“We’re not interested in playing games with you,” said Edward. “I want this to stop now.”
“And end our friendship so soon?” lamented Mikhail. “We’ve barely gotten to know one another.”
“What’s your story, anyway?” demanded Edward. “You’re unlike any vampire I’ve ever met. Your eyes, for instance. They’re not red. You don’t feed on humans.”
“Correct. But that hardly makes me unique, Mr. Cullen. They’re the same color as your own.”
“All the same, you’ve also said that you detest violence,” Edward pressed. “There has to be some shred of humanity in you. So why do you keep trying to play games with us?”
“I detest physical violence,” corrected Mikhail. “I trust you know the difference from our first meeting with each other.”
Edward’s jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing. “Why only physical? Don’t the same principles apply to other forms of violence?”
“Oh, principles have nothing to do with it,” said Mikhail. “I dislike getting my hands dirty. Well, in a literal sense, at any rate. Killing humans is rather messy, isn’t it? Blood and bile flying this way and that. Humans screaming, cursing, frothing at the mouth, soiling their garments. It’s very uncouth, wouldn’t you agree? I like to think I’ve evolved past the need for such things. Animals are much simpler creatures. They understand the circle of life and don’t make nearly the fuss that humans do.”
“So it’s not out of regard for human life?” asked Edward.
Mikhail laughed. “Why on earth would I have regard for humans? Like smelly little flies, crawling all over each other, unaware of their own frailty and filth. I rather enjoy not relying on them for my survival. You know, Mr. Cullen, you and I are very much alike deep down. We pride ourselves in our independence, in our concrete resolve when it comes to certain matters. We both dislike not being in control, having vulnerabilities that others can exploit. And we’ve already established exactly what your greatest vulnerability is, haven’t we?” He lifted his glass in my direction, the gesture full of meaning.
Edward leaned forward, eyes deadly. “Why don’t you and I take a trip out of the city limits and settle this the old fashioned way?”
“Now why on earth would I want to do that?” asked Mikhail, tittering as if Edward had told a good joke. “If you and I were to engage in combat, you would no-doubt prevail. I am no match for you physically, nor am I a match for your newborn wife’s strength. But mentally ... well, let’s just say I could take you both down right here at this very moment without moving a muscle.”
Edward said nothing, though the look in his eyes was livid with hate. His hand tightened possessively over my own.
Mikhail turned his gaze on me again, his face full of excited delight. “You see what I mean about his blind devotion? He’s jumping at the chance to tear me apart, not because I threatened him, but because I just included you in that threat. Isn’t this fun? I could end him right here and now with only idle threats in my arsenal.”
So that was what Mikhail was trying to do, why he’d brought us to a crowded restaurant. He was trying to bait Edward into a reaction, possibly an outright attack. I did a quick scan of the restaurant, aware that we had gained a small audience. People were staring at our table, their initial attention likely drawn by the beauty of the two vampires with me. The obvious tense exchange between Edward and Mikhail ensured that most of the humans didn’t look away. A fight was brewing, and everyone seemed to know it. I sniffed the air tentatively, searching past the smell of the humans for a different scent. I had a feeling that the Volturi were watching, but I had yet to detect their presence. That didn’t mean they weren’t there, only that they were good at concealing themselves. This was getting dangerous. I placed my free hand over our intertwined fingers, trying to calm Edward down. It didn’t work.
“I told you not to look at her,” Edward bit out, straining his body forward to draw Mikhail’s attention away from me. “This is between you and me.”
“Do you see that look on his face, Mrs. Cullen?” asked Mikhail, his smile never faltering. “The desperation. The helplessness. The fear. Therein lies the reason I continue to seek you out. Your husband has constantly striven to outsmart me, yet he’s never once succeeded. I would have left the two of you alone after delivering the Volturi’s ultimatum, but you see ... I read people quite well. I knew that he would try to find a way to evade my demands, to attempt to give you a choice in the matter when there was really no choice at all. That was unwise. It ... angered me.” Mikhail paused and took a slow breath through his clenched teeth. “I have to tell you, in all my many centuries, I’ve never been met with such insolence. My word is law, and those who attempt to disobey me will find themselves coming apart at the seams. I will unmake you, Mr. Cullen, and I will take everything you love in the process. Everything. Starting with her.”
Silence fell over the table as Mikhail and Edward stared each other down. Fear coursed through me as I read the wild fury in Edward’s face. His eyes were as black as pitch, like a snake about to strike.
“What would you do, Mr. Cullen?” asked Mikhail, obviously trying to push Edward over the edge of his control. “If I did to you right now what I did to you in Paris? I trust you remember the long hours of pain? Do you think you’d be able to control your screams in the middle of this restaurant? Do you think your wife would just sit there and let me torture you right in front of her? No, I think she would attack me outright if she saw that I was hurting you. The Volturi would rip her apart. And then, predictable as the dawn, you would try to stop them and thus, be killed yourself. And I would just be sitting here, smiling and pretending to sip my wine. I wouldn’t have to lift so much as a finger to destroy the both of you. What reason would the Volturi have to harm me?”
Anger burned red-hot in my throat. Edward’s hand was a vise on my own, and it was the only thing that kept me in my seat. I remembered what he had said before we even entered the restaurant - that we should leave if either one of us felt as though we were losing control. Surely we should be walking away now, before a real fight broke out, but Edward showed no indication that he was interested in leaving. He leaned forward, as if anticipating something. He raised his eyebrows in challenge, as if to say, “I’d like to see you try. Go right ahead.”
Mikhail’s smile faltered only a fraction. Then he shifted his attention to me again, likely because that seemed to anger Edward more than anything else. “Or I could go another route,” he mused. “How easy it would be to tear down that little shield in your wife’s brain. I’ve done so before, if you remember. In your own bedroom, no less. And if memory serves me right, she nearly lost control of her newborn bloodlust the second I did so. I wonder what she would do here, in this room full of human prey? I wonder how long it would take the Volturi to step in once she began to hunt? It would all end up much the same, I think. The both of you would die, and I would be an innocent bystander. You know, you really should plan your moves better, Mr. Cullen. They don’t call me the Grandmaster for nothing.”
Edward got to his feet, and for one terrifying moment, I thought Mikhail had finally pushed him over the edge with his threats. But Edward merely pulled me to my feet and murmured in my ear, “We’re leaving. Now.”
Mikhail remained seated, but his cold eyes narrowed into slits when he saw that he was losing control of his audience. “We’re not done here yet. Sit down, or I’ll make you sit.”
He carried out the threat without a moment’s hesitation. Pain encased my head on all sides, like someone had a grip on my skull and was intent on crushing it with their bare hands. No one was touching me, of course. This was all in my head, all Mikhail’s doing, but there was nothing I could do to stop him from tearing my mental shield into shreds. My ears plugged up, and I slumped forward into Edward’s arms as the weight of my returning memories made my knees go out from underneath me.
Once the shock of that wore off, I caught the edge of the most delicious scent in the air and nearly went mad with desire for it. Human blood. A violent thirst erupted in my throat ... and was gone before I could shove Edward’s arms away and rip out the throat of the nearest human. Mikhail let my shield slip back into place in my mind, and I clung to Edward, shaking violently until the bloodlust faded and my self-control returned. I shook my head, dazed as the memories faded as well, momentarily leaving me with nothing but a blank slate until I looked into Edward’s horrified eyes. Only the memories of the last few days since my awakening settled back in place. I felt sick. Shaken. Violated to the core of my being.
“There now,” cooed Mikhail, still seated at the table as if nothing unpleasant had transpired between us. “All better, then? Has your bloodlust calmed, my dear? If you’d like it to stay that way, I suggest the two of you sit down. As I said before, we’re not done here.”
As Edward’s attention turned slowly toward Mikhail, I started shaking for a different reason entirely. I could feel the anger shimmering off of Edward’s body, and I took hold of his arm, silently willing him not to react with violence. We had to get out of here before someone lost control. I glanced around and saw that the entire restaurant was staring at us.
Edward kept their attention. He leveled a finger at Mikhail, and to my surprise, started shouting at him in Italian. I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but the message was clear. Edward pointed at me, then again at Mikhail, his voice thick with heated accusations.
Mikhail’s smirk slowly faded from his face, and a distinct note of nervousness took its place. “Are you insane?” he hissed under his breath. “The Volturi are watching us, you fool. Are you ready to die already before we’ve even begun to play? Stop making a show.”
Edward leaned forward against the table, eyes blazing. “The show isn’t for the Volturi. I just need the humans to understand why I’m about to do this, so they don’t try to stop me. Who knows? They might even cheer.”
And with that, Edward grabbed a fistful of Mikhail’s shirt and yanked him to his feet. I gasped and backed away, allowing room for Edward to drag Mikhail past me and toward the door. To my surprise, the restaurant erupted into laughter and approving applause. A group of working class men seated at the bar raised their glasses in our direction, then moved toward the window, anxious to see the fight.
Whatever Edward had accused Mikhail of in Italian must have put the patrons of the restaurant soundly in Edward’s corner. They likely thought he was defending my honor or something along those lines. Just two men arguing over a woman - human enough behavior, I supposed. But would the Volturi see it that way?
I went after them, looking over my shoulder every few seconds, thinking surely a robed figure would be lurking in the shadows, watching and waiting. Edward pulled Mikhail roughly into a dark alleyway between two restaurants, as far into the shadows as possible, away from curious human eyes. He didn’t stop there. I heard the scrape of metal on concrete and realized that Edward had pulled a sewer cap to the side. With a snarl, he threw Mikhail to the ground and kicked and shoved until they both disappeared down into the sewer entrance. There was a strangled curse and a splash, followed by a chorus of inhuman snarls.
First making sure that no one was watching, I followed them down the hole, and to my disgust, found myself in ankle-deep water at the bottom. Rain water poured in from the open sewer hole above, and a fast current washed over my feet. I followed the sound of fighting further down into the sewer, cringing when I saw Edward’s fist connect with Mikhail’s face. Not that I minded the sight of Mikhail flailing backwards into the filthy water, his immaculate suit ruined, but the impact of vampire flesh-on-flesh sounded like a crack of thunder. Thank goodness it was raining outside; thunder was entirely unlikely tonight. Still, the Volturi still might rip us to shreds all the same.
Mikhail seemed to be thinking along the same lines as I was. “Have you completely lost hold of your senses?” he sputtered, wiping his face clean of the sewer water. “I was bluffing, you imbecile. Don’t do something you’re going to regret.”
Edward pulled Mikhail to his feet and shoved him hard against the wall. “You attacked my wife. My wife! ”
“I never lifted a finger against her,” Mikhail gasped, trying to pry Edward’s fingers from his throat.
Edward’s answering smile surprised me. “That doesn’t matter much. We spoke directly to the Volturi earlier this evening. Aro warned us not to throw the first punch if you confronted us. He never said we couldn’t defend ourselves if you were the first to attack. Not only did you attack my wife mentally, but you just endangered the lives of dozens of humans in that restaurant when you tore down her shield. If I hadn’t gotten you out of there, you would have caused Bella to lose control. Their deaths would be on your hands.”
“You can’t prove I attacked anyone,” Mikhail growled.
Edward shook his head. “I heard her thoughts when you took down her shield. I felt exactly what you did to her, and once Aro touches either of our hands, he’ll know what you did as well. How’s that for proof? I should take you to Aro, myself. Let him deal with you.”
A knowing smile curled across Mikhail’s lips. “You won’t.”
Edward’s expression hardened. “No, I won’t.”
Mikhail’s laughter echoed through the sewer. “Are you going to try to tear me apart yourself, then? You know, you might have the upper hand when it comes to brute strength, but that matters little when it really comes down to it. You truly are a bigger fool than I thought you were. Ask yourself this, Mr. Cullen...” Malice glinting across his angelic features as he leaned forward, hissing the words directly into Edward’s face. “Do you really want to fuck with me? ”
Edward winced and shook his head as if he’d heard some sort of high pitched noise - though I hadn’t heard anything except our ragged breathing and the sound of the current washing over our feet. Then he winced again - violently this time - and his grip on Mikhail faltered. Edward cried out and gripped the sides of his head like he was in absolute agony. I gasped, eyes wide as I stared at him in horror. What was wrong with him?
Mikhail was still laughing as he shoved Edward backwards. He landed in the water, his hands clamped over his ears as he writhed in pain. It was obvious that he was unable to get up, held down by some unseen force that was hurting him.
I glared at Mikhail, charging forward accusingly. “It’s you ... whatever you’re doing to him, stop it!”
Mikhail skipped backwards, away from me, and bowed with a flourish. “Oh, didn’t he tell you? I’m sure you’re aware that Edward’s gift enables him to keep most of the voices in his head at a low hum until he decides to listen in. Listening to everything at once would surely drive the poor boy insane. My gift enables me to manipulate his gift. Let’s just say I turned up the volume in his head a bit.”
Behind us, Edward started to scream.
Blinded by fury, I crouched low to the ground and launched myself at him like a cat, ready to tear him apart with my bare hands - and then suddenly, I was on the ground, too. I choked on water, gripping my head as I felt the increasingly familiar crush of memories flooding back to me. Mikhail was doing it again, manipulating my shield. It wasn’t any easier the third time around, and he seemed to know it. Debilitating was an understatement. He gave me a second to find my bearings under the weight of memories before he let the shield slam back in place, which was just as painful and disorienting as tearing it down.
And then he did it all over again.
I was in agony, unable to find my footing in my own mind, barely able to remember who I was for more than a second or two before he started the cycle all over again. I stayed on the ground, gasping, completely dazed, unable to move.
Mikhail leaned over me, and I stared up at him in horror, realizing how truly helpless I was. “Pitiful, really. The both of you, conquered by your own gifts. I did try to warn you, but I suppose that’s in the past now. You’ve forced my hand. Now that I have you both exactly where I want you, whatever am I going to do with you?”
***
To be continued.
Author’s Notes: One chapter plus an epilogue to go. I have to tell you how much I enjoy writing Mikhail. Sorry, but evil characters are just plain fun. Especially when they’re pretty. ;)
Also, I’m counting this chapter as a personal milestone. Finishing this chapter pushes my total Twilight fanfiction word count past 100,000 words, all written in less than five months. *pats self on the back*
Hope you enjoyed. Cheers! -Coquette
Previous Installments:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four & Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
***
Citizen Erased
Written by Coquette
Author’s Notes: Another long chapter. A few of the comments I’ve received from the previous chapter had to do with why Edward didn’t know Mikhail was in the taxi. Previous chapters mentioned Mikhail’s gift, which is the ability to manipulate the gifts of others. Because of this, Edward can’t hear Mikhail’s thoughts unless Mikhail allows him to. Mikhail is also a gifted tracker and knows how to hide his scent if he needs to. Additionally, there might be a little more to Mikhail’s gifts than has been revealed yet. ;) Hope that clears up some of the confusion.
***
Previously...
Still keeping my eyes averted from the headlights, I jogged toward the taxi with what I hoped was human speed. I slipped into the backseat breathlessly, shaking raindrops from my hair as I looked up to smile at the driver. “My husband will just be a--”
My words faltered, mid-sentence.
I smelled him before I saw him, but by then it was too late. The vehicle was already moving, accelerating into motion before I could even gasp.
“Really...” lamented Mikhail, turning around to face me from the driver’s seat. “Is he always that easy to distract? You two are making this far too easy for me. Hardly any sport in it at all.”
***
Citizen Erased
Written by Coquette
Chapter Nine
I was so stunned by Mikhail’s sudden appearance that I found myself only able to stare at him blankly. That lasted for approximately two seconds. Then the rage overtook me. I could taste the fury - a dry, fiery heat in the back of my throat, burning like thirst. I grit my teeth, nails digging into the upholstery as I addressed the object of my hatred in low, ominous tones.
“You...” I broke off, so angry, I could barely form sentences.
Mikhail’s answering smile was smug. “Me.”
“My husband is following us,” I pointed out, trying to remain calm. “Don’t doubt that.”
Mikhail chuckled, his amber eyes glinting at me in the rearview mirror. “Yes, I know. I’m rather counting on it, actually.”
“And how long do you suppose it will take him to catch up with us? Not that it matters one little bit if he’s here or not.”
“Running at human speed? About one minute and twenty seconds.”
I cursed under my breath. I had forgotten that Edward wouldn’t be able to pursue us at his full speed, not in Volterra where we had to hide our vampire strengths. It seemed Mikhail was fully aware of that limitation. Still, he didn’t appear concerned by it. He didn’t even attempt to speed through the winding streets of Volterra to put a greater distance between us and Edward. Still, what could Edward do even if he managed to catch up with us? He couldn’t exactly tip the car over or stop it with his hands any more than I could open the door and jump to safety. We could manage it, of course, but that would garner dangerous attention if the wrong people were watching. We would have to play this carefully.
“Stop the car, or I’ll stop it myself by ripping your head off your shoulders,” I ordered. “I’m fully capable of protecting myself without my husband around, you smug little-”
It was an empty threat, and he seemed to know it. Mikhail started to laugh but broke off short when I grabbed a fistful of his coal black hair and twisted it cruelly. “Now,” I growled through my teeth.
He glanced back at me, vaguely impressed by my forwardness, though to my vexation, he also appeared completely undaunted. Still, he brought the taxi to a stop a moment later, so I loosened the death grip I had on his hair. I took a quick, speculative look around and saw that we’d come to a stop in a busy plaza I’d seen on my walk through the city earlier. Mikhail cut the engine and turned around in his seat to face me, smiling at me as if he knew something that I didn’t.
“Get out of the car,” I snarled, reaching for the door handle.
He raised his eyebrows suggestively. “Only if you do.”
It was still raining when I emerged from the taxi, panting heavily with anger, but I didn’t care about getting wet. I kept my attention locked on Mikhail and nothing else. He slid from the vehicle with feline grace, his eyes never breaking their hold on me. The look on his face was triumphant, as if he’d won a game I didn’t even know we were playing. Did he have any idea how angry Edward was going to be when he caught up to us? Exactly what did Mikhail expect to do to me, a strong newborn vampire, in the remaining thirty seconds he had alone with me? I didn’t understand why he’d gone to so much trouble just to take me on a two minute joyride to nowhere.
It wasn’t until I caught the concentrated scent of humans did it really register what Mikhail had done. Edward and I had emerged from the Volturi’s lair by way of a side exit that let out onto a dark, secluded street with barely a person in sight. In contrast, this plaza was probably the most crowded part of the city, at least at that time of day. It was dinnertime in Volterra, and there were a variety of bars and restaurants all around us, their doors open, people seated inside as well as on outdoor patios, shielded from the rain by awnings and patio umbrellas. Music filled the streets, along with the jovial conversation of the restaurant patrons.
In other words, we had an enormous audience. Mikhail had brought me to a location where I wouldn’t be able to attack him without drawing immediate attention. On the plus side, it also meant that he couldn’t attack me here either, not unless he wanted to be killed by the Volturi. What was he up to? Though I felt certain of my safety, I didn’t trust him enough to let my guard down one little bit, even when I heard Edward’s footfalls rapidly approaching from the distance. He would be here in less than thirty seconds. How he must despise being forced to run so slowly.
“You’re going to regret this,” I said to Mikhail in a low voice, backing away from him as he came around the car towards me. “Why did you bring me here, of all places? What was the point of taking me if you knew Edward would just follow right after us?”
Mikhail looked over my shoulder pointedly. “Well, I needed him to follow blindly, didn’t I? He’d hardly follow if I merely asked him to, even if I said pretty please.” He gestured a gloved hand toward a nearby restaurant. “Shall we, my dear?”
My reply was decidedly less polite than the request. “Like hell.”
“Hmm. Well, feel free to discuss the invitation with your husband before you follow. I trust you know the laws of Volterra well enough to know you’re safe here. You know where I’ll be should you and your husband decide to join me.”
With a small bow of his head, Mikhail turned toward the restaurant gracefully, his long black coat sprinkled with raindrops. I kept my eyes on him until he melted into the restaurant, lost amongst the press of human bodies. My fingers itched for violence, but what could I do? Gritting my teeth, I wheeled around to face Edward, who had come to a stop behind me. He was surprisingly calm, but his face was unrecognizable - a mask of stone. I knew him well enough to recognize that the calmness was a façade, barely managing to conceal his abject fury.
“Why did you leave me alone like that?” I accused. “You just up and disappeared without any kind of explanation!”
Edward exhaled sharply, annoyed with himself. “He called to me from an alley behind us. When I sent you to the taxi, I thought I was sending you away from the conflict, not toward it.”
“I didn’t hear anything,” I argued, not following his meaning. “And Mikhail was in the taxi, not an alley. He couldn’t have been in both places.”
“He called to me in my thoughts, which is why you didn’t hear him,” Edward explained. “Led me in the wrong direction. I could see the alley in his mind. I could see him watching us from that angle, not from the taxi’s. I know he’s able to block my ability to read minds, but I didn’t know he could also manipulate it to alter what I see and hear. There’s more to him than I realized at first. Caius’s faith in Mikhail’s abilities is starting to make a bit more sense.”
“He wants us to go into the restaurant after him. I can’t tell if it’s a trap or not. I think he just wants an audience so we don’t rip him to shreds.”
“It’s always a trap with him,” said Edward. “But I can’t just walk away now, and he knows it. To be able to talk to him, to figure out what he’s after and maybe even identify a weakness or two ... I can’t pass that up. Perhaps you should go back to the hotel. I can deal with him myself.” Edward looked at me with a mixed expression; his eyes pleaded with me, but the set of his mouth said he knew that I would refuse. He was right.
“Yes, because splitting up has worked for us so well in the past. Do you really think I’m going to leave you here by yourself? I’m not some weakling, Edward. You keep forgetting that I can take care of myself.”
“Physical strength means little to him, Bella. I have the feeling he’s not very strong physically. He overcompensates too much with his brain. It’s a mind game he’s after, not a fight.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Well, it’s a good thing I have a shield in my mind then, isn’t it?”
Edward raked his fingers through his hair, frustrated and torn. I knew he didn’t want me in there, but he was also unwilling to leave me alone again. I offered him my hand to reassure him and with a sigh, he took it. But instead of heading toward the restaurant, he pulled me into a tight embrace, tucking my head under his chin. “If at any time you feel afraid or like you’re not in control, I want you to get up from the table and walk away.” He paused and kissed the top of my head. “There’s nothing he can do to stop us from leaving. We’ll seek refuge with the Volturi if it gets to be too much.”
I nodded but couldn’t help the shiver that ran down my spine when we turned toward the restaurant, hand in hand. I wasn’t sure who frightened me more - Mikhail or the Volturi. “Out of the frying pan, into the fire,” I muttered.
We found him at a table in the center of the room, watching us with a beatific smile as he traced the lip of a crystal wine glass with his finger. Edward held a chair out for me, placing me as far away from Mikhail as possible. The table was circular, which meant I was seated directly across from him. It was difficult to avoid his probing gaze. Edward pulled his chair close and put his hand over mine, his thumb tracing over my wedding ring. The gesture calmed my nerves minutely.
“I took the liberty of ordering us a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon,” said Mikhail pleasantly, gesturing to the bottle on the table. “For appearances sake, of course. I must say, Mr. Cullen, I’m so very glad you moved our little game to Italy. Of course, castling your chess pieces indicates that you’ve begun to panic, but it was a good move all the same. Bravo. And of course, it allows us to talk out in the open like this without worrying about a fight breaking out between us.”
Edward’s stone-like mask didn’t waver. “What do you want from us?”
Mikhail’s eyes shifted to me, though he spoke to Edward. The attention sent a fresh thrill of fear through me. “Want from you? Why nothing. Have I somehow given you the impression that I’m after something?”
Edward and I spoke the answer simultaneously. “Yes.”
Mikhail flashed his teeth at me. “Perhaps you’re right. But I’m hardly going to reveal that to you, am I?”
“Don’t look at her,” Edward snapped in a low voice.
Mikhail didn’t listen. He kept his eyes on me as he swirled the dark liquid in his glass. “Do you know what I like best about you, Mr. Cullen? Your blind devotion. How you rush in headfirst to protect your wife from the smallest hint of danger, whether it be real or imagined. It’s your chief weakness, and it makes you terribly easy to manipulate. I’m telling you this, of course, because I don’t like easy games. No challenge in it, you see. Do try to use your head from now on.”
“We’re not interested in playing games with you,” said Edward. “I want this to stop now.”
“And end our friendship so soon?” lamented Mikhail. “We’ve barely gotten to know one another.”
“What’s your story, anyway?” demanded Edward. “You’re unlike any vampire I’ve ever met. Your eyes, for instance. They’re not red. You don’t feed on humans.”
“Correct. But that hardly makes me unique, Mr. Cullen. They’re the same color as your own.”
“All the same, you’ve also said that you detest violence,” Edward pressed. “There has to be some shred of humanity in you. So why do you keep trying to play games with us?”
“I detest physical violence,” corrected Mikhail. “I trust you know the difference from our first meeting with each other.”
Edward’s jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing. “Why only physical? Don’t the same principles apply to other forms of violence?”
“Oh, principles have nothing to do with it,” said Mikhail. “I dislike getting my hands dirty. Well, in a literal sense, at any rate. Killing humans is rather messy, isn’t it? Blood and bile flying this way and that. Humans screaming, cursing, frothing at the mouth, soiling their garments. It’s very uncouth, wouldn’t you agree? I like to think I’ve evolved past the need for such things. Animals are much simpler creatures. They understand the circle of life and don’t make nearly the fuss that humans do.”
“So it’s not out of regard for human life?” asked Edward.
Mikhail laughed. “Why on earth would I have regard for humans? Like smelly little flies, crawling all over each other, unaware of their own frailty and filth. I rather enjoy not relying on them for my survival. You know, Mr. Cullen, you and I are very much alike deep down. We pride ourselves in our independence, in our concrete resolve when it comes to certain matters. We both dislike not being in control, having vulnerabilities that others can exploit. And we’ve already established exactly what your greatest vulnerability is, haven’t we?” He lifted his glass in my direction, the gesture full of meaning.
Edward leaned forward, eyes deadly. “Why don’t you and I take a trip out of the city limits and settle this the old fashioned way?”
“Now why on earth would I want to do that?” asked Mikhail, tittering as if Edward had told a good joke. “If you and I were to engage in combat, you would no-doubt prevail. I am no match for you physically, nor am I a match for your newborn wife’s strength. But mentally ... well, let’s just say I could take you both down right here at this very moment without moving a muscle.”
Edward said nothing, though the look in his eyes was livid with hate. His hand tightened possessively over my own.
Mikhail turned his gaze on me again, his face full of excited delight. “You see what I mean about his blind devotion? He’s jumping at the chance to tear me apart, not because I threatened him, but because I just included you in that threat. Isn’t this fun? I could end him right here and now with only idle threats in my arsenal.”
So that was what Mikhail was trying to do, why he’d brought us to a crowded restaurant. He was trying to bait Edward into a reaction, possibly an outright attack. I did a quick scan of the restaurant, aware that we had gained a small audience. People were staring at our table, their initial attention likely drawn by the beauty of the two vampires with me. The obvious tense exchange between Edward and Mikhail ensured that most of the humans didn’t look away. A fight was brewing, and everyone seemed to know it. I sniffed the air tentatively, searching past the smell of the humans for a different scent. I had a feeling that the Volturi were watching, but I had yet to detect their presence. That didn’t mean they weren’t there, only that they were good at concealing themselves. This was getting dangerous. I placed my free hand over our intertwined fingers, trying to calm Edward down. It didn’t work.
“I told you not to look at her,” Edward bit out, straining his body forward to draw Mikhail’s attention away from me. “This is between you and me.”
“Do you see that look on his face, Mrs. Cullen?” asked Mikhail, his smile never faltering. “The desperation. The helplessness. The fear. Therein lies the reason I continue to seek you out. Your husband has constantly striven to outsmart me, yet he’s never once succeeded. I would have left the two of you alone after delivering the Volturi’s ultimatum, but you see ... I read people quite well. I knew that he would try to find a way to evade my demands, to attempt to give you a choice in the matter when there was really no choice at all. That was unwise. It ... angered me.” Mikhail paused and took a slow breath through his clenched teeth. “I have to tell you, in all my many centuries, I’ve never been met with such insolence. My word is law, and those who attempt to disobey me will find themselves coming apart at the seams. I will unmake you, Mr. Cullen, and I will take everything you love in the process. Everything. Starting with her.”
Silence fell over the table as Mikhail and Edward stared each other down. Fear coursed through me as I read the wild fury in Edward’s face. His eyes were as black as pitch, like a snake about to strike.
“What would you do, Mr. Cullen?” asked Mikhail, obviously trying to push Edward over the edge of his control. “If I did to you right now what I did to you in Paris? I trust you remember the long hours of pain? Do you think you’d be able to control your screams in the middle of this restaurant? Do you think your wife would just sit there and let me torture you right in front of her? No, I think she would attack me outright if she saw that I was hurting you. The Volturi would rip her apart. And then, predictable as the dawn, you would try to stop them and thus, be killed yourself. And I would just be sitting here, smiling and pretending to sip my wine. I wouldn’t have to lift so much as a finger to destroy the both of you. What reason would the Volturi have to harm me?”
Anger burned red-hot in my throat. Edward’s hand was a vise on my own, and it was the only thing that kept me in my seat. I remembered what he had said before we even entered the restaurant - that we should leave if either one of us felt as though we were losing control. Surely we should be walking away now, before a real fight broke out, but Edward showed no indication that he was interested in leaving. He leaned forward, as if anticipating something. He raised his eyebrows in challenge, as if to say, “I’d like to see you try. Go right ahead.”
Mikhail’s smile faltered only a fraction. Then he shifted his attention to me again, likely because that seemed to anger Edward more than anything else. “Or I could go another route,” he mused. “How easy it would be to tear down that little shield in your wife’s brain. I’ve done so before, if you remember. In your own bedroom, no less. And if memory serves me right, she nearly lost control of her newborn bloodlust the second I did so. I wonder what she would do here, in this room full of human prey? I wonder how long it would take the Volturi to step in once she began to hunt? It would all end up much the same, I think. The both of you would die, and I would be an innocent bystander. You know, you really should plan your moves better, Mr. Cullen. They don’t call me the Grandmaster for nothing.”
Edward got to his feet, and for one terrifying moment, I thought Mikhail had finally pushed him over the edge with his threats. But Edward merely pulled me to my feet and murmured in my ear, “We’re leaving. Now.”
Mikhail remained seated, but his cold eyes narrowed into slits when he saw that he was losing control of his audience. “We’re not done here yet. Sit down, or I’ll make you sit.”
He carried out the threat without a moment’s hesitation. Pain encased my head on all sides, like someone had a grip on my skull and was intent on crushing it with their bare hands. No one was touching me, of course. This was all in my head, all Mikhail’s doing, but there was nothing I could do to stop him from tearing my mental shield into shreds. My ears plugged up, and I slumped forward into Edward’s arms as the weight of my returning memories made my knees go out from underneath me.
Once the shock of that wore off, I caught the edge of the most delicious scent in the air and nearly went mad with desire for it. Human blood. A violent thirst erupted in my throat ... and was gone before I could shove Edward’s arms away and rip out the throat of the nearest human. Mikhail let my shield slip back into place in my mind, and I clung to Edward, shaking violently until the bloodlust faded and my self-control returned. I shook my head, dazed as the memories faded as well, momentarily leaving me with nothing but a blank slate until I looked into Edward’s horrified eyes. Only the memories of the last few days since my awakening settled back in place. I felt sick. Shaken. Violated to the core of my being.
“There now,” cooed Mikhail, still seated at the table as if nothing unpleasant had transpired between us. “All better, then? Has your bloodlust calmed, my dear? If you’d like it to stay that way, I suggest the two of you sit down. As I said before, we’re not done here.”
As Edward’s attention turned slowly toward Mikhail, I started shaking for a different reason entirely. I could feel the anger shimmering off of Edward’s body, and I took hold of his arm, silently willing him not to react with violence. We had to get out of here before someone lost control. I glanced around and saw that the entire restaurant was staring at us.
Edward kept their attention. He leveled a finger at Mikhail, and to my surprise, started shouting at him in Italian. I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but the message was clear. Edward pointed at me, then again at Mikhail, his voice thick with heated accusations.
Mikhail’s smirk slowly faded from his face, and a distinct note of nervousness took its place. “Are you insane?” he hissed under his breath. “The Volturi are watching us, you fool. Are you ready to die already before we’ve even begun to play? Stop making a show.”
Edward leaned forward against the table, eyes blazing. “The show isn’t for the Volturi. I just need the humans to understand why I’m about to do this, so they don’t try to stop me. Who knows? They might even cheer.”
And with that, Edward grabbed a fistful of Mikhail’s shirt and yanked him to his feet. I gasped and backed away, allowing room for Edward to drag Mikhail past me and toward the door. To my surprise, the restaurant erupted into laughter and approving applause. A group of working class men seated at the bar raised their glasses in our direction, then moved toward the window, anxious to see the fight.
Whatever Edward had accused Mikhail of in Italian must have put the patrons of the restaurant soundly in Edward’s corner. They likely thought he was defending my honor or something along those lines. Just two men arguing over a woman - human enough behavior, I supposed. But would the Volturi see it that way?
I went after them, looking over my shoulder every few seconds, thinking surely a robed figure would be lurking in the shadows, watching and waiting. Edward pulled Mikhail roughly into a dark alleyway between two restaurants, as far into the shadows as possible, away from curious human eyes. He didn’t stop there. I heard the scrape of metal on concrete and realized that Edward had pulled a sewer cap to the side. With a snarl, he threw Mikhail to the ground and kicked and shoved until they both disappeared down into the sewer entrance. There was a strangled curse and a splash, followed by a chorus of inhuman snarls.
First making sure that no one was watching, I followed them down the hole, and to my disgust, found myself in ankle-deep water at the bottom. Rain water poured in from the open sewer hole above, and a fast current washed over my feet. I followed the sound of fighting further down into the sewer, cringing when I saw Edward’s fist connect with Mikhail’s face. Not that I minded the sight of Mikhail flailing backwards into the filthy water, his immaculate suit ruined, but the impact of vampire flesh-on-flesh sounded like a crack of thunder. Thank goodness it was raining outside; thunder was entirely unlikely tonight. Still, the Volturi still might rip us to shreds all the same.
Mikhail seemed to be thinking along the same lines as I was. “Have you completely lost hold of your senses?” he sputtered, wiping his face clean of the sewer water. “I was bluffing, you imbecile. Don’t do something you’re going to regret.”
Edward pulled Mikhail to his feet and shoved him hard against the wall. “You attacked my wife. My wife! ”
“I never lifted a finger against her,” Mikhail gasped, trying to pry Edward’s fingers from his throat.
Edward’s answering smile surprised me. “That doesn’t matter much. We spoke directly to the Volturi earlier this evening. Aro warned us not to throw the first punch if you confronted us. He never said we couldn’t defend ourselves if you were the first to attack. Not only did you attack my wife mentally, but you just endangered the lives of dozens of humans in that restaurant when you tore down her shield. If I hadn’t gotten you out of there, you would have caused Bella to lose control. Their deaths would be on your hands.”
“You can’t prove I attacked anyone,” Mikhail growled.
Edward shook his head. “I heard her thoughts when you took down her shield. I felt exactly what you did to her, and once Aro touches either of our hands, he’ll know what you did as well. How’s that for proof? I should take you to Aro, myself. Let him deal with you.”
A knowing smile curled across Mikhail’s lips. “You won’t.”
Edward’s expression hardened. “No, I won’t.”
Mikhail’s laughter echoed through the sewer. “Are you going to try to tear me apart yourself, then? You know, you might have the upper hand when it comes to brute strength, but that matters little when it really comes down to it. You truly are a bigger fool than I thought you were. Ask yourself this, Mr. Cullen...” Malice glinting across his angelic features as he leaned forward, hissing the words directly into Edward’s face. “Do you really want to fuck with me? ”
Edward winced and shook his head as if he’d heard some sort of high pitched noise - though I hadn’t heard anything except our ragged breathing and the sound of the current washing over our feet. Then he winced again - violently this time - and his grip on Mikhail faltered. Edward cried out and gripped the sides of his head like he was in absolute agony. I gasped, eyes wide as I stared at him in horror. What was wrong with him?
Mikhail was still laughing as he shoved Edward backwards. He landed in the water, his hands clamped over his ears as he writhed in pain. It was obvious that he was unable to get up, held down by some unseen force that was hurting him.
I glared at Mikhail, charging forward accusingly. “It’s you ... whatever you’re doing to him, stop it!”
Mikhail skipped backwards, away from me, and bowed with a flourish. “Oh, didn’t he tell you? I’m sure you’re aware that Edward’s gift enables him to keep most of the voices in his head at a low hum until he decides to listen in. Listening to everything at once would surely drive the poor boy insane. My gift enables me to manipulate his gift. Let’s just say I turned up the volume in his head a bit.”
Behind us, Edward started to scream.
Blinded by fury, I crouched low to the ground and launched myself at him like a cat, ready to tear him apart with my bare hands - and then suddenly, I was on the ground, too. I choked on water, gripping my head as I felt the increasingly familiar crush of memories flooding back to me. Mikhail was doing it again, manipulating my shield. It wasn’t any easier the third time around, and he seemed to know it. Debilitating was an understatement. He gave me a second to find my bearings under the weight of memories before he let the shield slam back in place, which was just as painful and disorienting as tearing it down.
And then he did it all over again.
I was in agony, unable to find my footing in my own mind, barely able to remember who I was for more than a second or two before he started the cycle all over again. I stayed on the ground, gasping, completely dazed, unable to move.
Mikhail leaned over me, and I stared up at him in horror, realizing how truly helpless I was. “Pitiful, really. The both of you, conquered by your own gifts. I did try to warn you, but I suppose that’s in the past now. You’ve forced my hand. Now that I have you both exactly where I want you, whatever am I going to do with you?”
***
To be continued.
Author’s Notes: One chapter plus an epilogue to go. I have to tell you how much I enjoy writing Mikhail. Sorry, but evil characters are just plain fun. Especially when they’re pretty. ;)
Also, I’m counting this chapter as a personal milestone. Finishing this chapter pushes my total Twilight fanfiction word count past 100,000 words, all written in less than five months. *pats self on the back*
Hope you enjoyed. Cheers! -Coquette