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RILEY POV (FINAL)
For Riley, the vampire was—among many things—intriguing.
Like most of her kind, she had a habit of not staying in one place for too long. However, seen from an outsider's perspective, she did not behave like a common nomad. Rather, she seemed like someone on an endless vacation. Though she made sure to avoid populated areas, she displayed an evident fascination with natural landscapes: remote forests, silent mountain ranges, open plains where the world seemed to forget itself.
Riley cared little about that, but it was an impossible detail to ignore. It was the fact that Veronica rarely spoke about herself.
He found her deeply mysterious. Always in a good mood, always carrying that carefree attitude, as if everything—feeding, traveling, even training—were nothing more than a pleasant pastime. At first, Riley thought the woman might be interested in him. After all, he was aware of his appearance; even before Victoria, he had never had trouble attracting glances or attention.
But Veronica did not look at him that way.
And that was the first crack in his assumption.
She treated him like a child.
Or worse… like a pet.
She dragged him from one point of the country to another without warning, brought him humans to feed on whenever she deemed it necessary, and occasionally engaged in trivial conversations—light, shallow exchanges, as if they were talking about the weather or a scenic trail she had seen hours earlier.
Riley was often tempted to leave. To return to his original plan and seek out his own death.
But there was one truth he could not ignore.
Veronica was powerful.
More so than any neophyte he had ever known. Even more than Victoria, whose strength had always lain in agility—in the perfect escape, in the precise strike before vanishing.
Veronica fought differently.
She did not rely on strength or speed.
She relied on pure technique.
Every movement had a purpose. Every turn, every step, every grip was calculated. Riley could only imagine how many centuries that woman had devoted to perfecting her style, how many battles, how many mistakes corrected again and again until any margin of error had been erased.
Whatever the case, there was something undeniable about her: an air of invincibility.
Riley had tried on multiple occasions to put her in a difficult position. He never succeeded. Even when she fought with one hand behind her back, she defeated him with ease. And she did so without humiliating him, without anger, always making sure to explain exactly where he had gone wrong and how he should have attacked instead.
Riley absorbed every lesson with almost obsessive focus. He stored away every correction, every gesture, every mistake, as if his existence depended on it.
Because, in a way, it did.
Though he acknowledged that the woman could be pleasant—even entertaining at times—he could not allow himself to lower his guard. For Riley, each day at her side was a constant reminder that he was still weak. That he was still not enough.
That he was still useless to Victoria.
Without realizing it, days turned into weeks.
Weeks into months.
And then that night arrived.
A particularly dark night, with no moon in sight, and the forest submerged in dense shadows. After a practice bout longer than usual, Riley achieved something he had never managed before.
He caught her off guard.
It was only an instant. A minimal mistake. But it was enough.
The impact was not devastating, not even decisive… but it was real.
For the first time, Veronica took a step back.
The confident smile that always adorned her face vanished.
And the silence that followed was unlike any other.
Veronica seemed to stand motionless, absorbed in her own thoughts.
Riley immediately frowned. An uneasy tension settled in his chest, sudden and persistent. Had he gone too far? Had he crossed a line he should not have? The idea of having angered his benefactor struck him with a sharp jolt of alarm. Not because he feared her—though he had every reason to—but because, in a twisted way, he felt that now that he had finally begun to move forward, losing her would mean falling back months all at once.
That thought clashed with everything he knew of her. Veronica had never shown gratuitous cruelty or impulsiveness. But Riley did not forget what they both were.
Vampires.
And in their nature, even the kindest acts could shatter without warning.
Against all expectations, Veronica's smile returned.
It did so with its usual lightness, as if that second of silence had never existed. She stretched slightly, relaxed, and commented in a casual tone:
"I'm not sure whether I've grown complacent with my own training… or if you've improved far more than I thought."
Riley tensed, expectant.
She tilted her head, assessing him with a curious look before reaching a conclusion that completely unsettled him.
"But either way, it all leads me to the same place. It no longer makes sense to keep training you."
For an instant, anger surged up Riley's chest like a flare. That had been the first time he had managed to surprise her. The first. That did not mean he was powerful. It did not mean he was ready. The urge to protest burned in his throat.
But Veronica spoke before he could.
"Now the only thing you lack is experience," she explained calmly. "I win because I have killed hundreds of vampires throughout my existence. I've seen too many fighting styles. In the end, they all repeat patterns… and once you learn to recognize them, everything becomes simple."
She stepped a little closer, pointing at him gently.
"You already have the foundations to fight properly. Any weakness caused by the absence of your arm is more than compensated for by that."
Riley thought about it for a second, almost ready to argue back. But she immediately added, cutting off any reply:
"There is no such thing as an unbeatable vampire overnight, Riley. Not even Felix of the Volturi Guard was."
That name captured all of his attention.
"When he started, he only had his abnormal strength," Veronica continued. "But after centuries of practice and refined talent, he became the Volturi's executioner. Second only to the twins… and their terrifying abilities."
Riley listened to every word with absolute focus. Veronica did not speak idly; everything she said was born of experience. For a moment, he was tempted to ask her more about the Volturi, about how she knew so much… but that curiosity was quickly buried beneath something far more urgent.
Victoria.
He already had the skill necessary to return to her. There was no room in his mind for anything else.
He nodded slightly, ready to leave, but remained still for a few seconds longer. Despite having overcome his physical weakness, the uncertainty was still there, untouched. He wanted to see her. He needed her. But what if she were now with someone else? Someone whole. Someone who did not carry such an obvious absence as his own.
What if she were dead?
The possibilities churned violently in his mind, nearly causing a sharp, stabbing pain.
Veronica watched him in silence, wearing a calm smile. Then she spoke in a soft, almost affectionate tone:
"I can come with you."
Riley looked up, surprised.
"At least until you find Victoria. Until you know what really happened."
The idea brought him immediate relief… followed by a twinge of guilt. There were no guarantees. They could spend years following her trail without success. He explained this with some hesitation.
Veronica dismissed the concern with a simple wave of her hand.
"All this training was just a way to kill time," she said lightly. "I still have a few free years… and they're far more entertaining when spent with a purpose."
Riley nodded, relieved.
Without realizing it, a dangerous thought made its way into his mind. If they found Victoria soon, if he managed to convince Veronica along the way… vengeance against the Cullens would cease to be a fantasy. With someone like her, it would be a real possibility.
With those final thoughts, the two of them departed like a gust of air.
They headed toward the last place Riley had seen Victoria.
Toward Seattle.
...................................................
With their speed, the journey to Seattle felt short. Too short. Every step that brought him closer made Riley tremble with a flood of conflicting emotions: fear, anticipation, excitement… and frustration. More than once, he found himself tempted to turn back, to remain with the uncertainty of what had become of Victoria. Living with doubt seemed, at times, less painful than facing the truth.
But his longing always prevailed.
Above all else, he yearned to see her. To feel her as his once more. To cling to the idea that nothing had truly changed. That hope drove him to keep running against the wind, ignoring the constant burn in his mind.
As they moved forward, his gaze occasionally drifted toward Veronica. In his thoughts, the idea of recruiting her grew more appealing—almost inevitable. With someone like her, vengeance ceased to be an impossible dream. Still, despite her affable nature giving him confidence, Riley did not dare ask her directly. The fear of saying something wrong—something that might irritate her enough to leave him there and then—kept him silent.
After all, he knew very little about her.
He knew some of her habits, small preferences, recurring gestures. But he ignored what truly drove her. She spoke of having free time, of years before her next hunt… and yet Riley had seen her feed regularly. She hunted often. He did not understand what she truly meant.
Trying to divert his own fear—and perhaps open an opportunity to gain her help against the Cullens—Riley considered striking up a conversation, probing a little further about her. But whatever words might have surfaced died in his throat when the terrain began to feel familiar.
Veronica's eyes narrowed slightly as they reached a road.
Calmly, she pulled a pair of hoods from an old backpack—the same one she usually carried when they moved from place to place—and casually tossed the larger one to Riley.
"From here on, there are more humans," she said. "If we're going to investigate, they might see us. We'd better cover ourselves as much as we can."
Riley let out an annoyed huff. The absence of his arm was conspicuous, no matter how much fabric covered it, but he said nothing. He needed to make sure Veronica stayed in a good mood, especially if they managed to find Victoria.
When they moved a couple more miles ahead, Riley took the lead. The route was etched into his memory from the countless times he had been there, chasing neophytes who tried to escape. The abandoned factory could not be far.
They advanced at a swift pace until the ruined building appeared before them.
From a distance, Riley noticed how much the place had deteriorated: an entire wall was missing, several windows were shattered, and the abandonment was more evident than ever. He drew in a deep breath, trying to steady himself, and turned toward Veronica.
"That was the last place where we—"
The words died in his throat.
Veronica had come to an abrupt halt.
Her expression was one Riley had never seen before. There was rage on her face. A raw, almost feral fury. Her gaze was fixed on the forest stretching behind them. She narrowed her eyes and, like an animal, began to scent the air.
Riley watched her, frozen, for several seconds.
At last, Veronica straightened, and her expression softened again, as if nothing had happened.
Disturbed, Riley whispered,
"What happened?"
She shook her head.
"I think it was just my imagination. I suppose I'm growing a bit impatient to hunt again."
Then, with an abrupt gesture, she shook her head as if brushing the moment aside and turned her attention back to the factory.
"Let's take a look around."
Without waiting for an answer, she started down the hill toward the building. Riley followed at a slower pace, uneasy. The factory was only a few meters away, but with each step, his nerves tightened further.
There was no noise.
No nearby presences.
Nothing felt like it had before, when the place had been full of neophytes.
With growing uncertainty, Riley moved forward, intent on entering… until Veronica stopped him with a firm hand.
"Wait. Stay behind me and don't say a word."
Riley did not understand what was happening until he felt it.
Scents.
For an instant, hope struck him—perhaps there were neophytes inside. But the smell of vampire was different. Much more mature. Heavier. Ancient.
With restrained anticipation, he watched as the factory door slowly opened.
Six vampires emerged from within.
All of them wore imposing black cloaks, perfectly fitted, seeming to absorb the light around them.
They looked paler than any vampires Riley had ever seen, almost ashen. But that was not what truly struck him. It was their presence.
Two of them stood out clearly from the rest. One was large—perhaps even larger than Riley himself—with a powerful build and a confident smile that reminded him of a wild lion. That man radiated crushing certainty, a natural authority that made Riley feel small just by looking at him. The other was a blond girl who could not have been more than fifteen years old. Her appearance was deceptive: her gaze, unsettlingly sharp, seemed to pierce through everything. Though she did not appear particularly strong, the fact that all the vampires around her seemed to orbit her made her seem far more important than her looks suggested.
The large man was the first to speak. His smile widened as he regarded Veronica with interest.
"We almost didn't recognize you… You smell very different. If that scent hadn't piqued my curiosity, I might have leapt to kill you on the spot."
He said it with an easy laugh, as if his words were not disturbing at all.
Veronica, on the other hand, laughed warmly. She dipped into a small bow before the girl, then answered the man.
"I don't doubt it, Felix. Not at all," she said lightly. "Forgive the scent. It's an old habit of mine to mask my aroma when I'm not hunting. After all, you never know when you might get lucky and run into those vermin."
The last word was spoken with a dark expression that quickly faded, replaced by an almost ironic smile.
"It's better if I can catch them off guard, isn't it?"
Felix laughed, clearly amused by the remark. However, his laughter faded when the girl stepped forward. Her voice emerged cold, devoid of any goodwill that might have formed between them.
"Aro sent us to investigate the vampires who were here," she said. "Do you know anything about it, Veronica?"
Something clicked in Riley's mind at that instant.
Panic hit him full force.
Although the name Felix had set off a few alarms, he had dismissed it as a simple coincidence—after all, it wasn't such a rare name. But the name Aro, on the other hand, was unique, burned into his memory after the countless warnings Victoria had given him when they began forming the army.
The Volturi.
Veronica seemed to hesitate for a second. She cast a brief sideways glance at Riley before replying in a more subdued tone.
"The boy traveling with me was part of that coven. We're looking for clues as well, Lady Jane."
A shiver ran down Riley's spine when the blond girl's eyes settled on him. Jane studied him for several seconds, evaluating him, before delivering her verdict with absolute indifference:
"That group drew far too much attention. They must all die. Felix, take care of it."
After those words, Jane looked away, as if the matter were already settled.
Without wasting a second, Felix began to advance toward Riley.
But then Veronica stepped forward, placing herself between them, speaking with restrained urgency:
"One moment, please, Lady Jane…"
The girl's eyes immediately locked onto Veronica.
Riley caught the instant when his companion's mask of calm shattered under that gaze—just for a heartbeat, almost imperceptible—before she gathered herself enough to continue speaking.
"This boy was abandoned by his coven quite some time ago," she said firmly. "We have strong suspicions that his group was wiped out by another. He could be a key piece in discovering what actually happened."
Riley was impressed by how easily Veronica constructed that story. For a moment, he even wondered whether, from the very beginning, her intention had been to eliminate the neophytes had she found them still alive. Whatever the case, her words managed to spark Jane's interest; the girl raised an eyebrow slightly before responding:
"Another group?"
Veronica caught that interest instantly and added quickly:
"Yes. Another coven. Not far from here. From what the boy told me, they call themselves the Cullens."
The name had an immediate effect.
Jane's attention returned to Riley, watching him with unsettling expectation, as if waiting for him to confirm or add something. Riley hesitated. All he wanted was to find Victoria, but the situation had taken a turn that left him paralyzed with panic. He almost blurted out a question, tempted to ask whether that group had any clue about his coven—and, by extension, about Victoria.
But Veronica shot him a stern look before he could make any misstep.
Nothing more needed to be said. The message was clear: stay silent.
With calculated calm, Veronica spoke again.
"From what this boy has told me, the Cullens are involved in something strange. I don't deny that his coven may have drawn too much attention… but I'm certain Aro will be interested in knowing exactly what this child saw."
Riley did not fully understand what she meant, but he chose to swallow his doubts.
Jane watched him for several long seconds. Then, finally, she nodded, a malicious gleam igniting in her eyes.
"The Cullens…," she repeated. "Very well, Veronica."
Her tone was dangerous, almost indulgent.
"For your services to the Volturi, we'll give the boy a chance to speak with Aro. But if this turns out to be a waste of time… your fate will be the same as his."
Veronica hesitated for barely a second. She looked at Riley, and a shadow of doubt crossed her face—one he had never seen before. At last, she nodded, though with some reluctance.
Without another word, the group began to move.
They left the factory at full speed, abandoning the ruins behind them… and with them, Victoria's trail.
Riley moved forward, escorted by the hooded figures, his heart clenched, trapped between frustration and panic, aware that each step carried him farther from her… and dragged him straight toward something far worse.
........................................................
The remainder of the journey unfolded in a strange, almost unreal way.
Riley was certain that only a few minutes had passed since he was escorted to a private jet discreetly hidden within the city, and perhaps only a handful of hours of flight toward a destination he did not know at all. And yet, for him, time stretched until it felt like entire days.
Being surrounded by those vampires—even with Veronica present—felt far too much like standing in the middle of a pack of wolves again. He shrank back in his seat every time a gaze fell upon him, no matter how brief. His body reacted before his mind, tensing on pure instinct.
More than once, his eyes drifted toward Veronica. He hoped she would tell him what to say, what to do when facing the leader of the Volturi, that she would at least offer him a story, a version of events convincing enough to keep them from destroying him on the spot.
But Veronica did none of that.
She simply stared absently out the window, not sparing him a single glance for the entire journey.
When the plane landed, the group moved with relentless speed. The streets they passed through immediately caught Riley's attention: ancient, elegant constructions with an almost Victorian air that made him frown. He did not know exactly where he was, but from the length of the flight, he was certain they were no longer in America.
It did not take long to reach the side entrance of an imposing building. To Riley's eyes, it resembled a church in the majesty of its structure, though it was clearly larger than any he had ever seen, even in photographs.
Before he could stop to take in more, the group pressed on, and Veronica seized him by the arm, forcing him to move without a single word. They crossed through the side entrance and descended into a series of dark tunnels, where the only sound was the echo of their footsteps against stone.
Straining his senses to the utmost, Riley caught hints of voices and movement beyond the corridors. People. Many people. The scent confirmed it immediately: humans. Far from calming him, it only deepened his unease. Amid that sea of human smells, the unmistakable trace of a vampire surfaced now and then, mixed in like an invisible shadow.
After several minutes, the tunnels ceased to be gloomy and began to transform into elegantly furnished halls. The walls were adorned with works of art, ancient tapestries, and magnificent sculptures. One in particular caught Riley's attention: three men of aristocratic bearing, haughty gazes, and piercing red eyes.
Vampires.
They continued forward until they stopped before an imposing door. From the other side, Riley could hear several voices in conversation. Without a word, Felix stepped forward and opened the door, allowing the rest of the group to enter.
Veronica tugged Riley forward, but just before crossing the threshold, she stopped him.
Her eyes locked onto his, and for the first time since he had known her, her expression was dangerous. There was no trace of lightness or humor left on her face.
"If it turns out that everything you told me is a lie," she said in a low, razor-sharp voice, "you can be certain that I'll kill you myself before they do."
Riley was left stunned.
"I made the mistake of putting my reputation on the line for you," she continued. "But don't misunderstand me. I won't hesitate to kill you if you interfere with my mission."
Riley did not fully understand what she meant. But the weight of her words was more than enough to shake him to his core. He nodded quickly, unable to form any response, and crossed the threshold.
His mind was a chaos of thoughts. He did not know what Veronica expected him to say to the Volturi. He did not know which version of the story would be enough to save him.
But all those thoughts vanished the instant he lifted his gaze.
Three thrones rose at the center of the vast hall.
And upon them, three vampires watched him with an unsettling mix of curiosity and annoyance.
Though the chamber was filled with vampires, those three on the thrones stood out overwhelmingly.
The group that had entered quickly dispersed, retreating to the walls until they formed a wide circle. Even Jane stepped aside, taking her place beside another boy who appeared to be her age. He wore a frivolous, almost bored expression as he observed the newcomers. He gave Jane only a slight nod before crossing his arms and directing his attention toward the vampires on the thrones.
The three leaders interrupted their conversation as soon as the group crossed the threshold. Their gazes swept over those present with calculated calm, pausing for a moment on Riley before shifting to Veronica. A spark of recognition crossed all three faces… and then the one in the center—the one who clearly radiated authority—formed a smile meant to be cordial, but which, to Riley, was deeply unsettling.
"Ahh… what do we have here?" he remarked, drawing out the words with an amused tone, like that of a father discovering his children plotting something interesting.
He descended from his throne with light steps and approached Veronica, clearly pleased by the surprise.
"The beautiful Veronica, I see," he continued, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "But I believe your last hunt was quite recent, was it not? I'm afraid you'll have to wait at least another decade before attempting it again. After all, Dimitri is proving quite useful in other matters."
Veronica inclined her head slightly in a gesture of respect. Just as she was about to respond, Jane's cold voice cut in without hesitation.
"She didn't come for that," she said flatly. "We found her at the location you asked us to investigate. She's accompanied by a vampire who was involved with the coven that had been drawing too much attention."
At once, one of the vampires on the thrones—the blond one, with a hard gaze and an angry expression—rose to his feet.
"Brother!" he exclaimed furiously, addressing the one who seemed to be the leader. "It appears the guard is failing in its duties if they dare bring this filth here instead of eliminating them on the spot!"
The vampire in the center raised an eyebrow calmly… until the bored, apathetic voice of the third member, who had remained seated the entire time, interjected.
"Caius, I doubt Jane failed in her task," he remarked without emotion. "There must be something of interest if Veronica came accompanied by this vampire."
The blond vampire scowled, clearly ready to retort, but the leader slowly raised a hand. The gesture alone was enough to impose silence. Caius returned to his seat stiffly.
"I'm afraid I must agree with Marcus in this matter, brother," the leader said with an entertained smile. "After all, the twins have proven to be more than infallible in every assignment they've been given."
A satisfied, almost smug smile appeared on both Jane's face and that of the boy who accompanied her.
It was then that Veronica stepped forward. Her posture was respectful, her voice measured, laden with carefully calculated submission.
"Lord Aro," she said, inclining her head slightly. "The boy traveling with me witnessed something that I am certain will spark your interest."
Aro raised a hand, stopping her words at once.
His eyes slid over to rest on Riley, studying him with an intense, almost tangible curiosity.
He scrutinized him for a few seconds, until his voice sounded almost theatrically sorrowful as his gaze shifted back to Veronica.
"I doubt that a vampire so recently turned… still nearly smelling of a neophyte… has anything of interest to offer. But I do not blame you for wanting to shield him in some way. After all, you have gone quite some time without company. On this occasion, I will allow you to leave. I am sure Dimitri would be very saddened if anything were to happen to you… His hunts are particularly pleasurable to him."
With that, he turned away and returned to his throne with calculated disinterest, as if the matter no longer concerned him.
Felix, who had remained silent until then, understood the command without the need for words and began to advance slowly toward Riley.
Veronica noticed at once. She stepped forward to speak, but a strangled cry tore from her lips, and she collapsed to the floor, writhing. Jane, with a faint, barely perceptible smile, kept her gaze fixed on her as her gift took effect.
Riley watched the scene in horror. Seeing a vampire as powerful as Veronica brought low in a matter of seconds allowed panic to seize him completely, while Felix continued to approach with an almost bored calm.
His mind scrambled desperately for an escape. He thought of running, but dismissed the idea at once. He did not know where he was, and he was certain any of the vampires present could tear him apart before he took a single step.
With his thoughts tangled by panic, he remembered Veronica's words: he had something interesting to say to Aro. Clinging to that single possibility, he spoke in a rush.
"Wait! We didn't do anything wrong! We only turned a few people!"
Felix was already too close.
"We had to! They killed her brother! There were more of them than her! Victoria needed help!"
With a casual motion, Felix grabbed him by the throat and slammed him brutally into the floor. Riley felt his vertebrae crunch under the pressure, and a choked groan escaped his throat. Even so, he managed to whisper, as the sound of marble cracking intensified:
"Victoria deserved her vengeance against those damned Cullens…"
His voice cut off abruptly when Aro narrowed his eyes and gestured for Felix to stop.
Aro turned his attention back to Riley, this time with renewed curiosity. Taking it as a sign, Riley continued speaking, desperate.
"Those Cullens were too strong… I just wanted a chance to take revenge. I wanted them to suffer for what they did to her brother. That's the only reason we formed the army…"
Riley noticed Aro's interest beginning to wane and hurried to add, almost pleading:
"Please! At least let me finish off the humans who are with them! I'll go to hell gladly if I can at least give Victoria peace that way!"
The request fell over the chamber like a stone slab. A heavy silence seized everyone present. Even Jane withdrew her gift, allowing Veronica to slowly pull herself upright.
A fascinated smile spread across Aro's face. With barely contained excitement, he extended his hands toward Riley, inviting him closer.
But Riley did not understand the gesture.
With a single movement, Felix lifted him by the throat and set him on his feet before the throne.
Aro spoke in a tone charged with euphoria as he approached.
"Show me."
Without waiting for a response, he took Riley's only hand in his own and closed his eyes with evident delight.
The hall fell into absolute silence, while Aro's face passed through a succession of expressions ranging from pure astonishment to a deeply unsettling euphoria.
Everyone fell silent as Aro concluded whatever it was he had been doing. When he finally opened his eyes, a malicious smile crossed his face for barely a second—fleeting enough that only Riley noticed it. Immediately, that expression was replaced by an afflicted, almost solemn look as he raised his hands with theatrical flair.
"Brothers…"
He paused for a long moment before continuing, lowering his voice until it became a grave, weight-laden murmur.
"Indeed, our guest has committed a crime that, under normal circumstances, would be unforgivable. However, even knowing that his life was in danger by coming here, he came to us willingly to inform us of something far more alarming."
The vampires present watched Aro with near-religious fascination. The silence was absolute. Aro, fully aware that he held the room's complete attention, continued with measured calm.
"A member of our vampiric society… or rather, a brother with whom we ourselves have coexisted."
His tone was tinged with a sadness that did not seem entirely feigned.
"Has broken two of our most sacred laws."
The anticipation became nearly unbearable. Aro did not keep them waiting any longer.
"The members of our dear Carlisle Cullen's coven not only revealed their vampiric nature to two humans… beyond that, one of them—the young Edward—dared to protect the food of our poor guest."
He said the last part while gesturing elegantly toward Riley, almost compassionately.
"And if that were not enough… if the mere act of revealing themselves to humans and preventing a member of our community from feeding without leaving witnesses were not already grounds for condemnation…"
He paused again, letting the weight of his words settle.
"They have also allied themselves with our natural enemies."
An uneasy murmur rippled through the chamber.
"They have allied themselves with what I can only describe as a rare species of Children of the Moon."
A collective gasp rose among those present. Caius leapt to his feet, visibly shaken and furious, but Aro raised a hand, demanding silence. When he spoke again, his voice held none of its former warmth.
"But we cannot indiscriminately condemn a coven without hearing their version of events, can we?"
His gaze slid toward Felix and the guard accompanying him.
"We will give the Cullens the opportunity to… explain themselves."
Aro leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming authoritative, unquestionable.
"Felix. You will complete your remaining duties and proceed immediately to Forks. You will kill the human named Charlie Swan and bring before me the two vampires who interacted directly with the humans, so that I may determine how guilty they truly are."
His eyes gleamed with particular interest as he added, with dangerous calm:
"You will bring Edward Cullen… and the dear Alice Cullen."