Beyond the Dawn (Life and Death, Book II)

22. INTRODUCED

There was so much to think about; I thought my head was going to explode. How would I find the time to escape to Seattle without anyone knowing what I was doing? And it killed me not knowing exactly what I would be doing there. Did I need to take Luca with me, or go alone?

What were we going to say to all the people who would be coming here in just a few short hours? Ask them to stand with us and die when the time came? Anyone else associated with us would be murdered as well. Would they even try to fight the Volturi back? Would we fight back?

I didn't even know what to do in a fight. The only physical confrontation I'd been in was with Riley, and she'd been just as new at it as I was. Was there even a chance at all, with what little time I had, to learn to be a fighter? One who would possibly be a threat to any of the Volturi? There were so many answers I wanted that couldn't be given.

"Edythe, what are we supposed to do when it comes down to it? We can't just stand there helplessly while they burn us," I finally said when the tension boiled over within me.

"We'd be helpless no matter what we did, Beau, if it came down to it," she sighed.

"But Eleanor said if we put up enough of a fight, they'd have to listen to us for just a few seconds," I insisted.

"It never comes to a fight. No one ever gets the chance. Remember what I said about them being a collection of the best talents in the world?"

I nodded.

"The cornerstone of the Volturi offense are their two youngest members, Jasen and Alexandra," Edythe told me. "Alexandra has the ability to completely incapacitate someone from a great distance. All of your senses are cut off entirely. You probably don't even feel anything when they rip you apart."

I shivered. Yeah, that would definitely explain the lack of trial and debate. So was that the best we could hope for? Some sort of supernatural anesthetic?

I sighed. "Huh... It actually surprises me that they'd show any sort of mercy like that."

"It's really more for the sake of avoiding conflict. They can inflict all the torture in the world if they so wish. The girl's twin brother, Jasen, does the opposite. He can incapacitate you with the worst pain you've ever experienced. It's said to be worse than the pain of the venom. He just has to look at you, and you feel like you're on fire. They were both there the other day in the clearing. In fact, most of the rest of the guard sits there bored while the twins do their work."

Great. Supernatural anesthesia and psychic flamethrower. That's what we were up against.

A curious idea popped into my head then. "But do you think Alexandra and Jasen are very good fighters? Like, since they can put a man on the ground without touching him, would they even know what to do in a fight without their powers?"

"I'm not sure. Why would they need to? The Volturi has plenty of fighters."

"I hate to brag on myself, but I'm doubting that stuff would work on me. Would it? Because it's all in your head, right? They've probably never even tried fighting someone the way the rest of us do..."

"That's... an intriguing thought. But you definitely don't want to test that theory out. Besides that, if Sulpicia sees you do something like that, there will be no way she won't steal you from us right then and there. Remember what Elena said. Your gift would be the ultimate prize to someone like her."

I jumped to my feet as the ideas came at me. "What if it distracts her? What if I could offer myself as some sort of trade? I could save all of us..." I let the thought trail off.