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Focused Madness	By : fusedtwilight Category: Twilight Series > General Views: 3772 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
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Focused Madness
Chapter 25

Fusedtwilight: Thanks to my beta animegirlkiki for her review. In this chapter The Volturi and our heroes join forces and Leah makes a choice you won't see coming.

Fred P.O.V
I looked at the faces of the Volturi, the faces of her murderers.
I clenched my fists tight together and fought back a snarl. I had to keep calm and composed. I could not give them any excuse what so ever to harm anyone. Not the Cullens, the Denali coven, Nahuel his aunt, the wolves or Leah.
Before we arrived I activated my power. I sent out the smallest wave of repulsion into their minds. Just enough so they would not see me. My power touched the part of their minds that dealt with revulsion. I made it so they did not want to see me, it was so subtitle they would not even notice they were missing something. I was the proverbial elephant in the room.
The man Aro rose and clapped his hands together, welcoming us to Volterra. I knew who he was from the paintings Carlisle had. Caius was glaring at the wolves, hatred obvious in his eyes. Marcus. Marcus looked bored. He was looking off to the side, like he was seeing something the rest of us couldn't.
“Come now everyone, don't be so tense. The Cullens come to help us this time,” Aro said to his guard.
“So they claim,” Caius said.
“Aro, what I have told you about the boy and the danger of Joham is true,” Carlisle said. “Alice has had a vision of this city burning to the ground, a result of Joham's schemes to use his children to take you out.”
“Preposterous!” Caius growled, “as if a bunch of half-breeds could stand against us. Thousands of vampires have fallen to our might, how could one man and his spawn take us down?”
A ripple of murmuring filled the room. The guards agreed.
“Why else would we come here, Caius?” Carlisle asked calmly.
“Maybe to settle an old score?”
“Don't be ridiculous, even if I wanted to kill you and your coven why would I tell you ahead of time I was coming? Why would I come with so few vampires?”
“But why would you help us? After our last encounter you should be happy we are dead and some man is filling the world with more of your precious hybrids. How do we know you have not joined forces with him and while we prattle now he marches on to us now? You have proven to be capable of joining forces with our enemies before, I recall the Romanians with you that night.”
“Despite what happened years ago, we know the importance the Volturi has to our world. Without you then the nomads will have nothing keeping them in check. It won't be long before they start fighting for territory all over the world. How many humans will die? How many newborns will be made as a result? How long before the humans learn of us?”
“How long indeed,” Aro said.
“Aro, you do not believe this, are you?” Caius asked.

“Come now Caius, this has to be more than a hoax.” he stepped forward and offered his hand to Carlisle.
Carlisle knew what to do next. He took Aro's hand and I watched as Carlisle showed Aro everything. There were times when his eyes widened in amazement and a crooked smile crossed his lips.
He let go of Carlise's hand and addressed the guard.
“My children, I fear what Carlisle and his friends say is true. We are about to be attacked by an old foe!”
The room began to buzz like angry bees. I saw Tanya and Kate holding hands looking tense and angry. The first time they met the Volturi they killed her mother, the second time they took her sister. There was some bad blood between the Denali sisters and the Volturi. I can only imagine the will it took them to come here and help protect the ones who took so much from them.
“Caius you asked how Joham with his army of hybrids will do what no vampire has done? Well I will tell you. There is a child, a wonderful, beautiful boy who dances between the lines of madness and sanity. He is a hybrid, but he has a power unlike anything we have ever seen, a gift so great it could be used to wipe us out in a single night!”
He paused for dramatic effect. I looked over to Leah who had a sad look on her face. The way Aro described Matthew struck something in her.
“A gift so powerful and complex why...” he walked over to Eleazar and extended his hand. “I must ask the expert on such things.”
Eleazar held out his and and Aro took it eagerly. The look on his face was like a child watching his favorite Saturday morning cartoon.
He let go and a huge grin was plastered on his face. “A psychic-lens. A being who can manipulate the mental energies of the mind. Like Chelsea and Marcus, he can see and manipulate emotional bonds, in fact I dare say he is stronger than either.”
Marcus did not seem to care someone was better at whatever it was he could do, Chelsea however looked a little miffed.
“He can sense and manipulate emotions, to him every single emotion has a color and he see's these aura's. Can you imagine what that must be like? The beauty? The symmetry? But it is one aspect of his gift that I am sure you will all love. His power allows him to make those of us who are gifted stronger. He can take our power and break down the limits we have.”
Looks of surprise and awe crossed many faces. I could almost hear many guards wondering what their gifts were like with no limits.
“In fact Jane, you have met this boy.”
He looked to a small girl with brunet colored hair. She stood next to a boy who looked very similar to her and I knew I was looking at Bree's killer.
“Remember, in South America?”
Jane's eyes which had been empty and neutral flared with anger and remembrance.
“He made your gift so powerful, the pain you inflicted on him shattered his mind,” Aro went on.
A sick smile flashed on her face. The idea of breaking someone's mind pleased her immensely. A snarl escaped my lips but it was meek compared to the growl that escaped Leah's mouth. She bared her teeth at Jane and the boy next top her, who must be her twin Alec narrowed his eyes at her. Jane looked at Leah and it was smug, almost like she was taunting her.
“Carlisle, control the bitch before we put her in her place,” Caius said, sneering at us.
Leah glared at him and the hate they were sending one another through their eyes at one another was so intense there should have been fire.
“Easy now Caius. Leah is very close with the boy, aren't you Leah?”
“Yes, he is my charge,” Leah said proudly.
I thought he was going to do to her what he did to Eleazar. Instead he went to Edward and Edward already had his hand out, ready and waiting. Aro took it and smiled.
“Such a wonderful gift,” Aro said. I did not know if he meant Edwards or Matthew's. “The world is so open to him, so beautiful. I wish I could see what he sees all the time. To see into the soul of a person.”
Aro must be looking into Edward's memories of when he read Matthew's mind.
“But he is not the only one who you have found that is quit gifted. Show yourself Fred.”
I did as he asked. I lowered the field and soon the room was filled with angry snarls as I appeared. Aro did not snarl but did grin.
“Hello Fred,” he said.
I nodded in greeting. “Jane, do you recall when I sent you to deal with that newborn army growing in Seattle?”
“Yes master, they were all killed.”
“No, you missed one.”
Aro pointed at me and Jane glared at me. Like it was my fault she did a sloppy job and I just embarrassed her in front of her boss.
“Then the Cullens are guilty of harboring a fugitive!” Caius said sounding delighted.
Many of the guard leaned forward, looking eager. Waiting to be told they could attack.
“Not quite.”
He held out his hand and with a little trepidation I took it. I expected to feel him inside my mind, but I felt nothing. I made sure I showed him images of how I have gone over to the Cullen way of life, how with Leah I helped raise Matthew. How controlled he was, how not dangerous.
Aro let go and addressed the guard.
“Normally we punish those who break our laws. But young Fred here is not guilty, in fact he is a victim. The vampire who turned him used him and the others. Manipulated him and tried to control him. But unlike the others who so easily fell for the deception Fred ran before he could be used and never once did he make a spectacle of himself. He never knew we existed, his creator was just using him and hoping we would kill him for her. Fred has done nothing to break our laws.”
I saw Leah sigh in relief.
“And I doubt we could have found him even with Demitri's talent.”
A vampire with black chin length hair looked startled.
“See, Fred has a power that makes an aura of utter revulsion so powerful, he can cause a room full of newborns to flee his presence, paralyze them with revulsion or even make it so the very thought of him makes you ill and you will not think of it. Dmitri, if you try to track him and he wills it you will find yourself to revolted to track him.”
Demitri looked me up and down like he was not impressed.
“In fact Fred has been helping Leah protect Matthew for all these years.” he walked over to Leah and she grabbed his hand before he could raise it. Some of the guard growled and Aro seemed surprised at how Leah just grabbed him.
Many of the guards glared at her and some looked at Aro with worry in their eyes. I wonder if they suspect the devotion they feel for him is a result of Chelsea's power?
Aro just smiled and he read her mind. His face tightened and he stared into her eyes, like he saw something he respected.
“Life has not been kind to you, child,” Aro said.
“It has its moments,” she said.
“You want impossible things child. You should be content with what you have and stop trying to attain what is not yours to have.”
She pulled her hand out of his and Aro addressed the guard. Allow me to introduce Leah Clearwater, former beta to Jacob Black, lone alpha wolf, would be mother to a hybrid, and the only female shape-shifter to ever exist, oh wait, you’re not the first.”
“What?” Leah asked surprised.
Aro laughed when he saw the look of surprise on everyone's face. “Come now, do you not recall my words when last we met?”
“When you revealed we are not werewolves, you called us shape-shifters,” Jake said.
“Exactly Jacob. Have none of you researched what I meant? Why the world is filled with stories of beings who could turn into all kinds of animals, wolves, panthers, eagles, jaguars, fish, snakes, you name it. Now as much as this might surprise you the Quileute tribe is not the only tribe, clan, or people to have guardians. All over the world, throughout history shape-shifters have existed. See during the early days of humanity, before technology when humans were still in harmony with nature there were those who learned to share the body of an animal. Now sometimes as a result of war, a desire to protect, or some other factor the two spirits would merge and volla a shape-shifter was born. As it happened with your Taha Aki. Nice story by the way.”
Aro grinned at Leah and she glared at him darkly, not happy he knew her tribe’s secrets.
“Now-a-days shape-shifters are descendants of those ancient beings who shared their souls with the great beasts. All to serve a purpose. To protect. See my friends, it was not just us you are protecting your tribe from. Shape-shifters protect their tribe from any danger, as you have done, taking care of those pesky drug dealers. Killing us was not what you were born to do my silly friends, you exist as a bridge between man and beast, between civility and savagery, you exist to protect your people from any and all danger.”
“Have you encountered many shape-shifters before?” Embry asked curiously.
“My boy, I was ancient when Christ was being pinned down to the cross. I actually have the same lance they used to pierce his side, you should check out our gallery while you are here,” he said. “But yes I have met a few shape-shifters here and there. Do not think yours is the only one that still exists. The only reason you have met none is because shape-shifters travel with the people they protect, they never travel away unless they must. Tell me, when was the last time a wolf of your tribe ever left? Ever went to live somewhere us when there was no need to? Leah left to protect the boy, but when was the last time a wolf ever left La Push?”
“As interesting as the mongrels are, what about this boy?” Caius cut in.
“Yes. Well, Joham will use his son to increase the power of his daughter Seraphina. She can create and control fire. With Matthew increasing her ability I do not doubt she will not be able to do it,” Carlisle said.
Aro walked over to Alice. He smiled warmly at her, like a father looking at his favorite child, or a man looking at something he wanted badly. Aro held out his hand and Alice took it. He wrapped his hand around Alice's, I could see the greed on his face as he drank in her memories, her visions.
Jasper did not look happy and I did not feel happy either. I did not like how he looked at her, how he held her hand. I wanted to kill him and be done with it, I wanted to kill him to keep Alice safe.
Jasper must be projecting his emotions because when Esme put her hand on his shoulder the feelings stopped.
Aro let go and for once he looked shaken, unnerved even.
“What they say is true, I have seen the destruction of our coven, of our city, I see fire and death and I see us brought low by a single child.”
The guard began to buzz angrily again.
“Then this means war!” Caius roared.
Many of the guard cheered to what Caius said.
Aro raised a hand and they quieted down.
“Yes, there will be a war. But this is not like before, Caius. Despite their origins these hybrids are powerful, gifted. Matthew alone could defeat us with his power. Imagine it, what if Joham had his son instigate a homicidal rage upon us all? With a single order his son could make us kill each other as if we were unruly newborns,” Aro said.
“All the guards we have that are gifted and you are telling me not a single one of them can stop this abomination?” Caius asked.
“He is not an abomination!” Leah growled at him. “His name is Matthew, have you got that pretty boy?”
Caius stood up, anger radiated from him. “I will not be disrespected in my home by some wolf-bitch!”
Leah took a step forward. “Come say that to my face and I will teach you to fear shape-shifters as well.”
It looked like there was going to be a fight. Caius's muscles tensed like he was about to spring forth. But Aro stopped him.
“Enough Caius, kill her and you risk killing our only weapon,” Aro said.
“What?” Caius asked.
“Leah has powerful connections to the boy, right Leah?” Aro asked with a kind smile.
“Yes,” Leah said through gritted teeth.
“She may be the only one hear who can put some sense into his head. Like it or not we need help Caius, help from the wolves, help from the Cullen's and the Denali coven.”
“What? We do not need their help!” Caius said.
“Yes we do Caius. Imagine it, we meet them on the battlefield and Leach communes with the boy and convinces him to turn on Joham? And Bella is the only one who his power can not affect. We need their help; we are dealing with a foe that has an army to match us both in skill and power. We need all the help we can get.”
He clapped his hands together and a single female guard stepped forward.
“Heidi, will take you to the rooms we have prepared. We must talk, we will call for you later.”
“Please follow me,” Heidi said.
We followed Heidi and I glanced back at Aro, he was facing Caius and Marcus but I could swear he was smiling.
Heidi led us down another hall and up a flight of stairs. She told us each of the rooms we were given, we were all paired up.
Carlisle, Esme.
Edward, Bella.
Jasper, Alice.
Rose, Emmett.
Eleazar, Carmen.
Garrett, Kate.
Me and Leah.
Jake, Embry and Quil.
Nahuel and his aunt.
And Tanya and Seth.
Heidi left us to settle in and we all stood in the hallway and began to go to our rooms to settle in. I followed Leah into our room. It was huge and extravagant. Leah's bags were at the foot of the bed.
“Better not have gone through my stuff,” she muttered.
I put my hand on her arm. “Leah, are you okay? That little spat with Caius was-”
“Stupid, I know,” she said.
“I was going to say cool, but a little risky too.”
“I know. But when he called Matthew an abomination something in me snapped. I was pissed Aro was in my mind and knows all about my secrets. Hearing Caius go off on Matthew just pissed me off,” she said.
I wrapped my hands around her and kissed her on the top of her head. “We need to be careful Leah; these people are our only hope.”
“You're right, if you can do it then so can I. But you saw what Aro was like when he was reading our minds, he is going to try and take Matthew from us.”
“He won't get the chance. You heard him; he needs our help, once we get him you and me run. I can keep us hidden, with Matthew amping my power they can never find us.”
“Forever is a long time to hide,” she said.
“I know. But we can do it.”
There was a knock on the door. Leah went and opened it, I knew from the heart beat it had to be one of the wolves. Seth stood there, not looking happy.
“Seth what is it?” Leah asked.
“Alice has been watching the Volturi since we arrived. They have been discussing what to do about Matthew.”
“They have come to a decision haven't they?”
“Yes, we need to get ready, they are sending Heidi to come and get us now.”
“Shit, we'll be ready.”

Leah P.O.V
It was ten minutes after Seth warned us Heidi reappeared.
“My masters have reached a decision, they wish to address you all,” she said.
We all followed her back to the main hall. All the guards were still there. Aro was sitting down in his throne. I had tried to get Alice to tell me what they had decided but she refused to say. It did not bode well for me.
“Welcome back, everyone. Sorry to have you return so soon but we have come to a decision. We will accept your offer for help,” Aro said.
“Thank you Aro,” Carlisle said.
“But as for the matter of the boy, that is a different matter all together,” Caius said with a smile that made my stomach feel like it was in an icy grip.
“What do you mean?” I demanded.
“Fear not Leah, we will not kill young Matthew,” Aro said. “But I am afraid we will not be returning him to you.”
“What!?” I took a step forward but Fred caught my hand. “What do you mean you won't be returning him?” I demanded.
“As much as we appreciate you helping us I am afraid that we have decided that Matthew is too much for any of you to handle,” Aro said.
“Oh and you can?” I asked snarkly.
“I think we are better equipped to handle him then you are,” he said.
“That's a load of shit!”
“Is it? Had you been a better protector the boy would not have been stolen in the first place,” Caius said with a sneer.
I felt like I had been slapped in the face. I wanted to phase so bad and rip him apart, but that would dumb. But it still felt like a good idea.
“I am afraid Caius has a point. The child is too strong to be allowed to run around unchecked. That power of his makes him too dangerous. We have decided the best place for him is with us.”
“No! Absolutely not you can't do this, you have no right to him!” I argued.
“Neither do you beast,” Caius said.
“No right? I have every right you megalomaniac! I have sacrificed for him, I have fed him, clothed him, treated him like he was my own son. I have more right to him then anyone else in this room!”
“You're obsession with him is obscene. It goes against nature itself!” Caius argued.
“We all go against nature; our very existence is odd!”
“Please sir,” Fred said speaking to Aro, the sanest person here. “Leah and I looked after him for two years and we did a fine job. Had it not been for his sisters finding him we would have lived peacefully. Please don't take him from us now.”
“I am sorry Fred, but if he can give a single individual power to destroy us then he is to much a risk for us to ignore. When the child Matthew is found he will be brought to us. We will take care of him,” Aro said.
“Take care of him? You don't know how to take care of a child, especially one with needs like his, all you know how to do is manipulate and destroy!” I roared.
“Enough of this, remove her from our sight!” Caius said.
Two guards moved forward, the wolves tensed and gathered around me protectively. The guards continued forward but then they stopped. They let out snarls and covered their faces. I don't blame them. The smell of vampire which filled the air seemed so much worse, I seriously thought I was going to throw up.
The guys let out gagging sounds and were looking at anything but me. I covered my own face but the revulsion was still there. I felt Fred grab my shoulder in a tight grip. “I will take her,” he said.
He led me out of the hall quickly. He opened one of the doors and closed it behind him.
“Fred, what the hell!” I said shaking his shoulder off, the revulsion was dissipating now.
“I should be asking you the same question Leah, you are provoking them!” he said looking angry.
“They are going to take him from us Fred!”
“I know, but we have to remain calm Leah.” he put his hands on my face, cupping my cheeks gently in his hand. “We are on shaky ground right now Leah. If we let out emotions get out of control we may lose any chance we have to get him back. They may not let us help find Matthew.”
I leaned into his touch, taking comfort from the cold of his hands. “I know, I know. But hearing them say what we are doing is unnatural, and making it seem like we did a horrible job raising him.”
“We did not do a horrible job Leah, had his sisters not come it would have continued to be wonderful.”
“I keep getting this image in my mind Fred, Matthew in one of those fucking black cloaks they wear, him standing next to Aro all blank faced and obedient like a dog. I can't let that happen Fred, I won't. I'd rather see Matthew dead before that happens!”
“Leah!” he said looking horrified.
“I know, I am horrible for saying that. I hate myself for thinking that but it's true. I can't bear the thought of him with Aro, that's a fate worse then death, Aro will never let him go and I won't let them make him into a monster.”
“Enough! I will hear no more of this Leah, we will save him, do you hear me? We will save him and Aro will never get his hands on him! So stop talking like that, he is our son, our boy, how can you talk like this?”
“Because it's true. Could you let Aro have him? If you had a choice between killing him and letting Aro have him what would you chose?”
“I won't make such a decision because there will be no need to make one. You need to stop thinking about these things and get your head back in the game!”
I growled at him and pulled out of his grasp. “My head is in the game Fred, don't tell me it isn't!”
“Well when you start speaking like that I doubt it!”
We glared at one another, the first real fight we have ever had.
As horrible and monstrous as I felt for thinking such things. The idea of Matthew as Aro's pet of the millennium made a dark feeling of horror wash over my very soul. The thought of my sweet, loving, cheerful little boy turned into an apathetic monster was beyond comprehension.
It was my job to protect him. I was a mother. Mothers love, care, nurture, protect. But sometimes to protect our children, that means sometimes we have to do things that normally we would damn others for doing.
I could not bear the thought of Aro having him, because I know he would transform him into something that was not the Matthew I knew and loved. But could I do it? Could I take his life?
Could I take the life of someone I loved so, even if it was to save them from a life of evil and damnation. What would it do to me? For if I were to kill Matthew, even to save his soul, I would die too.
But as Fred said I still had hope to save Matthew from Joham and Aro. Still had the chance to take him home and kiss him and smother him with love.
But should the chips fall down and I have to chose to surrendering him to Aro, or making the ultimate sacrifice and keep him pure and innocent, safe from the madness of men and their ambitions.
Maybe I was a monster for thinking such thoughts. I may be a monster, but I am also a mother. And sometimes we have to protect our children from everything, including life itself.

Fred and I sat in a small room with the secretary.
We were silent, not having spoken a single word to one another.
The man at the desk offered us refreshments and what not to which we refused. He was polite enough for a lackey. He was going over some paper work at his desk and every once in a while would answer the phone, say something in Italian and redirect the call.
After an hour everyone came walking out either looking grim or angry. We stood up and greeted them. “What did we miss?” I asked.
“We tried to convince Aro not to keep Matthew from you, we all vouched for you but he refused us,” Carlisle said.
“Damn it!” I growled.
“What now?” Fred asked.
“They are preparing to send some of their guard to seek out Matthew. They want you to go with them,” Edward said.
“Damn right,” I said.
“Of course we would not dare exclude you,” a voice sneered.
They parted and the guy at the desk stood at attention. Caius came strolling forward, glaring at everyone.
“We will be sending Felix, Jane, Alec, Demitri, Chelsea, Corin, and Afton with you. You're brothers have requested to go as well.”
“I wish to go as well,” Fred said. “My gift will help us greatly.”
“No, you may not,” Caius said.
“What why not?” I demanded.
“Because it would be over kill. This is a recovery mission not a full scale purge. Aro believes you and the guard we have selected are all we require to bring the little brat back.”
“But we don't know where he is,” I said.
“You forget, Demitri has the scent of Joham and his daughters, he will sniff them out, now I suggest you get ready, we leave within the hour.” Caius said.
He turned and left, looking glad to be leaving.
As soon as I was sure he was out of hearing range I was calling him a slew of names that made the human behind the desk glare at me.
“So what were just supposed to run with that crazy little bitch and the others?” I asked referring to Jane.
“Believe me we don't like it any more then you do,” Jake said.
“Damn it all to hell!” I cursed.
“What is the real reason they won't let me go?” Fred asked Edward.
“Aro knows if you get a hold of Matthew you will try to run and if you do find him then you will be able to hide from him. I should also warn you he already has a way to make sure you don't try and leave.”
“What?”
“Heidi.”
“Heidi?”
“Yes, her gift is the exact reversal of yours. Where your gift effects the parts of the brain that deal with repulsion, her power affects the parts that deal with attraction. It draws people and vampires to her like metal to a loadstone. Aro has her using her power on Fred this very instant.”
“What? But I don't feel anything,” Fred said.
“Just try and think about leaving,” Edward said.
Fred got a pained look on his face. He looked behind at the doors that led out; he scowled at them, like he was making a difficult choice.
“It is Heidi's power,” Eleazar said, “she is focusing it on you so you cannot bare to be away from her.”
“Then have Bella use her shield on Fred,” I said.
“But if we do that then Caius might try and have Fred killed for disobeying orders,” Jasper pointed out.
“He will. I can see it now,” Alice said.
“Blast!” Fred said.
“Won't they let anyone of you come?” I asked Carlisle, “I will feel better knowing at least one of you is there.”
“No, Aro wants us to wait here. In case the mission goes bad he doesn't want to risk any of us,” Carlisle said.
“Why would the mission go bad?” I asked suspiciously.
“It was Caius's idea. He is hoping you wolves will be killed off and the guard will pick off Joham and his brood and bring back Matthew. That is why he suggested Chelsea go, he is hoping you find Matthew but she uses her power to make him loyal to the Volturi and something happens to you then he will have no where but them to turn to,” Edward said.
“So it is a set up?” Jake asked.
“No, he just doesn't have much faith in your abilities,” Edward said.
“Well he can go to hell,” Quil said, “We can handle ourselves. But what are we going to do when we do get Matthew back? Without Fred Leah can't run with him.”
“Yes she can,” Fred said, “Matthew can imitate my power, I taught him how.”
“Why don't we bring him here?” Seth said.
“That is the reverse of what we are trying to do moron!” I growled at him.
“No think of it, Matthew has the power to manipulate emotions right? Well what if he makes Aro let him go? Hell he can make him and Caius agree to it. He's capable of it right?”
“That could work,” Eleazar said. “When I inspected his power I saw he was more than capable of using his power to manipulate others through their emotions.”
“So he makes Aro and Caius more sympathetic and merciful and let him live with Leah and Fred,” Seth said.
“Then maybe you shouldn't have thought of that until after you left because now Aro will read our minds and see what we planed moron!” Rose hissed at him.
“Oh yeah,” Seth said.
“Look, right now I am just going to focus on getting Matthew back, we'll worry about the Volturi later,” I said.
“Yes, once we know he is safe and secure from Joham we can worry about getting him away from the Volturi later,” Carlisle said.
We all headed back for our rooms to get ready. We had spent so much time getting ready we only had another thirty minutes before me and the wolves had to get ready.
We were in our room and I had already changed for the journey. Fred was still not talking to me.
“Fred, please don't be like this,” I said.
“Like what?” he asked.
“Cold, distant,” I said.
“What do you expect me to act like Leah, you told me you will kill Matthew if you can't get him away from the Volturi. I can't approve of that you know.”
“I am not asking you to approve, I don't even approve. But please, don't push me away like this, I can't leave with us having all this negative feelings between us.”
He sighed. Maybe it was my words or maybe it was the desperation in my voice. He hugged me from behind. “I won't let you kill him Leah. Even if it means Aro has to have him forever. What Aro has planned for him isn't nearly as bad as what Joham does.”
“Isn't it? You know what the Volturi have done, how selfish and hypocritical they are. Their just tyrants pretending to be the good guys. If they have Matthew it will only make their ego's grow more than what it already is. They will make him just like them and I won't lose him to another kind of monster.”
“Is that what this is for you Leah? An assassination? Will you kill him as soon as you see him?” he asked. His grip on me tightened to painful levels.
“I don't want to kill him Fred; I want things to be as they were. But with Joham or the Volturi they will kill whatever good is in him and leave only a monster. If I can't save him....well....I will save him, one way or another.”
He spun me so fast I think I pulled a muscle. His eyes were hard and full of anger, yet he still looked so beautiful to me. Even though looking at him now made my stomach hurt. Once again I was filling people I love with anger.
“I won't let you kill him Leah! Death is not an option! Do you hear me!”
“Then what else am I supposed to do Fred? Huh?! Tell me?” I screamed at him.
“Do something! Don't just be so willing to end his life because you can't have him!”
“That's not it you fool! How can you let Aro have him so easily!”
“Do you think it does not pain me to think of him with them? But I would be happy to know he is alive and well!”
We glared at one another. I was mad and pissed and frustrated that everything we had worked for all these years was going down the drain and there was nothing I can do to stop it.
“You’re a mother Leah! You’re supposed to love and support your child no matter what, your supposed to raise them and nurture them an-”
“Wait! Fred that is it! You’re a genius!”
I grabbed his face and kissed him on the lips. Whatever he was expecting it was not that.
“Ummm, did I miss something?” he asked confused.
I smiled. I wasn't going to tell him my plane. If I did I know he would object. But I had to do this, it was the only way Matthew could live and I could be with him.
“Don't worry Fred, I have come up with an idea that will make everything better for all of us, we're all going to win now, thank you Fred.” I hugged him again. “If it wasn't for you I would be an absolute wreck.”
“............ummmm. Weren't we just having a serious fight a moment ago?”
“Yes, but then you said something brilliant.”
There was a knock on the door. Seth peaked his head in. “Everything okay guys?” he asked.
“Yes Seth, everything is fine,” I said with a smile.
“Oh...okay, well it's time, we have to go to the main chamber now.”
“Okay.” I took Fred's hand in mine. “Come on, let’s go talk with the leech kings.”
I smiled as we headed for the main hall. As we gathered with the others Edward was looking at me with a serious look, but I mentally told him to keep his pie hole shut.
He nodded in understanding, he might not like my plan but he understands why I must do what I must.
It is the only way for Matthew and me to be together, the only way I can make sure he stays the sweet little boy I have raised. Even though it may be the final straw for my brothers.
But in the end, it will give me Matthew that is all that matters.

Joham P.O.V
I sat in my chair looking out of the window.
The door opened and I knew it was Rosemary coming to give her report.
“Father,” she said.
“How is he?” I asked already knowing the answer.
“His condition has not changed. But he is complacent. The children try to get reactions out of him but he does not respond. They are upset at his condition.”
“As they should. But it is good they see him like this, it is good for him to be around his family and it shows the others what happens if they try and disobey.”
“Father, I can't do this again, I am sorry, I just can't,” she said a sob escaping her throat.
I got up and looked at her. Tears were running down her face. “I can't do that to anyone ever again, please don't make me do it again. A few memories is one thing, but what I did to Matthew.” she shook her head.
“There, there.” I wrapped her in a hug, giving her comfort. “Fear not my child, I doubt the others will even dare to think of rebellion now. Just remember this was for the best.”
“I keep blaming myself, I keep thinking if I had been more careful, if I had known Jane was there I would have never lost him and this would have never happened.”
“There is no point in thinking of what if Rosemary. The past is dead, we must live in the here and now. Just remember when we rise and the Volturi fall Matthew will be remembered and loved by all,” I said.
She wiped her face of tears. “Thank you father. I am sorry for crying like this, it is most shameful.”
“It is only natural to feel guilt for what we have done my daughter. It is most sad and unfortunate, but take heart, for his sacrifice will not be in vain. Now go tend to your brother, he will need you now more then ever.”
“Yes father at once.” she turned and left me to my thoughts.
I turned back to look outside. I touched my own dry face. I have not cried since I was human and that was a long time ago. But my eyes have not stopped burning since two days ago.
I was glad I could not cry, because then I could not keep up the lie that I felt nothing. But in a sick way I am glad for the pain the burning causes. It is the only connection to the Matthew of old I have left, the only thing I will have to remind me of the shame and guilt foe what I have done.
If I must feel this burning in my eyes for all eternity then so be it. It is the smallest offering I can make to him for what I have done to him, for the loss's he has suffered and the greater loss that was to come.

Fred P.O.V
I don't know what I said to change Leah's mind but she was freaking me out.
She held my hand as we all went to the main hall to meet up with the guard. A part of me was glad not to be going. The idea of being around Jane for a long amount of time made me ill.
We arrived in the main hall. The only guards were the ones selected to go with the others to track Matthew.
“Well the time has come,” Aro said. “Demitri as you know is our best tracker, the best in the world. He will find your friend by tracking the scents of his sisters. See Joham fooled us. Made us think he was dead when he had his daughter burn down the building they were staying in. But now that we know he is alive we can find him. Dmitri, you are in charge.”
“Yes master,” Demitri said bowing his head.
“Aro, before we leave I have a request,” Leah said letting my hand go and stepping forward.
“Can it not wait until after the mission child?” he asked.
“No. I know you want Matthew to be brought with you. As you know I love him like he was my own son and I cannot bear the thought of being separated from him.” Leah took a deep breath, steeling herself, getting herself ready. “I know Matthew will not stay hear willingly, and I know you won’t let him leave alive, I know you won't risk your enemies using him against you. So...I request that after I bring him to you, you allow me to become a full fledged member of the Volturi coven, so that I can be with him, forever.”
The room was quit as the grave with her request. The other vampires looked shocked; her pack brothers look deadly furious, even the Volturi, with the exception of Marcus looked surprised. Only Leah stood calm and reserved. As much as I was happy she found a way to not kill Matthew, another part of me despaired.

Fusedtwilight: Next chapter they go on a rescue mission and Leah deals with the consequences of her choice. Please review.
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Focused Madness