Title: What Dreams May Come

Summary: Bella and Edward settle happily into married life at Dartmouth but Bella's dreams of a mysterious child persist, drawing them into a centuries old deception with devastating consequences. A Breaking Dawn AU.

Rating: M

Disclaimer: Twilight and all related places and characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

A/N: Ok, I'm so sorry this has taken so long! Swamped doesn't begin to describe the last month for me, so this took longer for me to finish than I wanted. Hopefully though, it's good enough to make up for the wait! Thank you to everyone, newcomers and regulars, who reviewed the last chapter and without further adieu, here's the next one for your reading pleasure!

Quote: Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear – Ambrose Redmoon

Chapter 23: Search and Rescue

There have been many times throughout my oft-cursed existence when I have felt the full weight of my limbs, been so laden with grief or self-loathing that my hardened skin seemed to drag my very being down with its weight, but no time more so than now. As Bella, Carlisle, Esme and I wove between meandering tourists and local peddlers, navigating unerringly along narrow cobblestone alleys and underneath crumbling archways, every step required unparalleled willpower. My legs felt like they were weighed down by cast iron weights, ready to dig themselves into the ground and halt this fearful procession.

All of the confidence gained from staring into the minds and faces of my family and friends, knowing that they would do everything in their power to pull this off successfully, had slowly drained away as we'd parked the Maserati outside the main gate of Volterra and set off on foot, instead replaced once more with a soul-deep fear for the consequences of actions to come. It was only the feel of Bella's hand encased with mine which served as an anchor, grounding me, encouraging me, helping me to focus on what needed to be done.

"It's really quite beautiful," came Bella's soft voice as we passed a group of overly loud Australian tourists, the twang in their accents unmistakable as they snapped photo after photo of the medieval architecture.

"What is it love?" I questioned, grateful for the small distraction from my once more melancholic thoughts.

"The city," she replied, a tremulous smile crossing her lips, "I didn't really pay attention last time we were here but it's beautiful in its own way. You can almost feel the history in its walls."

I refrained from voicing the opinion that most of the history within the walls was most likely stained with the blood of the innocent, of centuries of drained corpses and broken families. My morbidity at times of uncertainty was apparently even bleaker than usual.

"Many of the oldest towns in Europe feel that way; they seem to speak to you in ways which even the oldest places in the United States cannot. Perhaps we could spend a few years touring them in the near future, if you'd like."

Esme's smile was warm, her offer colored with her conviction that we would have the freedom to do so in the future, the conviction that all would work out.

"That'd be nice," Bella replied, squeezing my hand, "Wouldn't it Edward?"

"Sounds perfect," I nodded simply; slight warmth spreading through me at the thought of travelling around with Bella, showing her the wonders the old world had to offer. Days spent exploring busy towns and ancient countryside with our family, nights spent exploring each other when the hours usually filled with her need for sleep would be free for other activities.

Edward, I know you can hear me. We're all in position here and ready to act as a diversion. The charges are set, and from what I can see, all of the Volturi are still pre-occupied with their catch.

Edward, I assume you can hear me. We're ready when you are.

The faint echo of Jasper's thought came right on the heels of Alice's, both intense in their determination. I knew Alice's group were waiting within the sewer entrance we'd been led through the last time we were in Volterra, while Jasper's was poised for entry at a hidden entrance set into the side of the hill which rose behind the Volturi's castle.

As they both fell back into the constant hum of thoughts within my mind we turned the last corner, the forbidding façade of the Volturi's castle rising before us, the large entrance archway looking for all the world like the mouth of a monstrous creature, ready to devour us whole.

"Edward?" Carlisle questioned when I stopped momentarily underneath the weight of the knowledge that this truly was our Rubicon, we were now irrevocably committed to our planned course of action.

"Son?" Carlisle questioned again when I failed to respond, the term of endearment an indication of his underlying worry.

"Everyone is ready."

Bella squeezed my hand again, this time so hard she would have left bruises if my flesh had been as fragile as hers.

"Whatever happens, I love you," she whispered, raising herself onto the balls of her feet to press her warm lips against my cheek.

"I love you too, and nothing's going to happen," I replied, cementing it in my mind as a self-fulfilling mantra as I returned her kiss with own of my own to her temple. Nothing was going to happen to her, not as long as I still existed on this Earth.

In silence we carried on, walking a few steps behind Carlisle and Esme and leaving behind the slowly fading light of mid-afternoon for the deceptive welcoming opulence of the empty lobby. With every step towards the bank of elevators lining the far wall, I could hear Bella's heart rate increase, her breaths coming with exponentially increasing quickness. By the time the metallic doors slid open and we stepped into the mirror-lined elevator, her eyes were squeezed tightly shut and I fought against the impulse to simply scoop her up in my arms and sprint away.

"Bella, are you alright?" Esme asked softly as we moved slowly upwards, the crunching of the elevator's mechanics sounding abnormally loud.

Beside me, my wife took in a deep breath before exhaling and opening up her eyes to reveal determination tinged with sadness.

"Sorry," she offered with a weak smile, "Just some bad memories."

I wanted to kick myself for not having discussed this aspect of our trip here with her before. I'd been so wrapped up in ensuring every contingency was in place to protect her physical safety that I had not given much thought to the emotional trauma she may feel at returning to this place. Her first, and I had desperately hoped only, visit had not exactly been a pleasurable experience. She may have told me early in our relationship that she was good at repressing painful memories, but returning to the place where she'd faced the prospect of losing her life, and mine, was more than likely making it that much easier to remember that pain.

I knew it did for me, the clarity of first the crushing grief at her supposed death, then the paralyzing fear that I had regained her only to lose her to the consequences of my reckless actions all too easily recalled within these walls.

Before I could reassure her however, or somehow ease the sadness shining in her eyes, the elevator came to a halt, the doors sliding open to reveal the familiar wood-paneled reception area. Knowing that the best thing I could do for her now was to concentrate on our plan, I focused my gaze on the figure sitting behind the mahogany counter.

Is that…

Carlisle tilted his head slightly in question and I responded with a minute shake of my own head. The young woman behind the counter was not Gianna, was not the same receptionist as before. She was younger, her olive skin slightly lighter and her eyes an interesting shade brown, looking almost purple with the heightened senses available to me. She was staring at us quizzically, a stiffness to her form which had never been present in her predecessor. Instantly translating her thoughts from Italian to English, I focused on trying to pluck any information from her mind which could help us.

There are no visitors scheduled, I wonder who they are. Maybe they are here to partake in…dinner.

Disgust tinged the last word and now it was my turn to stare quizzically back. From what I had heard the last time, those the Volturi employed were hired because they had no qualms with what happened here, driven solely by their own self-interest and vanity in wanting the opportunity to stay young and beautiful forever.

All those poor souls, I wish…No, Chiara, you mustn't think that. You need this job; you need this money for Papa's medication. You can't help those people so just concentrate on helping your family.

I surreptitiously relayed the information to Carlisle and Esme as we approached the desk, my confidence slightly bolstered with the knowledge the next part of the plan would be easier to execute with someone both unfamiliar with us and less loyal to the Volturi than Gianna had been.

"Showtime," I whispered softly into Bella's ear, pulling her close to my side where I hoped I would be able to keep her throughout our time here. Also, the receptionist had not yet noticed my love was as human as she was, and if by keeping Bella half-shielded by my form we managed to keep her from noticing, it would be better for us. A coven of vampires turning up for an audience with the Volturi was not an uncommon occurrence; A coven of vampires turning up for an audience with the Volturi with a human in tow who was definitely not a mere snack however, would arouse her suspicion and make it harder for us to implement the first part of the plan, despite our gift of…dazzling humans, as my love would say.

Though, given the faint blush I could see staining the receptionist's cheeks as Carlisle turned the full force of his smile towards her, it seemed achieving our initial aims was not going to be a problem.

"He…hello, my name is Chiara. How can I-I help you today?"

The words, heavily tinged with accent and slightly stuttered, were coated with the polite professionalism spoken by receptionists the world over, from dentist office's to vampire lairs apparently.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Chiara, I'm Carlisle Cullen and this is my wife, Esme, my son Edward and his wife, Bella. We received a summons to meet with the Volturi at the earliest possible convenience."

Chiara stared blankly at Carlisle for a few moments, her thoughts thrown into disarray by his unexpected civility when she was used to the Volturi and their guests treating her as a mere step above a non-entity, and by the uniqueness of his form of address for the rest of us.

I've never heard one of them describe their entire coven using human terms before.

"Ye-yes, of course Signor Cullen. If you would please wait a few moments, I will sum…summon one of the Guard to escort you to them."

She reached for a small button set into a panel by her side, but stilled her hand when Carlisle smoothly interjected.

"That won't be necessary. Aro and I are old friends, he will not mind if we show ourselves in."

He was using the tone of voice usually reserved for speaking to patients and their families, the one which carried both authority and sincerity in equal measure. Chiara's immediate thought was to allow us entry but the threat of the punishment she may receive for doing so if it turned out Aro did mind made her hold her tongue.

"I'm sor…sorry Signor, but I am not allowed to let any…anyone enter without escort."

Edward! Edward, you have about fifteen minutes before they finish their meal, you need to be well on your way before then.

Alice's voice rose up in my mind, the use of my name pulling her thoughts up once more from the constant hum. Fifteen minutes was not going to be enough time; we needed to at least have found Gabriel by then so the others' attempts at diversion would need to only last the length of time it would take for us to escape. All of the preternatural speed in the world was not going to be of use if we had not yet found him from within the maze-like corridors of this ancient castle.

"Carlisle, we need to get inside. Now!" I hissed softly as Bella squeezed my hand, somehow sensing my sudden discontent.

Have faith Edward, Carlisle will get us in.

Esme's thoughts were coloured with slight admonishment at my abruptness, and I took in a deep breath to calm myself. Getting frustrated at this early stage would only hinder our progress, so I turned just enough to be able to bury my face against Bella's hair, inhaling her sweet scent as Carlisle leant forward and let loose the charm which always had nurses and patients alike falling over themselves.

"I'm sure Aro will be quite pleased at your loyalty, but there really is no need to trouble the Guard. If he is displeased in any way by our manner of entry, I will ensure his anger is directed at us and not at you, though I know that will not be a problem."

Chiara's resolve wavered dramatically, and when Carlisle smiled at her once again, it crumbled into nothingness.

That smile should be classified as a lethal weapon. If all of his kind were like him, I would not mind this job so much.

"Y…You can go on through Signor," she finally murmured, then blushed with an intensity I had only before seen on Bella as Carlisle winked at her in gratitude.

"Thank you Chiara."

Not wanting to tempt fate, we quickly moved past the desk and through the large wooden doors situated at the far end of the room. The familiar wide hall stretched before us and now alone, Bella let out a slight chuckle at my side.

"I thought Edward was the king at dazzling us mere humans, but he's got nothing on you Carlisle."

Esme grinned; pressing a quick kiss to his cheek which I knew would have been tinted with pink if he still had the ability to blush, "That's my husband."

"Enough. We need to move."

I knew my words were terse, but standing in this hall, we were close enough to the Volturi's stone antechamber that I could make out the babble of thoughts within, both vampire and victim alike.

So delicious, so rich…

I should have listened, I shouldn't have wandered off…

Mmm, the youngest are always the best…

Oh God, please don't hurt me, please, please…

I love it when they beg…

This isn't real, this isn't happening…

Concentrate on us Edward.

Carlisle broke through the swirl of thoughts and I brought my attention back to them to be faced with three concerned expressions staring back at me. Apparently I'd been caught up within my own mind for longer than I had realized.

"Are you okay?" Bella asked softly and I merely nodded in reply, not wanting to burden her further with the reality of what was happening on the other side of these opulent walls, even though she already knew in theory.

Seemingly satisfied, she blew out a calming breath and with her hand still firmly clasped in mine, started walking slowly along the hall, eyes skipping from panel to panel of the polished wood alongside the left-hand side, opposite to where I knew the entryway to the stone antechamber lay. Somewhere behind one of these panels was another hidden door, one which Eleazar had reassured us led directly to the lower levels of the castle, the most likely area to hold Gabriel's prison.

Focusing intently, I followed her line of sight, looking for irregularities in the wood; listening for any tell-tale whistles of air which indicated a room beyond.

"Can you see it?"

I was just about to answer Bella's whispered question in the negative, when my eyes caught and held on a piece of paneling slightly elevated from those surrounding it, the air near its edges stirring more than usual as if disturbed by an influx of wind.

Pressing my hands against the polished wood, I slid aside the panel to reveal an ancient-looking wooden door, locked almost perversely with an electronic lock, the small keypad beside it humming with electricity.

"Eleazar didn't say anything about a lock," Esme sighed, taking the small duffel bag Carlisle has been holding into her hands as he examined the keypad more closely.

We can't just break through the door; from this distance they would hear, even as distracted as they are while feeding.

"Why couldn't they be stereotypical technophobe vampires like in literature?" Bella complained quietly, eyes darting nervously around the hall.

It needs a number code, four digits long…a year perhaps?

"You know them best out of all us Carlisle, what would they choose?"

He contemplated Esme's question, his mind flicking through all of his memories of his time spent within these walls before something sparked, a date solidifying in his mind as a possibility.

"Are you sure?"

Bella blinked at my sudden question, her attention becoming fixed upon Carlisle.

"No, but we do not have much of a choice."

With steady hands, he typed in the four digits…then joined us in a collective sigh of relief as the keypad beeped quietly and the unmistakable sound of the lock disengaging reached our ears.

With no time to waste, I guided Bella through the door onto a small stone platform, stairs spiraling down from its edge into darkness.

"Hold on love," I murmured, hoisting her onto my back, feeling her slim arms encircle my shoulders and her legs wrap around my waist before I flew down the steps with Carlisle in front and Esme behind.

"What was the code?" she asked breathlessly into my ear, her heart pounding against my back in exhilaration as we rapidly descended the steep, spiraling steps.

"1469."

"Which is…"

"The birth year of Niccolo Machiavelli…apparently Aro has always been quite taken with his theories on power, ever since he met the man himself in 1513."

"Figures," she snorted softly and I felt my own lips twist minutely in amusement.

Suddenly, the staircase came to an abrupt end, opening up into a long stone hallway. Dank and dim, it stretched at least fifty metres with multiple wooden doors set along its length, each no doubt leading off into some far part of this massive complex.

"There's so many," Bella breathed, still held securely upon my back, "Which one do we need to use?"

"Hopefully, Edward will be able to tell us that," Carlisle replied calmly and looked towards me with complete faith stamped across his features, an expression echoed by Esme and verbally backed up by Bella when she realized what he meant.

"You can do this Edward, you can find him."

My confidence swelled by her words, I closed my eyes and opened up my mind completely to my sixth sense, the low buzz of thoughts building to a cacophony which I was only able to sort through with the experience of eighty years of practice behind me.

…savor it…

…help…

The Volturi's thoughts now reduced to mere snatches of words and the last of their victims falling ever so silent, I now heard my family and our friends clearer; the distance to them less now that we were ensconced in the lower levels and my familiarity with their inner voices making them rise loudly in my mind.

All this waiting sucks, bring on the action…

I can't believe I'm helping a group of bloodsuckers save another freaky half-bloodsucker…

Will he accept us?

I should check the charges again, they can't be allowed to fail…

I can't see where they should go, perhaps it wasn't only Jacob which clouded my ability to see this venture…maybe Gabriel's uniqueness means I can't see him properly either…

One by one I pushed their thoughts aside, mentally reducing their volume as if I had a sound board spread out before me with the ability to filter out the distinct sounds. As the voices dropped away to a low hum once more, I was left with a single train of thought; a mental voice paradoxically both wizened and child-like at the same time.

I can feel her…she's coming for me; My Bella, please save me.

Repressing the growl which rose unbidden within my chest at the way he perceived my wife in his thoughts, I focused instead on the direction from which they came before finally opening my eyes once more.

"This way," I commanded, racing off down the hallway about twenty metres with Carlisle and Esme hot on my heels before coming to a halt next to one of the identical wooden doors as his voice suddenly became even clearer within my mind.

I can feel you too. You…you are her vampire; her Edward.

Surprise was perhaps not an adequate enough word to describe my emotions at that particular moment before they settled into realization and I cautiously directed my own thoughts towards the voice.

You can hear me?

Only those thoughts you direct towards me, as if we were in a conversation…you are here with her?

The reverence colouring the pronoun made me uneasy, but my desire to find him quickly so I could whisk Bella away from here once more was stronger than my unease.

Yes, we are here for you.

Thank you, thank all of you.

Do not thank us yet, we still have to find you and get you out of here.

Bella spoke very highly of you when we communicated…I have no doubt you will succeed.

"Edward, what is it?"

Bella's voice was tinged with concern, her warm breath washing across my neck as her arms tightened around my shoulders.

"I'm talking to Gabriel," I started to explain before she gasped, quickly interjecting with a series of rapid-fire questions.

"Is he okay? Does he know we're here to save him? Are we…"

Her voice cut off abruptly, her head violently pitching forward to crash into my shoulder.

"Bella!"

Without hesitation, I swung her around from my back to cradle her in my arms, eyes frantically searching her face for any signs of illness. Her cheeks had paled dramatically, and her eyes were wide and dazed, seemingly focused on something I could not see.

"Is she alright?" Esme gasped as Carlisle suddenly appeared behind my shoulder, clinically assessing her sudden pallor, stretching one hand forward to press against her forehead.

"Bella, speak to me!"

My voice was tense, my mind screaming out to the one person I knew could have caused this.

What have you done to her?!

I'm sorry, I just wanted to try and see whether or not I could properly connect with her mind now that she's close, but it is still strangely shielded. She should be alright in a few moments.

As if she had heard his thoughts herself, Bella suddenly breathed out rapidly, her eyes re-focusing to stare into my own and confusion spreading across her features as she took in the three concerned expressions staring back at her.

"Edward? What happened?"

I pulled her closer to my body, pressing a relieved kiss against her hairline.

"Gabriel tried to communicate with your mind, but he still can't achieve it without side-effects apparently," I explained, a slight hint of anger and bitterness colouring my tone at the harm, however unintentional, Gabriel could cause to my wife.

"Oh," she said simply, rubbing her fingers in small circles around her right temple, "My freaky mind strikes again huh?"

The absurdity of her words combined with the heightened state of tension still ruling my body caused a shaky chuckle to pass my lips, the laughter lightly echoed by Carlisle and Esme as they took Bella's words to mean that she would be perfectly fine.

"You never cease to surprise me," I managed to murmur finally, pressing a kiss this time to her lips before swinging her carefully back around to her previous position upon my back.

"It's in the job description," she teased lightly, before turning serious once more, "So after all that, are we close?"

I gestured to the door I'd stopped in front of, Carlisle taking that as a cue to easily force open the heavy wood.

"We need to go this way."

Passing through the door, we emerged into a narrower stone hallway. This one was even darker than previous, with a gradual downwards slope leading into a pool of pitch black that had Bella peering forward over my shoulder in an attempt to see as I contacted Gabriel again, beginning with a terse warning.

Don't try that again.

I won't, I promise.

Satisfied that he would keep his word from the regret and sincerity in his thoughts, I pushed aside the anger I still felt and communicated what was needed of him for me to successfully discover his exact whereabouts.

I need you to keep up a continuous train of thought so I can track you.

There was silence for a few moments as I registered Carlisle pulling the door shut behind us, plunging the hallway into further darkness, before Gabriel slowly replied.

Would the recitation of a poem suffice?

Yes.

Very well…tell me, my savior's Edward, do you know Keats?

Yes, but I'm surprised you do…I was under the impression you've been held here for a rather long time.

They allow me books at times to keep me from insanity; sometimes I think that is the cruelest torture they could have inflicted. At least if I had lost my mind, I would not have been able to recognize the other depravities visited upon me for what they truly were.

Despite myself, I sympathized with that feeling. During the few months of my self-imposed exile from Bella, insanity would have been a welcome relief to the crushing clarity of pain I'd felt at with every moment, every passing second.

Anyway, perhaps you know this one…

He began reciting Keats' 'Isabella' and I mentally sighed at the choice. While I could appreciate why he had most likely chosen the poem, its tale of a woman destroyed by the loss of her love prompted far too many unpleasant memories, especially while skulking along the halls of this place, which was a reminder in and of itself.

Shaking off the small curl of despair which had settled within my stomach, I made sure Bella was holding on to me tight, before setting off into a run along the dark corridor, tracing the tenor of the quoted words.

…With every morn their love grew tenderer, with every eve deeper and tenderer still…

"It smells weird down here."

Bella's voice momentarily broke my concentration, my senses so attuned to her that they automatically all snapped back to her. I turned my head enough to see her crinkle her nose in disgust, an expression akin to the one she wore whenever the scent of blood passed near here stamped upon her features, the blush of exhilaration on her cheeks from watching the walls go racing past the only difference.

…Until sweet Isabella's untouch'd cheek fell sick within the rose's just domain…

"Not as bad for you as it is for us though, I would think," Esme's voice echoed from a few steps behind us, the difference between their speed and mine creating the gap.

After I inhaled once, I silently agreed. The whole corridor smelled of decay; of putrid water and dying creatures and I found myself stop breathing as it worsened with every passing second we ventured further along the twisting path.

"And not as bad as it was a few centuries ago," Carlisle joined in, "when the poor levels of sanitation meant anywhere below ground level was rather unpleasant smelling."

…she saw it waxing very pale and dead…

"What's he saying to you?" Bella asked suddenly, her head buried so close against my neck in an attempt to block out the smell.

…O Isabella, I can half perceive that I may speak my grief into thine ear…

"Just reciting some poetry," I murmured, distracted as his voice gradually became clearer to the point I could hear his thoughts as easily as if he were standing right next to me. Close, we were so very close and I felt relief begin build up. Alice's predicted fifteen minutes were on the verge of ending and I knew soon the Volturi would be roaming their domain freely again.

…If thou didst ever anything believe, believe how I love thee, believe how near my soul is to its doom…

A light up ahead caught my attention, and with an extra burst of speed we emerged into a semi-circular room, its moss-covered walls rising up so high I could only see the solid stone roof through the virtue of the single shaft of faded sunlight beaming down from a small opening within it. Within that ray of light, dust particles spun and twirled in intricate patterns, seemingly calling forward any spectators to join in their dance.

…thou leadest me to summer clime…

Bella gently pushed at my shoulders and I let her down, barely registering the echoing thud her sneakers made as they made contact with the ground in the face of the tangible confusion sweeping through me, accompanied by a growing sense of dread.

I practically flew across the small space, my eyes and hands wildly studying the walls for any signs of a hidden entrance, my brain trying to make sense of the disparate picture my senses were painting.

"Edward?" Bella prompted, her question echoed by Carlisle and Esme as they watched my movements with unease.

"Here, he should be here…"

Gabriel's thoughts were as clear as a bell…

…Idle ears should pleasure in their woe…

And yet, he was nowhere to be found.