Darling Nikki ↠ Charlie Swan

chapter eight

chapter eight | the happily ever after part i

"Dear ones," Aro's voice rang out, clear and insistent, as he raised his hands in an almost theatrical gesture. "We do not fight today." His words seemed to hang in the air, and for a moment, everything around Nikki froze, as if the world itself was waiting for the next move.

She couldn't quite read his expression—there was something different about it now, a subtle shift from the smug confidence he had displayed earlier. The Volturi guard had been poised for battle, their tension palpable. But at Aro's words, they relaxed, standing down in unison. The mist that had surrounded them began to dissipate, vanishing as quickly as it had come.

Bella, however, didn't lower her shield. She remained on guard, eyes scanning the scene with suspicion. After everything they had been through, Nikki couldn't blame her.

Maybe this was another trick.

Nikki's eyes narrowed as she observed the Volturi's reactions. Aro's benign expression was almost too perfect, but behind it, she could sense a strange emptiness—a cold void beneath the usual mask of manipulation. His usual glint of scheming was gone. It was as though he was relieved that the game was over.

Caius was as volatile as ever, his anger still palpable, but it was directed inward now—there was no rage toward them anymore, just a silent acceptance. His posture was slumped as if he had resigned himself to something inevitable.

Marcus, on the other hand, appeared completely uninterested. He was the picture of dispassion, his bored gaze scanning the clearing with a laziness that was almost comical, as though he were no longer concerned with the drama unfolding around him. The Volturi guards stood impassively, their discipline evident as they fell into formation, no longer individuals but a single, cohesive unit, ready to depart.

As the last of the Volturi witnesses slipped into the forest, retreating one by one, the tension that had gripped the clearing seemed to ease.

Aro held his hands out in a conciliatory gesture, the picture of a gracious host, though Nikki wasn't fooled. The smile on his face, as much as it seemed apologetic, was a carefully crafted mask. She could almost hear the thoughts swirling behind his words, the manipulation still there, even in this moment of apparent peace. But she knew the battle was over—their victory secured without a fight.

"I'm so glad this could be resolved without violence," Aro said sweetly, his voice almost mocking in its saccharine tone. "My friend, Carlisle—how pleased I am to call you friend again! I hope there are no hard feelings. I know you understand the strict burden that our duty places on our shoulders."

Carlisle's reply was stiff, his polite smile belying the tension in his voice. "Leave in peace, Aro," he said. "Please remember that we still have our anonymity to protect here, and keep your guard from hunting in this region."

Aro's smile didn't falter. "Of course, Carlisle," he said, his voice dripping with insincerity. "I am sorry to earn your disapproval, my dear friend. Perhaps, in time, you will forgive me."

"Perhaps, in time, if you prove a friend to us again," Carlisle replied, his tone cool and diplomatic.

Aro bowed his head in mock remorse, the image of contrition. He lingered for a moment longer before turning his gaze toward Nikki.

"Darling Nikki," Aro called, his voice smooth but carrying an edge of something darker. "I hope we can find peace after our sad history together."

Nikki stiffened, her expression hardening. She wanted to roll her eyes at his feigned sincerity, but she kept her composure, unwilling to show any weakness.