Crimson Gold

Part 2: Chapter 11: Volturi

3rd Person POV

Italy

After setting the C5 down in a field, Ryan turned to Alice and Bella, who had woken up as soon as they had landed. "I got us as close as I can without getting blown out of the sky. We'll have to go by car for now."

Alice and Bella nodded and got into the car while Ryan opened the bay door.

Sliding into the driver's seat, Ryan pulled out of the C5 and shot down a ramp to the road.

After roughly five minutes of driving, Alice gasped.

"What is it?" Ryan asked, turning to face her while simultaneously keeping an eye on the road. 360-degree vision did wonders.

"It's Edward," she said in surprise. "They refused him."

"So?" Bella pressed.

"He's gonna make a scene," Alice replied. "Show himself to the humans."

"On a scale of one to ten, how bad is that?" Ryan asked.

"Eleven," Alice replied, and Ryan tore off down the road.

"When is he going to do it?" Bella asked sharply.

"He's gonna wait until noon, when the sun's at its highest," Alice answered.

Bella winced. "God, Ryan, you've got to hurry up!"

"On it." Ryan swerved around a bend, causing Bella to slide into the door.

Alice pointed. "There's Volterra."

Up ahead was a large city of brownish-tan stone, the gates wide open. Taking advantage of this, Ryan swerved onto the streets, dodging pedestrians with his enhanced Prototype senses.

Swerving around a corner, Ryan honked at the multiple people dressed in red who adorned the streets, causing them to rush out of the way.

"Why are they all in red?" Bella asked as Alice put on a pair of sunglasses and a shawl.

"San Marco's Day festival," Alice explained. "They're commemorating the expulsion of vampires from the city. It's the perfect setting. The Volturi will never let Edward get far enough to reveal himself."

Bella eyed the clock. "We have five minutes."

"I know, Bella," Alice assured. "Just breathe."

Ryan swerved around another corner, only to skid to a stop as a group of police officers halted them.

"Bella, go!" Alice shouted. "You're the only one he can't see coming. If I go, he'll read my thoughts. He'll think I'm lying. He'll rush into it, same with if Ryan were to go."

"Where do I go?" Bella asked.

"He'll be under the clock tower," Alice answered. "Go!"

Nodding and closing the door, Bella rushed off while Ryan threw his car into a spin, knocking the police officers back and taking off, getting far out of sight before they could give pursuit.

Parking his car in an alley, Ryan got out, followed by Alice. "Come on," he said, grabbing a pair of red-hooded cloaks from a clothesline. Throwing one over his shoulders, he tossed the other one to Alice.

Putting it on, Alice followed Ryan as he pulled her into the streets.

"Blend in with the crowd," he whispered. "They'll be focused on the celebration. If we act natural and don't rush, they won't pay us any attention."