transported into twilight with a system

chapter 8

Ethan stepped into the hallway, the quiet of the house feeling more oppressive than before. His footsteps barely made a sound on the polished floor as he followed the winding path toward the main living area. Despite the elegance of the Cullen mansion, there was an undercurrent of tension in the air, something Ethan couldn’t shake. He couldn’t help but feel like a pawn in a game far bigger than himself.

As he neared the large, open room where the Cullens gathered, he could already sense the weight of the discussion he was about to walk into. He paused just outside the threshold, taking a deep breath before stepping into view.

The entire Cullen family was there. Carlisle stood at the head of the room, his posture calm but his expression grave. Esme stood beside him, her face kind but filled with concern. Jasper was leaning against the far wall, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone in the room. Rosalie and Emmett sat on the couch, their usual playful dynamic noticeably absent, replaced by an intensity that made Ethan’s skin prickle. Edward was there too, standing near Alice, his eyes catching Ethan’s as soon as he entered the room.

Everyone turned to look at him, and for a brief moment, Ethan felt like an intruder. But this was no ordinary family meeting. He knew that much.

Carlisle spoke first, his voice measured. “Ethan, thank you for joining us. I know you’re still adjusting, but something has come to our attention that requires all of us to be on the same page.”

Ethan nodded, stepping further into the room but staying near the edge, wary of drawing too much attention. “What’s going on?”

Carlisle exchanged a glance with Edward, who gave a small nod. “We’ve been monitoring the situation with the Volturi closely,” Carlisle began, “and we’ve received word that they’re already making inquiries. A messenger will arrive here within the week.”

Ethan’s heart skipped a beat. “A messenger? From the Volturi?”

“Yes,” Carlisle said grimly. “Their interest in you has grown faster than we anticipated.”

The weight of his words settled over the room like a storm cloud. Ethan’s stomach churned. If the Volturi were already moving, that meant his time was running out. He barely understood his own place in this world, and now an ancient group of vampires was about to come knocking, demanding answers he didn’t have.

“They want to know more about you,” Edward added, his voice tight with frustration. “Why I can’t read your mind. Why Alice’s visions are clouded around you. It’s not just curiosity—they see you as a potential threat.”

Ethan’s anxiety spiked. He clenched his fists, trying to stay calm. “So what do we do? I mean, can we convince them I’m not a threat?”

Jasper, who had been silent until now, spoke up. “It’s not that simple. The Volturi operate on fear and control. If they think you’re a wildcard, they’ll eliminate you just to keep things predictable. We need to be smart about how we handle this.”

Alice, who had been quietly observing, took a step forward. “I’ve been trying to get a clearer picture of the future, but everything involving the Volturi is… foggy. There are too many variables. But I did see one thing.”

Everyone turned their attention to Alice, the room growing even more tense.

“I saw two paths,” she continued, her voice calm but serious. “One where you’re forced into the Volturi’s control, bound by whatever they decide your fate is. And another… where you make a choice to defy them, but that choice will bring its own risks.”

Ethan’s throat tightened. Two paths—neither of them sounded promising. “What kind of choice?”

Alice shook her head slightly. “I couldn’t see the details. But I know this: whatever is guiding you—the system—it’s not just random. It’s testing you. Preparing you for something bigger.”

Ethan’s mind spun. The system. It kept offering him skills, abilities that seemed designed to help him navigate this strange world. But now it felt like it was pushing him toward a confrontation with forces he wasn’t ready to face.

Carlisle spoke again, his voice firm but kind. “We’re not going to let the Volturi take you, Ethan. We’ll stand by you, but you need to understand the danger. If they feel threatened, they won’t hesitate to destroy anyone they see as a problem.”

Emmett, ever the optimist despite the tension, grinned slightly from his spot on the couch. “Hey, if it comes down to it, we can always fight our way out.”

Rosalie shot him a look, and Jasper sighed, clearly thinking of more practical concerns. “Violence is a last resort,” Jasper said. “We need to outthink them first.”

Ethan shifted uncomfortably. “So, what do I do? If they’re coming for me, how do I even prepare?”

Carlisle’s expression softened. “First, we gather as much information as we can. We’ll talk to the messenger when they arrive, see what they know and what their intentions are. But in the meantime, I agree with Edward. You need to learn more about this world. About us, the Volturi, and your own abilities.”

Ethan nodded slowly. “Right. I’ll do whatever I can.”

As the discussion continued, the sense of urgency hung heavy in the air. Ethan felt the eyes of every Cullen on him, their concern and cautious hope resting on his shoulders. They were willing to protect him, but there was no mistaking the fact that he was the key to whatever came next.

When the meeting finally ended, Carlisle dismissed everyone with a promise to reconvene once more information was available. Ethan lingered for a moment, caught in his own thoughts. He had the backing of the Cullens, but he also knew that the warning he’d found in the guest room wasn’t just paranoia.

Trust no one. Not yet.

As the family began to disperse, Ethan glanced toward Alice. She caught his eye, her expression unreadable for a moment, but then she smiled gently, almost as if she’d seen something reassuring. Ethan wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Whatever was coming, he knew one thing: his time was running out.