Twilight Imagines

44. No Choice (Felix Volturi)

(Published July 27, 2025) 

   "Edith Thatcher.  It's been a while." 
   His familiar voice made my fingers freeze over the piano keys.  I squeezed my eyes shut, sucking in a long breath as I did.  Naturally, Aro would send Felix.  Why not?  Aro knew exactly how to play me, the mind reading genius.  And there was no better way than sending the one vampire I just so happened to have a soft spot for and who could kill me with his pinky.  
   "Felix." My greeting was a little stiffer than I had intended.  I spun around on the piano bench and gave him a small, polite smile.  His lips were already curved into his usual smirk, one that would make my heart flutter if it could still beat.  My mind was wise enough to know he was a player, but my heart?  That was one part of being human I did not miss one bit.  
   "You look exquisite, as usual," He continued as he meandered closer to me.  
   "Ever the flatterer," I shook my head slightly.  "What do you want?" 
   He chuckled.  "An old friend can't simply drop by for a visit?" 
   "You never have before," I pointed out.  
   "You always were very perceptive." He clasped his hands in front of himself and looked me right in the eye.  Oh, how I loved those ruby colored irises.  His always seemed to have a dark ring around the outside, making them just a little different from all of those other human eating vampires around him.  I had always wondered if it wasn't because of his extra strength.  Maybe he was always just a little bit hungry in order to keep up with throwing vampires around all of the time.  
   "Aro wants you to stand with him against the Cullen clan," He continued, snapping me from my thoughts.  "They've created an immortal child and must be punished." 
   I stood, my head only coming up to his chin due to his excessive height.  "And you need me there why?" 
   "They're gathering an army," He stated coolly.  "As if that would stop the Volturi." 
   "They're either incredibly foolish or ridiculously brave," I agreed softly.  
   Turning away from him, I took a few slow steps into the center of the room.  I heard him turn to continue facing me, but he didn't follow.  He knew I knew better than to run away.  
   "Have they approached you?" He asked.  
   "No.  I've never spoken to the Cullens," I replied instantly.  
   "Then why are you stalling?" He was suddenly standing directly in front of me, those beautiful eyes staring into my nearly black ones.  I hated hunting and only did it when absolutely necessary, so my eyes were often pitch black.  
   "Because I still don't understand why you need me to stand with you.  Surely the Volturi has enough guards to take them on, army or not.  How many would truly dare stand against you, anyway?" 
   I tried to take a step back, but he followed smoothly.  His smirk played with the corner of his mouth, telling me he was enjoying this game.  So, I stood my ground and crossed my arms over my t-shirt covered chest.  
   "The more the merrier," He stated with a shrug.  "Aro would rather see you arrive in one pretty piece, but we can go a more painful route if you wish to defy him." 
   "Is that a threat?" 
   "Did it sound like a compliment?" 
   Running my tongue across my bottom lip, I thought the whole thing over.  Not that there was anything to think over; I would be going with them whether I wanted to or not.  The other option was death.  Which wasn't a bad option, at my age, but did I really want to die?  I still had so many piano pieces to memorize yet.  With a sigh, I looked up into his eyes once more.  
   Something had changed.  Emotion now filled those ruby irises that were still boring into mine.  I opened my mouth, though I wasn't sure what to say.  Fortunately, he stopped me with a gentle hand on my wrist.  The words I was trying to sort out got caught in my throat and I quickly closed my lips.  Slowly, his lips curled into a soft smile, softer than any I had seen on his face before.  I frowned slightly, wondering what on earth was happening inside of his head.  
   "Ah, Edith," He breathed.  "When will you stop torturing me so?" 
   Again, I opened my mouth to question him, but he cut me off once more.  His mouth was on mine before I could utter a sound.  His lips were surprisingly gently, casually moving across my own in a dance that was strangely intoxicating.  I found myself kissing back before my brain even really kicked in.  Once it had, I gave him a light push away, separating our mouths.  
   "We shouldn't," was all I could manage.  
   His smirk was back in an instant.  "Why not?  Aro already knows." 
   "You don't have to play mind games with me to get me to come along," I stated, darting across the room to stand in front of the window.  
   He was behind me in less than a second, his hands running up and down my upper arms.  "I know I don't.  You have no choice." 
   "Then there's no need for it." 
   I tried to ignore the way his fingers feathered over my arms in a caress that was beyond anything I had imagined before.  Tried to ignore the way he leaned closer, pressing his body against mine.  Tried to ignore the way his lips brushed my ear ever so lightly.  For a vampire who's gift was super strength, he was being incredibly gentle!  
   "But there is," He whispered into my ear.  "I need you." 
   Those words would've stopped my heart if it wasn't already dead.  Instead, I froze.  I had never expected those words to leave his lips.  I was nobody.  A hermit who hid out in the coldest regions of Russia to avoid as many humans as possible.  He was part of the Volturi guard, and he was one of the most important members to boot.  There's no way a nobody like me would end up with a somebody like him... was there?  
   "Aro almost didn't send me," He continued to whisper.  "He was afraid I wouldn't be able to focus, coming to see you alone.  He's seen my dreams.  He knows how badly I want you.  The only reason he sent me is because I nearly ripped Jane's head off when he said he was going to send her instead." 
   I winced involuntarily.  No one wanted a visit from Jane.  
   "Exactly," He chuckled softly.  "Just the thought of her hurting you...  Besides, he told me something rather interesting before I left." 
   Well, here it comes.  Aro let my feelings for Felix become public knowledge.  
   "It seems," He brushed my hair off of my shoulder with his chin and pressed a kiss to the skin just above the t-shirt collar.  "That you like me, too." 
   "I did," I blurted out.  
   It was his turn to freeze.  "Did?" 
   "Mhm.  I liked you a lot.  But death threats kind of kill the romance, ya know?" 
   He spun me around to face him, grinning widely.  "Now who's playing games?" 
   I attempted to widen my eyes into an innocent look.  "Me?  Why would I play games?" 
   "Because you don't want to admit the truth," He laughed louder this time.  "Aiya, I love you." 
   Biting my bottom lip to try and fight the smile threatening to split across my face, I shook my head.  "You can't." 
   "Why not?" He challenged.  
   "Because I've decided I'm not going to fall in love with you," I stated decidedly, knowing it was too late and I was just delaying the inevitable.  
   "Well, amore mio," He leaned closer and gazed at me intently with those beautiful eyes again.  "It seems that, once again, you have no choice." 
   "You're awfully bossy," I breathed.  
   He smirked again.  "It's part of the job."