CHAPTER 7: A SINISTER PLAN

                                    

                                          

A SINISTER PLAN
Carlisle worked methodically, his hands steady despite the gruesome task. Edward's body rested on the sofa, and Carlisle was carefully reattaching Edward's severed head to his body. His limbs, already reattached, were healing slowly, the ragged wounds still raw and venom oozing faintly. Behind him, Jasper sat on the floor, grimacing as he waited for his leg to mend after it had been forcibly reattached.
Carlisle adjusted Edward's head, holding it in place. "I know what you're thinking," he said, his voice heavy with frustration. "But Rosalie's mate is too dangerous—too powerful. You saw what she did to Edward. All she had to do was lift her hand, and he was in pieces." He exhaled sharply, his brow furrowed.
"No, there must be something I can do. I refuse to accept defeat. No one on this earth is untouchable. We just need to find the right way to deal with her." Jasper sighed, his gaze distant. Pursuing this, he knew, could very well end in his death. But a calculating look crossed his face. He thought I might control Rosalie's mate if I played this right. With that power, I could easily overthrow the Volturi. Jasper sneered inwardly. "The Volturi," he muttered, "a council run by women who let emotions dictate their actions. Vampires need strong, logical leaders—not fragile rulers."
Pulling Jasper from his thoughts, Carlisle added, "We need to figure out who—or rather, what—Rosalie's mate is. Then we can come up with a plan."
"A plan, you say?"
The words came from nowhere, chilling the air. Carlisle and Jasper froze, their eyes darting toward the staircase. Black mist swirled at the base, curling ominously. Their instincts screamed danger as the mist coalesced into a figure—a demon, radiating malice.
The creature had skin the color of blood, pointed ears, and sharp fangs that gleamed menacingly. A long, barbed tail swayed behind him like a serpent ready to strike. He was dressed impeccably in a black Armani suit with a crimson tie, polished black shoes, and a wide-brimmed hat pierced by two sharp horns. Leaning casually against the staircase, he smirked.
"I've got to say," the demon drawled, his voice dripping with mockery, "you were beaten quite thoroughly by my sister. She didn't even draw her sword, yet here you are, scrambling for a plan. I admire your stupidity... or is it bravery? No, just stupidity." Andell shook his head.
Carlisle finally found his voice, though it trembled with fear. "Who the hell are you?"
The demon tipped his hat mockingly. "Andell, at your service."
"You're a demon," Jasper blurted, awe and apprehension mingling in his tone.
"Well, this one's quick on the uptake," Andell quipped. "Let's get down to business. You're scheming against my dear sister, Isabella, aren't you?"
Carlisle swallowed hard. "Your sister... the one who tore Edward apart?"
"Give the man a prize," Andell said with mock enthusiasm. "Yes, my sister. She's a warrior demon, nearly impossible to kill. But..." His tone darkened. "If you use her mate as leverage, it's doable."
"Why help us kill your sister?" Jasper asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
Andell's smile vanished, replaced with cold disdain. "I have no love for Isabella. She should be dead."
With a wave of his hand, a silver knife materialized on the coffee table. The blade shimmered with an eerie white glow, its hilt carved from ivory. Carlisle picked it up cautiously but still pricked his finger on the edge. Venom and blood dripped from the wound.
"Careful," Andell warned, his tone sharp. "That blade is deadly—to demons and other creatures. Handle it wisely."
Jasper narrowed his eyes. "And what if we decided to use it on you?"
Before the words settled, Jasper screamed, clutching his chest as searing pain wracked his body. Andell's expression turned deadly. "Try it, and I'll burn you to ash before you even move. Don't forget, vampire, I'm the one helping you."
Jasper collapsed, vomiting venom as the pain abruptly ceased. Carlisle steadied him, glaring at Andell.
Edward groaned, all eyes in the room looked at him. His vision slowly returned as his body felt numbed and a firm cold grip holding his body in place, he could not explain that feeling but fear was slowly developing in his body. Blinking, he found himself seated on a sofa, he was startled to see an unfamiliar creature by the stairs. " What....what is that thing."
"Thing," Andell sneered. "Mind your manners boy, or you will regret it,"
"Don't talk to me like that....."
"Edward," Carlisle warned.
Edward ignored him. "Do you know who I am?" 
"Edward!" Carlisle shouted.
"Do I look like I give a damned," Andell smirked, daring the boy to keep talking.
Once again Edward ignored Carlisle. His body is still healing, but he didn't let that stop him from
letting the strange creature know that he's the more powerful and that he should be at his feet.
"Listen to me you....." The pain began to wrack Edward's body, his torso felt like it was on fire as he began to scream.
"I have enough of your lip, boy," Andell sneered as he gave Edward a steely stare while burning him from the inside out.
The smell of ashes and dead flesh polluted the air as Edward's scream became louder, Carlise could see Edward's torso turning black and crumbling. "Please stop," Carlisle pleaded. "He didn't mean to offend you."
Andell looked at the idiots before him, if he didn't need them to take care of his Isabella, he would kill them. He stopped burning Edward and then looked at each of the men. "Do you have any questions?" Andell asked his voice becoming hard with his anger.
Carlisle looked at Edward, he could see his son's pain was lessened but his skin was charred black and peeling away.
He swallowed hard and looked at Andell, hoping that his face didn't show his fear.  "How are we supposed to get close enough to Isabella to use this?"
Andell sighed, exasperated. "Didn't we go through this before, figure it out." With that, he vanished in a puff of black smoke.
Carlisle helped Jasper sit up as he looked at Edward who was passed out from the intense pain. He didn't know that could happen to a vampire.
"Are we going through with this?" Jasper asked hesitation in his voice.
Carlisle's expression hardened. "Yes. This is our chance to destroy the queens and take what's rightfully ours. We'll be kings."
"What about Edward?" Jasper asked, his body still trembling from the earlier ordeal.
Carlisle signed. "I'm afraid that Edward is too prideful and arrogant to live long enough to see that happen but if he does he'll be king too."
"Ok, Jasper said then smirked weakly. "King Jasper... I like the sound of that."
"But first we need to get rid of Isabella and the others, I have a feeling that they will be a problem," Carlisle said bitterly.
"I agreed, Jasper said thoughtfully.
"Then it's settled," Carlisle said grimly.