Absolución teaser from chapter 8

"What is it?" Vladimir asked quietly.

Stefan set the phone down slowly staring at it, his brow drawing down with concern. He did not look at his brother.

"What has happened?" Vladimir asked.

Stefan raised his eyes slowly: blood-hungry dark red stared into blood-full red. He answered with a single word that held a thousand words and worries. "Eleazar."

"Eleazar?" Vladimir repeated. "He's had news of the boy?"

Stefan nodded slowly. "He's been with Carlisle this past month."

Stefan reached out and put his hand on Vladimir's arm. "He attacked him. Marcus was present during the attack. We were right. It was Marcus who turned the boy. The Cullens turned Rolle over to him at his betrayal." Stefan looked meaningfully into the face of his companion. "Marcus took the boy back to Italy with him."

Vladimir staggered back a step and fell heavily into a thick wooden chair. "We are lost," he whispered. "Call Eleazar," he said, his voice low and commanding. "Ask him to make the arrangements for our introduction. We must speak to Carlisle ourselves. We must discover the circumstances of this attack." Vladimir strode urgently to the desk in the other room. "I'll make arrangements for our flight. We leave immediately."

"What if we were wrong about Carlisle? What if he refuses to see us?" Stefan asked.

Vladimir's tone was sharp and intractable. "We're going anyway."