**Edward POV**
**I don't own any of Steph's characters, but I'm trying to slightly improve them ;)**
Inactions
I took deliberate steps into the clearing, wondering who I was smelling and, even more alarming, who I was failing to hear. There were no thoughts coming from the area I was sure the smell was traveling from. Either the thing had no thoughts or they knew me well enough to cut off their thoughts. Suddenly I heard a familiar voice.
'Who's smell is that? Smells', Emmett strolled into the clearing and wrinkled his nose 'old'.
Carlisle followed behind him closely with an odd expression.
'Edward, I know that smell. It's more than one, but it's definitely Aro.'
I sighed deeply and turned to Emmett and mouthed 'Volturi' before turning back to stare into the trees. Just as I expected, Emmett became defensive and his body became rigid and hard.
'Ah, they want a fight.' A strong voice thought. I turned to Carlisle and tried to tell him something with my eyes. He walked to Emmett and placed a calming hand on his shoulder before stepping forward so he was ahead of both of us.
"Aro?" His voice rang loud and clear and was responded by a group of people chuckling in their heads. I felt anger creep over me at their nonchalant attitudes.
The first vampire to come into view was Felix and his stride and rigid frame mirrored Emmett's. Next came Alec and Jane who held no expressions and walked at the same pace. Two large and intimidating nameless guards followed them.
Aro came into view last and his arms spread as soon as he saw us. A genuine smile danced across his face. I shook my head and snickered at his casual behavior. Aro was an oddity.
"Carlisle, my old friend!"
"It's been far too long." Carlisle said as he walked forward and embraced him. Aro looked over Carlisle's shoulder at Emmett.
"Felix, please, let's not start this off with violence." When nothing changed he looked over at Felix. "Back down. Now."
Felix's body relaxed instantly and so did Emmett 's, only slower and begrudgingly. He straightened up and let out a string of curse words in his head. I wished Jasper were there at that moment to help Emmett calm down.
"I couldn't resist paying my compliments in person! What a happy occasion for you and your family! We were so touched by the invitation." Aro spoke animatedly and with real enthusiasm. Jane walked into the path with a bored expression that seemed to bring Aro back to his reasoning for being there.
Aro turned his attention to me then, for the first time since we'd come upon them. He looked sad for a moment before allowing a small grin.
"And where is the lovely bride-to-be?" he asked so pleasantly that Jane adopted a deep scowl. I felt instantly defensive and had to talk back the anger that was threatening to explode from my very skin. With deep self-control, I grinned.
"Home. There's so much planning involved, you know. Alice barely gives her time to sleep." I told him seeing already that they knew or at least suspected that Bella was not turned yet.
"And her health?" He raised his eyebrows in mock curiosity. I hated his patronizing tone so I kept my mouth shut and flexed my jaw to emphasize my lack of desire to discuss it.
Aro held his hand out to me with what I assumed was supposed to be a comforting smile. I took it begrudgingly and then pulled it away quicker than he wanted. It was enough. He saw a lot of things from the last time I saw him to before I left for the hunting trip flash in his mind. Bella's face, usually with a light blush to her cheeks, dominated most of the scenes. I'd only confirmed what they knew to be true. No way had I turned her and then planned a wedding in her hometown with all of her very human relatives. He seemed to be looking for something else entirely.
"Ah, very interesting. She has a great mind. Well, from what you can gather." He paused to laugh lightly at himself or me. "What a vampire she will make!" he said raising one of his eyebrows at me with real curiosity this time.
'She got you to agree to do it yourself. Very touching.' His thoughts were sincere and awed. Jane growled beside him and brought a hand to his arm to bring him back from his mind.
"She's still mortal then? Like I suspected?" she asked with a cross between elation and bitterness. Aro kept his eyes on mine and nodded. Jane bared her teeth and took a defensive stance.
'Finally!' Emmett bellowed in his head as he copied her moves. Most of the bodyguards joined in a second later. Aro continued to stare at me, his thoughts never strayed from the plan we had to turn Bella after we were married.
'I could let them take you down and feel completely justified. You've been cleverly avoiding the task we set you.' He told me but didn't seem to even believe himself, let alone expect me to.
"We both know your love and respect for Carlisle as well as your deep desire to absorb myself and Alice into your little", I paused and gestured around to the defensive vampires, "family, keep me safe from any harm."
I knew I was being cocky and that Jane would growl at me, but Aro's deep laugh and casual steps forward were shocking and I had to steady myself and allow his arm to drape across my shoulders.
"You are so magnificent, Edward Cullen. So amazing." He continued to chuckle and shake his head as he turned us both so we were facing Carlisle.
Carlisle started to talk fast. He confirmed the plan Aro had seen in my head and showed him how he had planned to do it himself after graduation, before we changed the plan, by taking Aro's hand.
"Very good. Jane, dear, please relax. There's no law being broken here." He breathed to her and waved a hand at the rest of the bodyguards. They all did as they were told, except Jane.
"Is she still a mortal or not?" Jane managed to ask through her clenched teeth.
"Yes, quite. But she has very little heartbeats left, I assure you. It's true that Edward has been biding his time. That is the only crime here. Hardly seems worth a fight." Aro said with a chuckle as if he were talking to a child. She noticed this, too, and though she straightened up, her teeth remained bared.
"Exactly. Not worth a fight. Not even worth you making such a long trip." Carlisle said casually as he put a hand on Emmett's shoulder to tell him to calm down again. Emmett groaned in his head, but did what he knew he was being told to do.
"Oh, really? I've checked on this girl twice now and that is two more chances than we would normally give!" Jane spat back at Carlisle. Aro smiled and nodded at her with approval.
"That's a very solid point, my dear. What to do?" He said the last part while looking directly at me. He held no clear ideas in his head as if he really didn't know how to proceed. Jane was quick to answer him.
"Her heart has been beating stolen beats since she left us in Italy. This family of vampires has known what is required of them and chose to not act. A plan to finally do what they were charged to do, so long ago, is inexcusable. It does not make up for their inactions. There need to be consequences for that." Jane purred and turned her dark eyes on me as well and there was fire burning behind them that seemed to reach across the distance between us and burn my body to ash.
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