Chapter 3

The human looked back at us awkwardly, obviously debating whether to stay in her place or flee back to her precious Cullen protectors. As she began to pick up her bag, Aro cut in.

"Oh, dear Bella, you should not have to carry your own bags! How unladylike," Aro then turned to where most of the guards were standing. "Demetri?"

The grinning guard offered her hand out to take her interesting shaped bag, which she cautiously agreed to. Demetri stiffened at the smell and weight of it, but composed his face faster than the mortal saw.

"Felix?" Aro turned his head towards the large, eager vampire in the corner of the room. Anyone could tell by the guard's facial features he had some kind of fascination for the girl, and agreed with Aro's decision completely. I stared them down as both Demetri and Felix lead the girl down the hallway, her hands in tight fists and breathing unevenly. I had to admit; her bravery was impressing.

The second they had vanished, I snapped my icy gaze back to Aro. "You truly think she'll last another minute in this place?"

"Your bitterness will not bend my decision, Brother," Aro said smoothly, almost delightfully. "Bella Swan is a beautiful and strong woman. She will manage nicely here."

Beautiful and strong? Preposterous.

"Besides," Aro went on. "Most of the Volturi are quite infatuated with her, I dare say. No one would even think of doing something to hurt her without my permission."

"I can think of a few."

"Brother, please," Aro's ruby eyes bore into mine, a warning. "Arguments will settle nothing. We have a guest. It is not respectful to permit such pointless discussions in front of her."

"We would not need to argue if you merely put some thought into what I have been telling you, Aro," I said back, not backing down.

"On the contrary, I have went over your thoughts many times," Aro then stood up, his face composed but his eyes were burning. "And I still cannot understand why you disagree with my decision so assertively."

I too stood up, my temper rising. "Give me one reason to why we must do this favor."

Aro sighed, his hands locked together and slightly brought to his lips. He looked at me seriously, lowering his tone. "Brother Caius, do you not desire to once again be allies with the Olympic Coven?"

What a pathetic reason. I muttered bitterly. "Their friendship matters not to me. It's that mortal girl. How could you go along with this Aro? She's still human. Have you too forgotten that the Volturi do not give second chances? They made a deal to us to give her immortality. And if they do not wish to do their part in the deal, why should we do this in return?"

"Ah, but Caius," Aro countered, his palms in the air. "I personally think that young Bella Swan in not quite overdue in her time of mortality. If we want to regain peace with the Olympic Coven, we must immediately agree to do them a favor of protecting this human."

"Such ignorance, Aro," was all I had to say to his small lecture.

"Excuse me, master?"

Both Aro and I turned our heads to the voice. I hadn't noticed the three had returned, and it seemed neither did Aro. Exactly how much did they overhear?

"Ah! Forgive me, lovely Bella!" Aro's tone was clearly much more enthusiastic then before. "I did not notice your presence. How silly of me."

"Um…" The girl uttered. "It's okay."

Aro merely smiled. "Please, do join us. You may sit next to Jane, right over there."

The girl's heartbeat seemed to have quickened at that command, and Jane looked repulsed. Still, she forced herself to sit next to one of the Volturi's most dangerous guards and sat on the very edge, and it looked as if she would fall off. I myself sat back in my throne, and resumed my usual scowl.

"I think it is time to discuss Miss Swan's state of being," Aro then positioned himself in the center of the throne room. "If we are to protect her from these horrid newborns, I believe she should be guarded at all times. Does anyone deny this?"

I knew I denied this. But since Aro already knew my thoughts, what would be the logical point of speaking up? More silence filled the room.

"Good. Now, who would like to volunteer to watch Bella Swan at all times, and take the blame if she is at all returned to Edward Cullen in a harmed state?"

Aro made the job sound like the fiery pits of hell. Who would seriously like to be around that repulsive mortal all day? As my own eyes wandered the throne room, every vampire seemed to be thinking the same thing as I.

"Um…" The girl spoke up, grabbing everyone's attention. "I don't have to be watched. I'll be fine on my own."

"Oh, but letting you wander these corridors unguarded would be so disrespectful of me, don't you agree young Bella?" Aro asked innocently. The girl weakly nodded, even though she did not seem to completely agree with him. Aro then clapped his hands and turned to both Marcus and I.

"Brother Marcus? Don't you agree Caius would make a wonderful guard during her stay?"

The entire room seemed to darken as I took these words in. How dare that ignorant-

"Aro, you cannot be serious!" I said venomously, the throne shaking under my clenched claws. Aro merely ignored me, like he had not noticed my outburst at all.

"Don't you agree, Marcus?"

Marcus was daydreaming again, I could tell, the dread eating me alive. He would always wander off in space anytime he thought about Didyme, he beloved wife, and never take the slightest notion to what the discussion was. "What? Mmm-hmm. Of course. Mmm-Hmm."

"Then it's settled!" Aro declared, turning towards the terrified mortal. "Bella, whenever you decide to walk around, please let Caius escort you at all times. Do be a dear and always tell me when Caius does not cooperate with this decision."

"I-"

"ARO!" I roared, my anger out of control. "I will not agree to protect that REVOLTING human! If this is about that argument we had previously, then I apologize. Your request is denied." I switched my furious gaze back to the girl who was paling and shaking in her tracks.

"Oh, but you will protect her, brother," Aro said soothingly. "Do not think this as a punishment. Think of it more like a favor to us all. A favor to the Volturi. Would you let the whole Volturi down for a small dislike for the girl? Hmm?"

Favor? Dislike?

I would have done it. I would have rushed over and held my own master by the bloody throat, but some kind of control had a hold on me. Instead of attacking, I rushed out of the throne room completely, the anger still throbbing through my being. I had to leave. I had to get out of there.

Before I snapped.

His panting and footsteps were nearby, I could hear it. Sprinting aimlessly to the nearest spot of civilization where he could find safety, someone to help him. But I would not allow it. He chose his fate already.

He dashed behind the nearest deserted alleyway, trying to hold in his panting. He listened. He heard nothing. Slowly, he crept out of his hiding spot to check, just one little peek to make sure he had lost whoever pursued him. Nothing was there.

Sighing with relief, he turned around and-

"Agh!" The man struggled beneath my terribly tight grip, my arm holding him the air. He made more gagging noises, trying so feebly to wriggle free and try to escape my clutches again.

I tightened more and spat. "I will never protect your kind."

Then, I tightened my grip all the way, the weak human's bones snapping to his death. I then brought the body towards my lips where my teeth pierced the dead man's throat.

I literally wanted to update this story or Bound to a Blackened Soul SO BAD, but I didn't have a computer to type it up. For that delay, I apologize. Please review ^^