Bella's POV
I walked back into the house to speak to the Cullens. Jasper had taken a minute, but I soon felt his presence behind me.
Peter approached me as soon as I entered the house. "They ventured into the living room a few minutes ago."
I nodded and beckoned for them all to follow me. We went into the living room where the Cullens were all seated on the large sectional couch. They all looked on edge.
I couldn't help but smirk at their discomfort. I didn't normally take pleasure in others misery, but in this case, I felt I deserved it. These people had put me through hell and they'd paved the road for those bastards who called themselves kings to do the same. So, yes I felt justified in the pleasure I got form intimidating them.
I walked into the center of the room to make sure I had everyone's attention. "Alright, Cullen family, time's up. Make a choice and make it now."
Carlisle stood up from the couch and made a move to approach me, causing my soldiers to growl and move towards him.
I held my hand up to them telling that I was fine and didn't want them to interfere.
Carlisle still seemed to be intimidated, so he stopped trying to come towards me. "Bella, you have to stop this. I don't know what happened between you and the Volturi, but you must end it. There are better ways to solve problems."
I spent a few seconds just staring at him. I wondered for a second if he had really just said that crap to me or if I was imagining it. Because really, who was naïve enough to believe that that line of bull would work on me? Either Carlisle was really, really stupid or he thought I was really, really stupid.
Once the surprise of what Carlisle had said to me wore off and the sheer ridiculousness of it sunk in, I started laughing my ass off. "Really, Carlisle? You want me and Aro to sit down and discuss our differences over tea. I don't remember you being that stupid before. Then again, I was pretty stupid and naïve as a human, so that's probably why I don't remember."
"Bella, please. Please don't do this. Carlisle's right, there's gotta be a better way," Esme said.
"If this is your way of stalling, I suggest you give it up. All it will do is piss me off. You don't wanna see that. Make. A. Choice. Now," I ordered in hard voice. I got a good laugh at Carlisle's stupidity, but enough was enough. This entire thing was wasting time that could be spent on the destruction of the Volturi.
"We don't want to fight," Esme said.
"Okay, I didn't want to have to put it this way. I was hoping you'd all get it for yourselves, but it seems you're a bit slow. So let me spell it out for you. Either you fight or you die! Is that clearer for everyone? Jasper, make a choice," I ordered.
"My decision was made before you got here. I have no problem fighting a war and I've thought for a while now that the Volturi needed taken care of. You have me," Jasper said.
I nodded and turned to Emmett. "Emmett."
"You know I love a good fight, and I'd never fight against you, Bella. I'm in," Emmett said with a smile.
"If Emmett's in, so am I. I can't really say I want to fight, but I go where Emmett goes. Besides, I know you mean it when you say you'll kill us and I'm not too keen on that," Rosalie said. Leave it her to find sarcasm even when she's being threatened.
I shifted my gaze to Alice who looked absolutely terrified. It was actually a little more than the situation called for. True I threatened her life, but this seemed like more than that. I didn't know what it was, but I just got the feeling something more was going on with her.
I shrugged off those thoughts. It wasn't important right now. If Alice joined the fight, I would have plenty of time to figure out if she was hiding something from me. If she didn't, it really wouldn't matter for long. Right now, I just needed to finish this up. "I'm waiting, Alice."
Alice shuddered and then glanced at the door
I took a step towards her and looked her right in the eye. "It would be a very stupid move."
Alice looked at me again with nothing but fear in her eyes and then ran out in full vampire speed.
I sighed. "Alistair, find her. Find her and detain her. Do nothing else." Normally I would probably let him or someone else destroy her, but I detested cowards. Refusing to fight is one thing. It would still end in death, but to a certain point I could respect it. Running was another thing entirely. I hated it. Alice was going to get my personal attention for that.
"Yes, Ma'am," Alistair said before running out after Alice.
I decided to continue with the rest of the family. "Edward, your decision."
"You're not really gonna hurt Alice, are you?" Edward asked.
"I'd be more worried about your own fate than that of your sister's if I were you, Edward. If you don't make a decision soon, your fate doesn't look good," I told him. He was trying my patience. I was already pissed enough that Alice had had the nerve to try to run from me. I wasn't in the mood for anymore crap.
"Bella, please, this isn't you. These human drinkers are obviously a bad influence. Come back to us and we'll make everything better again," Edward said.
"Peter, Garrett," I called.
Both men went over and pulled Edward up by the arms. Peter then grabbed Edward's head while Garrett held him.
"Oh my God!" Esme yelled.
Carlisle went to try to stop Peter and Garrett, but Jasper got involved and roughly pushed Carlisle away, causing him to fly across the room. He was already fighting for me and my cause.
"No, stop! Bella, please!" Edward begged. He obviously didn't think I'd really go through with it until right now. He finally realized that I was serious about killing him if I had to.
"I'm through playing games with you, Edward. Make your choice or it gets made for you. You have five seconds," I told him. I was done with him now. He'd tried my last patient.
"Okay! Okay, I'll fight!" Edward said immediately with fear in his voice.
I waited a minute and then then motioned for Peter and Garrett to let him go.
Peter had a slight scowl on his face. He was looking forward to destroying Edward. I wasn't surprised by it. Peter was very protective of me and he took it personally when someone hurt me. Needless to say, he had a grudge against Edward.
"Esme," I said.
Esme looked over at Edward and shuddered. She clearly had Edward nearly dying just a moment ago on her mind. "O…okay. I'll join."
"Esme!" Carlisle exclaimed. He'd since picked himself off the floor and was now standing against the wall cornered by Jasper.
"Carlisle, she was going to have Edward killed! If she can kill him after everything they've been through, she can kill any of us. I don't want to die and I don't want you to die! Please! We have to do this! Please!" Esme begged.
Carlisle turned to me with sadness and anger in his eyes. "You're really going to do this to us? You're really going to force us into a war we don't want to be a part of?"
"I really am," I said without a trace of remorse in my voice.
"Why? Why would you want warriors who don't want to fight?" Carlisle asked.
"Carlisle, my patience is gone. If I have to call Peter ad Garrett over to you, you're not going to get another chance at the last second," I warned him.
"Carlisle, please," Esme begged.
Carlisle looked at her. He looked pained from the pain and fear in her eyes. He was clearly feeling their connection as mates. "It goes against everything I believe, but alright. I'll do it for you, dear."
Esme breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
Just then my phone buzzed. I took it out and saw that I had a text. It was from Alistair. He'd found Alice in the forest not too far from here. "Char, you're with me. Alistair has the pixie cornered.
Char looked at me with a slightly evil glint in her eyes started out of the room. Did I mention that Char hated Alice's guts?
I was about to follow Char, but I decided to go over to Jasper first. I knew this was going to affect him a lot. A part of me even wished I didn't have to do this so that he wouldn't be hurt, but Alice ran from me. That was not something that I could let go. "I'll make it quick."
Jasper nodded curtly and then looked away.
I stood there for a moment staring at him and then walked away.
