AN: Once again, I bring you The Jewelry Box. Now I hope I haven't been confusing anyone so far. Believe me, the truth will come out soon. So just sit back and enjoy

Song list: My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark- Fall Out Boy

Heist- Lindsey Stirling

Chapter 2

Bella POV

Jasper and I left that day, never to return. Jake had been shocked at the fact that I'd leave Nessie like that, but when he realized the imprint wasn't exactly solid on his end, he stepped away too. He merely told me to stay in touch and let him and Sam know if we changed diets. When I asked why, he and Sam both said that they'd work on a treaty with myself, Jasper and other human drinkers as long as any hunting was kept out of Forks and Port Angeles. Neither would say why they were making the treaty. Jake, promising to keep Charlie safe, helped us to get to the airport to keep the Cullens blind for as long as possible. Jenks was contacted on the plane and assured us that our marriages would be annulled before we reached Italy. He also assured us that he would halt his supply of documents to the Cullen coven until otherwise told.

Upon reaching Italy, Jasper and I hunted humans for the first time. The change was definitely different, but we both felt satisfied after. Jasper was even having an easier time with his gift after his first human. His temper was a little short after, making me think that Carlisle had lied to him about something in regards to the animal diet. We kept with the human diet, purchasing a few pairs of contacts to help us blend in.

Now, all we had to do was meet with the Volturi and get off their shit list.

*Six weeks later: Volturi Throne Room*

Jasper and I walked in, led by Jane and Alec. Jane was already pissed off since I used my shield to deflect her from using her gift on Jasper.

She's lucky, considering my shield was the only thing keeping Jasper from turning that pain shit back on her

As we came to a stop in the middle of the throne room, I saw that their feeding time had just ended, the leftover blood being mopped away. It smelled good but luckily, Jasper and I had just fed and didn't flinch at the smell.

Aro saw us first and said, "Ah, Isabella and Major Whitlock, what a lovely surprise. What brings you to us?" Taking the garnet necklace he had given me out of my pocket, I said, "Hopefully, a peaceful conversation with those that we consider friends and that will end well for all parties." Aro looked shocked at the sight of the necklace, like he was surprised to see it again. Caius sneered and asked, "Why should we speak to the coven that insulted us?"

Showing all three the Whitlock crests we now wore, I said, "We are no longer with that coven Caius. Not that I ever was to begin with." Marcus asked, "So Carlisle never presented you with a crest?" Rolling my eyes, I said, "Of course not. Yet the child I bore now carries one." Marcus nodded and then asked, "Do you wish to know your lines Isabella?" Nodding, I said, "Just tell me if I should have even bothered to come here the last time."

Marcus actually stood, walking towards me as he said, "You were never tied to the Mind Reader. The lines were false with the entire coven, barring the Major and the large one." I tried not to show any shock at what he told me, but it still hurt. Jasper asked, "Why did it cause her so much pain when we left her?"

Marcus sighed as he said, "I have seen it only a few times in my years as a vampire. Few of us use it in that way. Most use Compulsion as a hunting tool. The ones that have used it as Edward Cullen has rarely live long once we discover their crime." Caius said, "Compulsion is a tool used by the weak. I'm not surprised that Cullen used it, considering his diet." I asked, "Okay, what exactly is Compulsion?"

Aro rolled his eyes as he said, "Forgive us Isabella, I always seem to forget how much your education has been neglected thanks to Carlisle's desire to be 'human'. Compulsion is a tactic all vampires are able to use in order to lure their pray. A scent trick that makes humans do anything the vampire wants. We outlawed its use to make human pets centuries ago."

Jasper asked, "So in Edward's case, he could use the Compulsion to make Bella stop arguing with him or even to get her to agree to marry him?" Marcus nodded before he asked, "Isabella, was there any time that you couldn't bear to be near the Mind Reader?" It didn't take me long to say, "While I was pregnant. He kept at me to end it, staring me down and begging all the time. I never backed down, not like I would before the wedding. He kept trying, even after I work from the change. Like he was trying to see if something worked. Lately though, he's been spending more time with Alice, Renesmee and Rosalie."

Jasper said, "Maybe with your gift fully in the works, he couldn't manipulate you anymore, but he didn't want to give you up. So he kept trying and I can't really believe I'm saying this, but maybe the others helped. Not Emmett, I don't think he'd ever do that to you, but I can't say the same for the rest of the coven." Caius said, "I've had my suspicions about the Mind Reader for some time. Carlisle turned him too young and while he was deathly ill. For a medical man, Carlisle seems to have forgotten how illness can affect the change." Something about that made me ask, "Can gifts be passed down? Hereditary and all?"

Aro said, "It has been seen with sires and their progeny, though most progeny get lesser versions of the gift. Marcus himself has several and they all have versions of his ability to see lines and loyalties. As for hybrids like your child, we're still trying to figure certain things out. Why do you ask?" "Since the confrontation, I've noticed that Nessie's gift has differed. Or maybe I just didn't notice at first. But her gift is almost like a combination of Alice and Edward's gifts. I wasn't sure that was even possible." Marcus asked, "How so?" Pacing a bit, I said, "Carlisle wanted to see the extent of her gift, so I asked her to show him the earliest memory she had. Carlisle said that she showed him the memory of seeing me for the first time. That was not what she showed me when I saw her for the first time."

Aro asked, "Could he have been lying?" Shrugging, I said, "Possibly. It wouldn't be the first-time Carlisle had done something because Edward told him to or because he decided not to take charge. To be honest, this whole mess with the Cullens started because Alice supposedly 'saw' me as a vampire." "So?" Rolling my eyes, I said, "Alice told me that she only sees DECIDED futures. So how could she have a vision of me as a vampire before I ever even met the Cullens?" Aro shook his head and said, "That's not possible. I saw her vision myself."

Shaking my head, I said, "You saw that vision because Alice decided to show you that I would be turned. Yet I wasn't. Not until I'd been worn down into a marriage I never wanted and died giving birth to a child I never thought possible and frankly never wanted. Add to that the fact that Edward never actually bit me. He just injected me with his venom in order to try and keep his pet."

All three kings looked shocked at my revelation. Marcus was silent for a few moments before he said, "You becoming a vampire and harnessing your shield broke the Mind Reader's hold on you. The only ties remaining are those to the Major, his coven, the large Cullen, your father, the Shifters and most important of all, your Mate." Jasper said, "Bella, you know, Alice never said what kind of vampire you'd be. She just said you'd become like us." I was processing this possibility when Caius asked, "What does your father know?"

Sighing, I said, "He knows enough but will keep his mouth shut. Apparently, the town of Forks attracts the supernatural." Marcus actually chuckled as he said, "Indeed. As far as your father goes, he is safe. We can't punish him or force him to change just because he happens to live in the safest town for our kind. We will trust that he will keep the secret." Jasper asked, "What about the Cullen coven?"

Aro said, "Based on what you've told us, coupled with other offenses, the Cullen coven must be dealt with once and for all." I asked, "What other offenses?" Caius rolled his eyes as he said, "Let's start with the fact that Carlisle Cullen had been practicing medicine without any type of legal degree or license. We keep an eye on things like that when it involves one of our kind mingling with humans so much. Hospitals are beginning to talk. Then there's the ridiculous amount of money the coven spends."

Jasper scoffed as he said, "No kidding. None of them try to blend in besides Emmett. I hated the way they live." I nodded as well, saying, "That's what made me notice all of you. The cars, the clothes. You guys looked like models. You stood out, especially Emmett. His size indicated a large appetite, but he never ate." Jasper nodded again as he said, "I told Carlisle that the high school rouse wouldn't work forever. As for Carlisle and his lack of paperwork, that can be dealt with. Jenks is already halting any work for them and it seems his work is slipping."

Marcus turned to me, staring as Aro said, "The two of you are safe from any retaliation we levy against the Cullen coven. Is there anything else you require?" I returned Marcus' stare as I asked, "You mentioned that I was still tied to my real Mate. Who is he?"

Marcus reached for my hand, and Aro's, as he said, "You have met him Isabella. The Mind Reader's Compulsion would have blocked the Bond, at least partly. Your Mate would have felt the Bond if he had been near you enough and your shield was down or being used."

Aro began to chuckle as I began to think. All the males I'd been near during my first few months as a vampire were Mated. All except…

Aro asked, "Who do you wish to find Isabella?"

Taking a deep, unnecessary breath, I said, "My Mate, the nomad known as Alistair."