Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, Stephenie Meyer does. No copyright infringement is intended, and I am making no financial gain from this, either.
Chapter 8
Aro sighed concernedly as he closed his eyes in thought for a second, an eery silence instantly filling the small room. His eyebrows furrowed in deep worry, and as she heard his quickened breathing, a three millennia old instinct, Bella immediately knew what magnitude of trouble lay before them.
"Aro," Bella croaked out, suddenly sounding weak. "This is insane. Give me my phone. I'll call back Alice, I'll explain, and there'll be no war. Please be reasonable."
Aro seemed to think about her proposition for a second, but then hastily dismissed the thought. "No," he responded. "Do you honestly expect everything to go peacefully if you inform your family? You are married Bella, for God's sake. You have a child. Edward will be livid."
"Yes," she agreed. "But I'd take Edward's hatred over the potential death of my daughter and family any time."
Once more the king sighed. Quickly he removed a cellular device from his trouser pocket and dialed up the one number on speed dial.
"Yes?" a squeaky, human voice answered.
"Bring me two glasses of blood, Gianna. I expect to receive them in my study within the minute."
"Of course, Master."
Within a millisecond, the line went dead.
"What was that?" Bella demanded, feeling her eyes widen in realization. "Aro, whatever is it you're hiding that you are trying to make me forget over a glass of blood, I demand to know it."
"Fine," he said, cupping Bella's face with his hands. "I'm a king, and as such, it would be pure poison for my reputation, and the Volturi's in that matter, to take what was already another's. If, publically at least, it seemed as if this was about your daughter, it would be easier for all of us."
"In what ways?"
"Theoretically, we could have fallen in love while I held you captive," Aro explained. "If Edward had, say, died in battle, we could wait some time and only then make it public. Also it would give us a valid reason to allow Renesmee to stay in Volterra."
Bella's face lit up with joy. "Do you mean...?"
"Of course," Aro assured her. "How heartless would I be to separate a mother and her child?"
"Thank you," Bella whispered, more than simply thankful. "You don't know what you just did for me."
Within the blink of an eye, Bella's hands found their way into Aro's hair, and she crushed her full lips to his. Taken by surprise Aro let out an uncontrollable moan of pleasure, but quickly pulled back.
"We will have plenty of time for that, dear" he commented, "Once this war is over and dealt with."
Bella nodded in understanding. "We'll have to tell the Volturi though, won't we?"
"Not necessarily," Aro pondered. "Theoretically we could run it all behind their backs, given the fact that I am the one with the garstly mind reading ability. But it would be terribly complicated, and when I say terribly, I mean insufferably. Also, if they ever do find out by chance, there is a good chance I will be removed from my throne for treachery."
"Extremely awkward coming-out it is then," Bella sighed.
"You'll survive," Aro consoled her. "And believe me, the Volturi have fought wars for far less than this in the past."
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation, and Aro hastily made his way towards the door to acknowledge the visitor.
"Hello Gianna, dear," he greeted the young woman, flashing her one of his most brilliant smiles. Bella could practically see her heart melt at the sight.
"Hello, Master," she replied.
"You may go now, dear."
Two seconds after, the door fell into its hinges behind the secretary and Aro walked back into the center of his study, towards his loved one, two glasses of blood in his hands.
"To life," he said as he handed a glass to Bella.
"To life."
"Aro," Caius noted as the mahogany-haired king entered the throne room alongside his lover. "And the Cullen girl, too. To what do we owe this pleasure?" One would have had to be deaf to miss the heavy sarcasm in his voice.
As per usual, Aro completely ignored his brother's displeasure. Without even so much as shrugging, he spoke up.
"The truth, brother."
Shocked sighs went through the crowd of guards at the dramatic statement, and Caius's eyes widened to a maximum. Even Marcus seemed to be caught off guard; within the blink of an eye, he abandoned his old apathy and sat up straight on his throne, waiting impatiently for Aro to continue.
"I found my mate in Bella Cullen."
~o.O.o~
"So, to make a long story short, we will be forced to fight an artifical war against the Olympic Coven only to secure your mate's perpetual place along your side," Caius summarized.
"Yes," Aro agreed. "That is exactly what it means."
Marcus sighed. "Carlisle is our friend, Aro. We cannot possibly hurt his family like this."
"I believe we can," Aro replied rather bluntly. "After all, he has broken the law of exposing us to humans. And in the end, what is more important than a mate?"
Bella, suddenly insecure, impulsively felt the need to justify herself. "I am deeply sorry for the trouble I am causing."
"Do not worry yourself," Caius responded. "We have fought far more senseless wars. Besides, it is not you that poses the problem. It is the complicated strategy that will be necessary. Also, I am rather glad to be given an excuse to enjoy myself."
"Aro, we will need to find a fake witness to state that he mistook the little hybrid for an immortal," Marcus noted. "Otherwise, all logic in this will be obliterated and gone."
"Yes, I agree," Caius said. "We have enough prisoners screaming for our mercy in the dungeons, though. Certainly one of them will be willing to fake a testimony for the sake of their life."
"Certainly," Aro thought aloud.
"So, Aro, what exactly was your plan with this battle, if I may ask?" Caius asked. "When shall we attack, who do we kill, how, et cetera?"
"We attack as soon as possible," Aro stated, an undeniably strong yet secure quality to his voice.
"We send them a formal letter of complaint about their crimes a little earlier. Allow them to panic. Then we kill. Our story is that whatever criminal has 'seen' Renesmee came to us, stating for her to be one of the forbidden. We took in Bella as a hostage to make sure they would comply and attack us before the actual battle. When they tell us that Renesmee is half human and demand for us to return their family member, we come back to the essential exposure part. They exposed us to Bella after all, which is a crime, and they will pay."
"Let me guess: we gave Bella the choice to be killed instantly or join us?" Caius interrupted.
"Yes," Aro smirked. "Then we go into battle. Bella shields us from their gifts, Alec numbs them, the usual. It will be very easy, too easy almost. We spare the girl and depart. Officially we take her in for research purposes, she is one of a kind after all. Then, months after, Bella and I announce our mate bond. Which, of course, she supposedly formed to me as a hostage."
"Brilliant down to the last detail," Marcus smiled in appreciation. "I have no doubt that this will go down very flawlessly."
"Now that this is settled then," Aro concluded, "I am sure you will not mind Bella and I departing for my quarters?"
"Not at all," Marcus replied. "We will call for you when necessary."
And with that, Aro pulled Bella to the exit.
"Wait," Bella called out. Every head in the room turned towards her.
"Please. We must get Renesmee earlier," she pleaded. "She may be seventeen already, but she is but my little girl. If she witnesses the death of her father as well of all her remaining family, she will be psychologically scarred for life."
"Aren't we all?"
Author's Note: So sorry I only got around to writing this now, three days late! Please don't kill me. I really, really hoped you enjoyed this chapter, though. So please leave me behind a review... :) Can we make it to over 50 reviews before next chapter?
Bye for now. *waves*
