Chapter Nine A
Aro
My brothers and I stood together discussing the vexing problem of the Cullens. I wanted to spare Carlisle but it was going to be a difficult ruling to get past my brothers. I was insistent on Bella being allowed to become a vampire but again it would be a ruling I would be fought on and I had to choose my battles carefully. The one thing we had all agreed on was that Rosalie and Emmett would be pardoned but stay on probation, there was no case to answer in their actions. They had shown an interest in the human to be sure but they hadn't let our secret out they had just protected her from Edwards approaches. Ah, Edward yes, what to do about him? This was a difficult one as he had broken our law by allowing Bella to find out about us. He was mentally very unstable and quite possibly our weakest link. His thought processes had become muddled and he wasn't safe to be out in the world any longer. Caius voted for his death but I didn't want to lose his talent so I turned to Marcus. "How do you see the problem of Edward?" Like me, Marcus had his own agenda and I wanted to see which fights he would pick and which abandon.
Carlisle
I was really worried now, especially for Edward, as I felt Aro had some hidden agenda. I knew he had wanted Edward to join him some years ago and he had been turned down. I didn't think Edward would have a choice this time and I would have to explain it all to Esme. I knew Edward had
done some very stupid, even dangerous things but he was still my son. As for the decision about myself I was vaguely hopeful, I wanted to see my beautiful Esme again and if I was given a second chance I would try to be a better father to my remaining children. Rose and Emmett had been very angry with me for the way I stood up for Edward at the expense of Jasper and Bella. They were right of course and I hoped to have a chance to apologize I knew they had been back to the house or they wouldn't be here with Edward now, which was a hopeful sign. I had no idea of Aro's decision about Bella and Jasper. I thought Aro would allow Bella to live as long as she was changed. She had impressed my former friend that much was obvious. My biggest worry was for Jasper. Of all of us he was the most blameless but I had seen Marcus scowling at him. He was nervous of the young man standing there. Jasper had a name as a fearless warrior and I think Marcus saw him as a potential threat although all Jasper had even wanted was a quiet life with a woman of his own. We had all thought Alice was that woman, but it seems we were all wrong. The Volturi also thought Alice had kept him in check when in fact it turned out to be the other way round. If Aro saw him in the same way, a potential threat, then he was doomed and Bella with him. I knew she wouldn't live on without him.
Bella
I knew we could be spending our last few hours together in this life and I wanted to make the most of it. Jasper was locked inside his head but I knew he heard me so I ignored everyone else in the room and poured out my love for him. I caressed his hair, his face, his neck, feeling his muscles react slightly to my fingers. I laid my cheek alongside of his and tried to fix the feel of his skin, his smell, everything in my mind. It wasn't fair, we'd never had a chance at a life together. We had earned that right but fate had other idea's, we'd been stopped at every turn. I traced my name on the skin of his arm wishing I could reach within his chest and hold the heart that belonged to me, to tear my own out still beating and offer it to him to keep safe for me. I had seen Carlisle watching us but I had no time for him now. These precious moments were all for my husband, the one I loved more than life itself.
Rose.
I spent the time waiting to hear our fate in Emmett's arms, my rightful place, and watching Bella. She loved my brother so deeply and he'd waited so long to find her, it just wasn't fair. I had resented my human life coming to an end but I had found Emmett soon after and had another chance. Poor Jasper had finally found his mate only to lose her to death, either his, hers or theirs. I knew they would be together eventually, she would find a way to end her existence if forced to become a vampire without him. I had seen how stubborn she could be and if it came down to it I would help her. I had an idea how she felt about Jazz and if it was anything like the way I felt about Emmett then she couldn't live with the pain of separation.
Emmett
I watched Rose watching Bella and could read her thoughts written plain on her face, the pity for a love not destined to be. I didn't feel good about any of this. We could all be dead in a few hours or some of us could be taking the sad news back to Esme, Charlie or both. How had it come to this? Where did it all go so terribly wrong? I thought I knew, we should never have listened to Edward when he insisted we leave Bella, that's when all the bad shit started to happen. I guess Rose and I could have stayed out of it and in the clear but I wouldn't have thought much of myself if I'd walked away from Jazz and Bella and their troubles. I'd been taught that the family stick together and I'd followed that mantra to the bitter end. I didn't want to die or lose my beautiful Rose but I was proud of my actions and hers in the end. I pulled her tighter to me and kissed her.
Jasper
I knew my time was over, there was no way the Volturi would let me live after I took their coveted prize from them. Alice would have her wish even though she would never know it. Her revenge had followed me from the grave but in killing me she was also taking Bella's life, something I would have saved if there was any way. I couldn't tell my beautiful lady how much I loved her or how I would have fought to the death for her but she knew none the less. Her words to Aro had touched me deep within. She had fought for me right to the bitter end. My beautiful Bella, my love, the one who held my heart.
