A/N: It's not now, nor will it ever be mine. I own the plot.

I love the reviews, so keep them coming. And, on that note; I would like to address the subject of constructive criticism. I like to get constructive criticism because it helps me to improve my writing. Like most writers, I am a perfectionist and I take pride in my work. However, I do not appreciate criticism that has no foundation other than to be petty or spiteful. I'm making this point because I was highly offended by a comment that was unfounded. If my grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. need to be fixed, then, by all means, bring it to my attention. Please do not accuse me of being a poor writer if ,you, yourself aren't up to par. I write for my own enjoyment. I have a lot going on in my life right now and I need a means of escape and writing is away for me to try to take a break from the insanity. I'm sorry this note is so long , but I needed to get that off my chest.

I still don't have a beta. Please bear with me. All mistakes are mine.

Chapter 10

APOV

I was still, somewhat, amazed at everything that has happened. It has only been a few days since my mate's transformation, but it seemed like it had been longer. Her gift was extremely powerful. I had always known it would be, but I never expected that I would be connected to it. Isabella embraced her new life with such vigor and enthusiasm it was contagious.

Even now, she was training, again, something that she seems to have become addicted to. Of all the things about this life for her to get attached to, training was not one that I expected her to like. She insisted on mastering her gift and every aspect of it. For hours I would stand by and watch her work with Alec, Felix, and Renata. She would push herself farther and work harder. She didn't seem to know when to quit and even had difficulty understanding when the others had to take a break to feed. Isabella will never know that need. Her gift insures that she will always have unlimited energy.

I had begun to train with her. Since she and I are connected through her gift and I have access to it, it is important for me to learn how to tap into it. At first, I found it to be quite frustrating. Learning how to utilize her shield was enough to make me want to pull my hair out. No matter how hard I concentrated, I couldn't seem to raise it. I even tried to do as my Isabella does, and think of it as an electric field, but that didn't work. I was really getting angry with myself. Usually, I have no difficulty understanding things. I like to consider myself as having a superior intellect, but this shield was really making me feel moronic. My Isabella saw how frustrated I was getting and suggested something completely off the cuff. She figured that since there was a conduit of sorts running between us, then perhaps I could use that as a siphon and use it to tap into her power. Wouldn't you know it? It worked. My Beloved is a genius. She has such a firm understanding of her gift. It astounds me.

So here I am, being worked over by my Love ,who doesn't seem to like to take a break. It was amazing being able to share her gift. Never had I expected anything like that to happen to me. But if that wasn't enough of a shock, it was what happened shortly after that that really thew us for a loop. We had decided to stop for the day. Isabella was in my arms and we were talking to Alec and Felix about how well the training was going. Felix teasingly referred to Isabella as being a "brute" and she reached over and slapped his hand. Suddenly, she stiffened. She didn't move or speak for a few moments and I had become concerned.

"Isabella, what is it? What's wrong?" I nervously asked her. I grabbed her by her upper arms, trying to get her to look into my eyes.

" I..ah..I'm not sure. When I touched Felix I saw things. Weird things." She shook her head as if she were trying to clear her mind. This sounded all too familiar to me.

"Can you describe to me what you saw", I asked her. I had a feeling I knew what it was, but it almost seemed too fantastic to be real.

"I saw Felix fighting Demetri and losing miserably. I saw him doing unmentionable things with Heidi. Seriously, I did not need to see any of that. I saw him feeding on a human in an alley. There was a lot. Is this what I think it is?" She looked at me, her eyes begging me for the answer.

I nodded me head. "Yes, my Love, it seems as if that conduit is definitely running both ways. You tapped into my gift. Those were Felix's memories you saw. And, I have to agree with you, some of his thoughts would be better left untouched, so to speak. Even I get disturbed by some of the things I have seen."

"This is getting so odd. It's getting to feel like we're some kind of freaky vampire Siamese twins. Although, I really don't mind being connected to you", she teased me. Reaching up, she kissed my cheek."Just remind me not to touch Felix anymore and I'll be fine" she joked.

"Hey, I'm right here" Felix interrupted.

"Relax, Felix. It's nothing you haven't heard from me before." I reminded him.

"Felix, we're just teasing. You know I love you. You're like the big brother I never thought to ask for. Your also easy, so that just means more fun for me" my Love teased him mercilessly. I wrapped my arms around her more tightly. God, did I love this woman!

"Yea, yea. Laugh while you can, but revenge is sweet. I shall have my day" he retorted while laughing maniacally. He turned and walked back into the castle.

"Oh, my Love, you bring me so much joy. I love you." I pulled her arm through mine and we walked back into the castle together, taking our time. We went in search of Caius and Marcus when Gianna came running up to us.

"Master Aro, Mistress Isabella. You are needed in the throne room. There has been word from Demetri."

We ran to the throne room to find my brothers distressed and pacing the floor. Whatever was wrong, it could not be good.

"Brothers, what's the news?You two look like your nerves are on edge" I asked them . Marcus walked over to me and offered his hand. I quickly grabbed it. Discovering for myself what was causing all the turmoil, I gasped in surprise.

''What is it?What's going on?" my Loved asked quietly. "Aro, I can tell by the look in your eyes that whatever it is , it's big".

I pulled her into my arms and gently kissed her forehead."My Love, I don't know how else to tell you this, but, Demetri called to inform us that Jane, Victoria, and Santiago are in Washington." I took and unnecessary breath, trying to prepare myself for what else I have to tell her. "They were in Forks. Several of your friends were killed ." I stopped, giving her a chance to absorb that bit of information. I watched as her stunning blue orbs widened in shock, filling with venom tears that she would never be able to shed.

"Who?Aro, I want to know who" she demanded. She held me in a death grip, almost afraid to let me go.

"Demetri said that a group of your friends had gotten together for a party at Mike Newton's house. He informed us that everyone, except one girl, there was slaughtered. "Marcus spoke up.

"Who's the girl? How did she survive?" my love asked softly.

"It was a girl named Angela Apparently, Demetri arrived just in time." Caius answered. With that bit of news, my loves eyes widened.

"Is she in the hospital? Where is she now?"Isabella asked quickly.

"No, Isabella. She was bitten. She's changing even as we speak. Demetri had to move her to a safe location, so he took her to the Cullen's home in Forks" Caius responded. He stepped forward and gently kissed the top of her head.

Isabella looked around the three of us . "There's more, isn't there?" she asked us. It's next to impossible to get anything past my mate.

I nervously took a deep breath. "My Love, they attacked your father."I pulled her closer to me, hoping to somehow ease her emotional distress.

She began shaking her head as if in denial. "No, no, no. Why?Why Charlie? What did he do? He doesn't deserve this."

I cupped her face in my hands, trying to get her to look at me. " Sweetheart, look at me. I know this is difficult for you .I'm so sorry. You need to know that your father is also changing. Demetri said that when he found him, he still had a faint heart beat. "

"Cara Mia, he knew how much you loved your father. He felt that you had lost so much already. He didn't want you to lose anyone else" Caius explained to her.

"This is getting to be too much. It's insane. Innocent people are losing their lives. And for what? Jealousy and a misplaced desire for revenge. My heart breaks for my friends who died. I just want to end this. Personally. I want to hurt them, a pain for a pain. I want my revenge." Isabella's eye were glowing in her anger. She paced in agitation.

"My Love, you will get your chance. Demetri is en route with your father and Angela. They are on the private jet even as we speak. We need to meet with the Cullens and then figure out what were going to do with the situation", I assured her as best I could. I would not deny my mate her revenge. It was too important to her.

"When are the Cullens due to arrive?" she asked hesitantly. I could tell just by the sound of her voice ,alone, that she was not looking forward to this confrontation.

"They should be here by the end of the day."I kissed her hand, trying to assure her.

"Aro, if you don't mind, I would like some time to think. I'm a little scattered right now. I would like to prepare myself before the Cullens arrival. Lord knows, I don't want to see them again and not be at my best" she told me. I understood her need to be alone. I would give her anything she needed and more.

"Of course, my Love. Take as much time as you need. I still need to speak to Marcus and Caius about a few things. " I cupped her cheek, looking deeply into her blue eyes."I love you. More than anything." I kissed her lips softly and released her. I watched as my love walked out. Judging by the way she carried her body, she was struggling with everything that was happening.

"Brothers, let's take this to my study. I want to run a few things by you and get you opinion on them" I told them.

We quickly made our way there and sat down. There was a great deal of tension in the air and each of us was trying to process everything that had happened in our own way. My concern for Isabella out weighed everything else, including the anger I felt towards those who sought to harm her.

"I Have been thinking the past few days. This situation with Jane and her betrayal, as well as her cronies, has really pissed me off. I do not want anymore instances where others question Isabella being my mate or her position here in Volterra .My first question for the two of you is; how do you feel about me asking her to marry me?"

My brothers started grinning widely. "Aro, I think that that would be the smartest thing you have ever done. I can ,honestly, tell you that I think she's perfect for you and the sooner you get a ring on her the better" Marcus said encouragingly.

"I have to agree with Marcus. She's perfect and she fits in here. It's almost like she's exactly what this place has been needing for a very long time. She's your mate and you have waited a very long time for her. You have every right to want complete happiness. What others think or say is unimportant. But, I will say this; she's perfect for you and perfect for the Volturi."

I loved how everyone just accepted my mate. The way they saw her was similar to how I saw her. She was the missing puzzle piece that we didn't even know we needed. Isabella completed us as a family and a coven. That's why I decided to take yet another step.

"So, what would the two of you say to me proposing to making her queen?" I asked them nervously. Neither of their wives had wanted the job, preferring to allow their husbands to take care of vampire business. I leaned back in my chair, waiting for a response. Both Marcus and Caius smiled at me.

" I think she's perfect for the job. She's very mature and quite composed. Let's not even go into how powerful she is. Isabella has strong leadership qualities, even though it's obvious she's not aware of it" Marcus replied.

Caius shook his head in agreement. "Absolutely. She has all the making of a great leader and everyone loves and respects her. She would bring great balance."

"Caius, did you just quote Star Wars? What the heck happened to you?" I asked him jokingly. Part of me was afraid of the answer and the other part was terrified.

"Don't mock me. It was an appropriate quote for the situation. Just because it happened to have come from that movie has no bearing on the situation" Caius defended himself. Marcus and I laughed regardless. Hearing him quote any movie was a little surprising. It was so unexpected.

"No worries, brother. We know you were only imparting your wisdom on us" Marcus teased him further. I shook my head, enjoying these few moments. There were difficult times ahead and any chance we had to kick back should be embraced.

BPOV

Hearing what those backstabbing traitors and that read-headed whore had done nearly sent the venom within my veins to boil .I was livid. In all my years, I had never been this angry. To know that innocent people had been slaughtered over nothing more than petty jealousy, made me sick.

I angrily paced the confines of mine and Aro' room, trying to make some sense of things, but coming up short. There was no sense in it. How could there be? How could my friends being killed make sense? My father and Angela were now changing and knew nothing of what was happening to them. I feared their reaction. Would they resent me? Would they blame me for what has happened to them? Although I know full well that I am not to blame for the actions of others, there is still a small part of me that can't help but feel responsible for some small part. I wish I could have prevented it. Maybe I should have known. Victoria has been after me for so long. She wants to hurt me. Hit me where it counts. Why didn't I see this coming?

But, as much as a part of me blames myself, there is another part that is blaming the Cullens. They are the ones who brought me into their world,which is now my world. It was they who destroyed James and subsequently, abandoned me to fend for myself. Didn't they know that she would want revenge for her mate? Are they not at all aware of how vampires, in general, operate? Is there something in the animal blood that causes their brains to short circuit?

There were so many unknown variables that it made me very uncomfortable. I hated being left in the dark. We needed to get a handle on this before more people lost their lives. It was apparent that Jane was no longer concerned with keeping the secret. She needed to be stopped before things got seriously out of hand. Not to mention, I have my little vendetta to attend to. Fist things fist;the Cullens.

My mental rant was interrupted by a knock at the door. I was so distracted that I hadn't heard anyone approach. I walked over and answered it. Felix's grim face greeted me on the other side.

"Mistress Isabella. Master Aro has asked for you. The Cullens are about to arrive. They will be here in a few moments."

"Oh,joy. Well, let's get this over with." We both walked at a human pace to the throne room, neither of us eager to see the vegetarian clan.

I wasn't yet sure about how to deal with all of them. Edward was a closed a case. He was a selfish and emotionally immature child. I was happy to be done with him. It was the others I was at a loss over. I guess I was about to find out.

Felix and I approached the large double doors and he opened them for me. I walked in and found Aro sitting on his throne next to his brothers. He gestured to me to go over to him. I walked over to him and he grasped my hand and pulled me onto his lap.

"Will you be all right, my Love?" he asked me, concern lacing his voice.

"Yes. I'm fine. Let's just get this done with. Just have Felix standing by. I may have a strong urge to kill Edward. He'll have to hold me back" I teased gently. I looked over at the massive vampire and caught him giving me the thumbs up .I knew Felix would have my back no matter what.

Just then the, Gianna came in announcing the Cullens arrival. They walked in behind her. The second they saw me , they gasped. Well, here comes the fun!

I'm sorry to leave you hanging... Well, not really. It's necessary for the story. Trust me, the good stuff is coming. Just be patient.

I wanted to give you guys the heads up to a great story I have been reading. If you're into Caius/Bella pairings, then you'll love "Seduced by Darkness" by you like witches and vampires, then this is the story for you. Be warned, the Bella in this story doesn't take anyone's crap. It's an awesome take!