Welcome as always and thank you for your input. Just one thing before we begin: The Italian words Aro uses in this chapter translate to "Boy" and "The time of the Eunuchs" Enjoy...

Aro seized his pacing he had been doing for the last few minutes.

Releasing giant sigh he said, "The person I find that I am most disappointed in is Carlisle. Your leader spent decades with us. Learning our ways, knowing the law…Which is why I am astonished he let it get this far!"

I think the whole guard either jumped or flinched at their master's change in tone.

I guess the moral of the story is: Don't ever piss off Aro!

Even scarier than that, Caius was smiling as he watched his brother tear the Cullen children a new one.

"- I knew letting him leave so soon was a bad idea. But I trusted his respect and friendship and now look where it has gotten us! He changed a feverish young man who's stuck with the maturity level of a little boy-"

Aro was interrupted by Edward snapping and snarling "I am a man!" Still unable to reach him thanks to Felix' vice grip.

The Volturi leader looked in his direction and replied

"Who do you think you are trying to fool "Ragazzo"? You have not forgotten that my superior mind reading ability allows me to know you better then you know yourself."

Edward hissed furiously "Bella get away from him! He's dangerous!"

Aro scoffed, "The only one in any danger here is you… and possibly Mrs. Whitlock"

"What? Why? What did I do?" questioned Alice, startled that her name had been brought up.

"-You are being charged with accounts of Disrespect, Neglect and Disloyalty of the Law and to one of your then coven members: Isabella Swan. I would have expected something more from the wife of the Great southern Major. But then again it is rather a mild situation compared to that of your former sibling.

Edward Anthony Mason Cullen-
For breaking our most sacred law: Revealing our existence to a human and then refused to assume responsibility by either changing or ending said human. Out of moronic mortal beliefs. Then later abandoning her alive with the knowledge of our secret. Free to tell anyone she wished-"

Aro looked over at me as I prepared to say something. ("I do know now young Isabella that you would not betray us but that still was a risk he was willing to take.)

- Going against your creator and leader wishes because You thought you knew better! Finally when the news of the human's apparent death reaches your ear. You come here and precedes to make a mockery of the Volturi and what we stand for- Therefore you are hereby sentenced to death…"

"NOOOO!"

Alice screamed as she tried to break away from Demetri but it was no use.

"Santiago?"
Aro called as a tall vampire rose from his position of guarding the door as another took his place.

He came over to where Felix was with a struggling Edward. Grabbing one arm, together they pushed him to his knees on the hard marble floor.

"Bella?"Cullen gasped, trying to lock eyes with me before Aro blocked his view. Extending his hands out as he prepared to take ahold of Edward's head when I suddenly found myself shouting

"Stop! Please Stop!"

Kayley's arm once more came around to comfort me but surprisingly Aro hesitated

"You want to say "Goodbye" Isabella?... Because he has to pay for his crimes, surely you can understand that?"

I dry swallowed " Sir, I understand that justice must be served. But there are other ways to get what you want without killing him-"

"-Don't listen to her Aro, she's still in love with him!" Caius growled.

I shook my head at his statement,
"-No I'm not, but I also know that if he dies, the Cullen "family" (particularly Alice) will not stop hounding me. As I try to patch things up with either my baby daddy or Charlie" I glowered.

"-The girl is not just saying this, it is the truth" confirmed a sullen Marcus.

"I agree brother, even without reading young Alice's mind but if we let him live. The "Ragazzo" will get even more out of control. He already has a lot of authority with his other coven members due to Carlisle Cullen being a weak Leader-"

"CARLISLE IS NOT WEAK!" Both Cullen kids chorused together but were ignored.

" Yes he is certainly a pushover. Far too overly engrossed in the role of husband/father. It is a wonder your coven survived this long. But we the Volturi are not weak and will follow through with what we say."

All was quiet for a moment then I spoke up, "May I speak freely, your honor?"

Receiving an encouraging nod, I continued. "The Cullens want to live like HUMANS and one of the hardest things for HUMANS to do is:

Having to live with themselves after they lost something important…"

The kings looked at each other and shrugged "What do you have in mind Isabella?"

"-I don't know why but somehow I know I'll be alright but I wish to spare any other "distractions" that may later catch Edward's eye. I don't want those girls to be put through what I did"

"Other distract- No! Bella! Listen to me , Listen to me! I- AHHH!" he screamed in pain as Felix's mighty fist broke his jaw, silencing him.

I kept my eyes on the leaders as I spoke these next words "I suggest letting him live… a different kind of life."

Kayley must've caught on to my meaning and added
"Masters, surely you remember the special manservants who tended the women in the King's harem throughout biblical times and beyond?"

All three of the Volturi had different expressions as they took in what was being purposed:

Marcus looked like he just wanted this over with. Caius' sinister smile resumed, Aro had a shocked face before closing his eyes and muttering "il tempo degli Eunuchi"

Alice gasped and started shouting "No NO Bella! That's too cruel! PLEASE!"

"It is a harsh fate young Mrs. Whitlock," said Aro after counseling with his brothers. "But it is no more than he deserves. Besides it would calm him down…."

Nodding at Felix and Santiago, Aro ordered "Take him away, Caius will be there shortly."

Edward who'd been in shock and healing his mouth this entire time came back to life as he was dragged from the throne room with his heels banging on the floor yelling.

" Wait! NOOO! I LIED to you Bella! I love you! BELLLAA!"

"I know!"

I told him when the muscles paused, staring at me while I heard my ex best friend/sister breathe a huge sigh of relief.

"-I know… you lied. Just like I know you're lying now to save your own skin!" With that I turned my back to him and the guards.

Kayley gently squeezed my hand in support.

Even as I heard him effortlessly continuing to struggle and shout my name, echoing further and further down the hall before the heavy marble doors closed with a bang!

A look of utter disappointment and betrayal crossed the pixie's face as she wordlessly stared at me. Before closing her eyes and nearly collapsing her light weighted body against Demetri.

"No no, no! Nothing is going the way I envisioned it!"

Her statement peaked Aro's interest, "And what exactly did you see young Alice?"

Without waiting for a reply he flashed over and took her hand in both of his.

"In honest truth young one, I love a happy ending but… they are so rare. More often than not it is the way life works. My dear, you spend too much time trying to persuade the future outcome into what you want. That you do not stop and see the reality of what is.

Because if you had… Number 1,

You would have listened to your husband that day back in Forks when you first had the vision of Isabella and knew what Edward was planning. Contrary to his insistence of her being his. The girl became your responsibility as a coven to step in where he failed and make it right according to the law.

Preferably the second she confronted him confessing that she knew our secret. Edward's wishes about his supposed "mate" be damned!"

"B-but what about the La Push treaty?" she stammered.

"-There are over 14 hundred billion places in the world to make a home young Alice. It all comes down to what is more important:

The "Treaty" or Your "lives"? Besides the shifters only guard that territory. They will not seek you, unlike us. All it would take was one passing vampire…Which already happened to you by the name of "James" and his companions.

You should have turned her then OR at the birthday party when she cut herself…You have had many multiple opportunities before this! You could have defied your brother and either refused to abandon her,
or waited to see what Edward would do then came back to help nurse her shattered heart and changed her before the shape shifter made an appearance…"

The once proud pixie who in the past had held her head high. Slumped her shoulders at the ancient one's rebuking.

"- Furthermore, I know we vampires are selfish creatures by nature. But what outweighs that desire should be:

"Loyalty," "Respect." - To your Mate, your coven Leader and its Members if you are in one. Up until this meeting Isabella Swan was an unofficial member of your group, just like young Kayley is to us because of her bond with Alec.

The difference is that we would never sacrifice her needs to satisfy our own wants.

I made that mistake a long time ago when we fought for control of our world. It cost me my beloved little sister's life and Marcus: his mate."

Alice's pupils widened as her eyes shifted from Aro to Marcus' sulking form draped over his throne. My heart went out to the poor guy, understanding the reason for his eternal depression. After all I had (in a way) been in his shoes so to speak.

"- But because you had a plan and were in a hurry to save your idiot brother: Seeking to use us as a device of getting the two former lovers back together to make your "family" whole. Your selfishness nearly condemned an expectant mother and her unborn child to die in his place! Thank the Gods! Kayley was here!"

Cullen flinched as the reality of what she had done was once again flung in her face but Aro concluded with the final verdict:

"So, Mary Alice Brandon Whitlock Cullen - For the crimes of "Disrespect" "Disloyalty" "Neglect" of your coven member Isabella Swan and attempted "Manipulation" of the Volturi and our Law is

Hereby sentenced to bare a dozen lashes before release at Midnight along with her brother Edward Cullen, Agreed?"

"AGREED!" the other Rulers echoed.

With a wicked smile Caius rose from his throne and made his way down to Demetri and Alice. But as he came closer, Alice lost her cool and began pleading with Aro.

"No Please! Please! Anything but that! "I'll- I'll join the guard! Please! Don't let him beat me!"

After a long dramatic sigh, he responded.
"I would love to have your gift at our service young Alice but the Volturi is no place for children. Take your punishment in stride and learn from yours and Edward's mistakes. Then if you are serious, I would be delighted to welcome you with open arms in a century or two."

The pixie's face crumbled as the last glimmer of hope to escape her fate flew out the window. I guess this wasn't a part of her plan either.

Caius mockingly held his arm out in a gentlemanly fashion "Ladies first," he gestured.

Demetri forcefully pushed Alice ahead towards the marble doors where her brother exited with Caius trailing behind.

When the door shut Aro refocused his attention on me:
"I am sorry you had to witness that Isabella. But one simply cannot rule without laws or consequence and the Cullen Coven, I am finding from evidence in both Edward and Alice's mind has little to no discipline.

Nearly risking the exposure of our world. They were in desperate need of a reminder of who ultimately is in charge.

I spared their lives partly because of what you said but mostly for my friend Carlisle. Something I cannot guarantee a second time. If Edward steps out of line again, his head will be on the pyre-"

I raised an eyebrow "-What about Alice?"

"-Young Mrs. Whitlock will indeed remember this traumatic experience and never even think about taking advantage of us again in any of her schemes... This whole time she thought the Major and Carlisle were jesting about our strictness. Thinking she could actually show up with you to stop Edward and sweet talk the way of trouble by showing that vision of you as a vampire."

Suddenly the walls of the throne room echoed with the sound of the One' o clock bells. Aro looked at the door before back to us.

"Kayley, Isabella it is now our "lunchtime" as you humans put it. So I must humbly ask that you ladies return to the lobby where it is safe. Accidents do happen…"

While Kayley temporarily said goodbye to the twins, the Vampire King once more took my hand.

"I am sorry it had to be this way. But your son will be safe, and I do look forward to seeing you again
and helping you reach your full potential. Goodbye my young friends"

He said as Kayley took my hand, leading me out the way we originally came in…