Happy New Year to all our readers. Love Jules and Kat XX

Chapter Fourteen

Carlisle

When I heard the news from Aro I could hardly believe it, I would have sworn he would force Alice and Edward to work for him but it seems I underestimated my friend's ego. When Edward forced the issue by threatening to expose himself to the humans in Volterra turning down Aro's offer to stay in Volterra and work for him his doom was sealed.

"Why didn't you use Chelsea to bind him to you?"

"Could I really have trusted Edward even then? He was far too powerful to take chances with, besides I have Chelsea at full stretch as it is. Not all the people in the citadel want to be here as you well know. I had to prioritize and as I already have the gift of mind reading he wasn't essential. I'm sorry Carlisle, I know how much he meant to you but I could do nothing. I offered him a way out and he threw it back in my face. I was left with no alternative, he had to die."

It dawned on me that Aro hadn't mentioned Alice or Star yet I knew they had gone to find Edward, to save him. Were they dead too? They must have been too late to save Edward but please God let them be safe. I took a deep breath,

"Do you have any other news for me? Better news Aro?"

"You were aware that having the human girl living with you, in your family, was against the law Carlisle? I don't see how you could have forgotten that, you who helped write some of our laws."

"She was going to become a vampire, it's what she wanted, to be with Edward. They were mates Aro, how could you have missed that?"

"Humans have no idea of what being a vampires mate means, as a human, she could not be Edward's mate although she was certainly intriguing. Which brings me to another question, why did you not inform us that you knew of a gifted human? That too carries a penalty Carlisle, I begin to wonder if you dismiss everything the Volturi stands for so lightly."

Aro had met Star, had tried to read her mind and had as little success as Edward, he spoke of her in the past tense so was she too dead?

"I assure you I take nothing lightly and the family were certainly not planning on breaking any laws. We were merely giving the girl a chance to recover from her accident and then show Edward that turning her was his only option."

"Ah yes, I remember his impassioned plea for death. How he swore vampires could have no soul and he would not damn the girl he loved by creating a monster of her. Very dramatic, but then Edward always did like flair and theatrics. We are not monsters Carlisle, we don't kill lightly, especially when there may be a use for lawbreakers."

"So she is still alive? And Alice? Is she alive too? Or do I have to break her death to her mate."

"Mate? I don't think so Carlisle although I do know she didn't tell him in person. I think there is a letter for him in your study, filed under pending. Her mind was full of interesting information Carlisle and one of the most interesting was that The Major is not her true mate so you see by executing her I was not condemning him. I am not a heartless beast although I know you think me so at the moment."

"So Alice is dead?"

"Like Edward she was given a choice, join us or die. Now as you are aware Alice had always refused to join the Volturi and although her gift was a valuable one I knew that she would always be one step ahead of me, of us, and one day I would pay for forcing her to serve me so I decided on the safe option. Yes, Carlisle, she is dead, however, I do have some good news for you, the human girl chose to become a vampire and will be staying in Volterra, at least for a while. Now her gift was most interesting and I look forward to working with her to see just how powerful it is once she learns control. I do hope that these actions, all clearly within the law of the Volturi, will not ruin our friendship. I would hate it if you were to force my hand into taking action against the rest of the family. I decided the lives of Edward and Alice would suffice as a penalty for all the Cullens. You should be grateful I spared the rest of your family my friend. Oh yes, I should wish you, Buon Natale! Consider their continued existence as my gift for the season."

Only Aro Volturi could consider allowing some of my family to live a Christmas gift!

I collected the family together deciding I might need some moral support if Jasper reacted badly to the news or Esme, especially Esme, as both Edward and Alice were her children as far as she was concerned. I had found the letter from Alice to Jasper in my pending tray on my desk and as we assembled in the dining room for the family conference I handed it to him without comment. There was a deathly hush as the others watched him open the letter and read, his face a mask, unreadable. When he finished it he handed it to Esme who scanned it, shaking with emotion as she understood the import of the words.

"I have just spoken to Aro who had news of the missing members of the family. Alice saw Edward go to the Volturi and ask for death after thinking he had lost Star."

As they listened in continuing silence I told them exactly what Aro had said, watching as Rose grasped Emmett's hand in shock, Esme sat twisting the letter between her hands while Jasper stood behind her chair, one hand on her shoulder. When I finished speaking all eyes were on Jasper.

"The letter, was it from Alice? What did she say, Jasper? How could she do this to you? Didn't she realize losing her would finish you too?"

Sad eyes turned to Rose and he tried to smile reassuringly but couldn't quite carry it off. We could all see he was struggling to maintain his composure.

"She said we weren't really mates, that my true mate will be coming along soon and I shouldn't grieve for her. She told me she wanted a way out of this life, that she had tried very hard to make it work for her but she was tired of pretending that being a vampire was something she liked. Her parents had thought her a demon because of her visions and now she really was one. That she had only continued as long as she had because she thought I needed her but now she can see my mate arriving she doesn't need to stay any longer, she can go to join her family and hopefully be accepted at last."

"That's crazy, Alice was the happiest of us all at being a vampire, she never complained or got depressed. In fact, she was the one who always jollied me along when I got down."

"It was all an act Rose. Alice wanted to help us all but she couldn't help herself, or excise her own demons."

"Do you really believe that Jasper?"

"It's what she left me, I have to. But I don't want another, if I can't have Alice then I go on alone. I'm not even sure I can stay here with so many reminders of her around me."

Esme jumped up horrified at this,

"Please, Jasper you can't leave us. I've lost too many of my family, don't make it any worse."

He smiled down on Esme and pulled her close,

"You have no idea how much I owe you, and the rest of the family. I think I might have drowned without your help. Alice brought me here and for that I will always be grateful but it's hard to find out the person you thought was your mate, the person you thought loved you was actually looking for our future, our real mates to appear. Or do you think she lied?"

Carlisle shook his head,

"If she had been lying we would certainly know by now Jasper, you would be prostrate with pain and grief. The very fact you are still on your feet and able to function proves the truth of her assertion. Stay son, you need our help more than ever now."