Chapter 21: Carlisle's Deal

(Carlisle's POV)

We walked into the castle and Aro stood in the room with a smile on his face. "Ah Carlisle, my dear friend welcome," he greeted.

"Where are they Aro?" I demanded.

"Who?" Aro asked.

"Where are Edward and Bella?!" Emmett demanded.

"Oh them…Edward is safe, I'm not sure about the girl though. Edward has been starving himself so I locked them in a room together," Aro answered.

Aro looked over at me with a grin. "We want Edward and Bella returned to us now," I ordered.

"Carlisle, do you honestly believe I would let someone as gifted as Edward go?" Aro asked.

"Edward is still out of control. He hasn't had the proper teaching…" I started.

"What would you have taught him? That eating a deer is better than his natural food source?" Aro asked.

"My family try to live among the human kind. We don't want to keep hiding," I answered.

Aro sighed. "Why is this boy so important to you Carlisle?" He asked.

"That boy has been like the closest person I have ever had to a son and you took him," I answered.

Aro started laughing. "You really think your little sob story will release Edward?" He asked.

"How about I fight you. If I win, you let all of us go including Edward and Bella. If I lose, I'll join your coven," I negotiated.

"Carlisle don't!" Esme exclaimed grabbing onto my arm.

The leader of the Volturi stared at me for a minute. "You would give your freedom for the boy and the human?" He asked.

"Yes," I answered

"I believe you have yourself a wager," Aro told me.

Emmett looked over at me. "Carlisle are you crazy?!" he exclaimed. I sighed as I took off my jacket and handed it to Esme.

"I have to," I answered.

I rolled up my sleeves and Aro just sneered at me as we started to slowly circle each other. "You really think you'll just walk right out of here with that boy?" Aro asked.

"I'll die trying," I answered.

"That can be arranged," Aro told me.

I was suddenly thrown back against the wall and Aro had his hand around my throat. I kicked him in the stomach, making him let me go. I ducked when he threw a punch and tried to hit him back when he dodged my attack.

We fought for what felt like forever. Aro grabbed me and threw me down onto the floor. I went to stand up when a dagger was held in front of my face. "You lose," he informed. Aro was suddenly knocked off his feet and Edward was standing there.

"It's not over yet," Edward answered.

Edward turned around and helped me up from the floor. "You okay?" He asked me.

"I'm fine," I assured him, placing my hand on his shoulder.

Edward let out a sigh. "Carlisle, I'm sorry I didn't believe you," he told me.

"Don't worry about it," I answered.

Edward then glared at Aro. "All this new life I was told that Carlisle abandoned me! When that wasn't true!" he snapped.

"Watch it boy," Aro answered.

I stood in front of Edward. "Edward, get the family out of here," I told him. I saw him grab Bella and went to leave with the family when Aro went after them.

"I don't think so!" Aro snapped.

"Leave my family alone!" I answered charging at him.