Chapter Twenty One

Aro

I admit I had expected to have gotten somewhere by now, how could a human go so long on meager rations and still refuse to lower their defenses? When she came to Bella was confused but as she became aware of her surroundings she became angry grabbing the bars and glaring at me as I explained what she had done, the people she had killed. I thought the guilt might calm her somewhat but instead it just made her even more agitated and I realized that the thought she had killed so many only fed her anger and self-loathing.

Leaving her with instructions to her guards to only allow her one meal a day brought in by Heidi from a cafe on the square and two bottles of water we started a waiting game. Every day Jane would try to attack Bella, testing her shield but although it was obvious the human was becoming weaker her shield did not appear to lose any of its strength, I might need to find a new approach if I wanted her gift in my arsenal, but what? It was indeed a conundrum.

Marcus

I watched Bella as keenly as Aro, waiting for any sign that she was weakening but to me it appeared that the weaker she became physically the stronger her mental capacity and hence the shield. It was amusing to see my brother thwarted by a mere human, a young girl, barely more than a child really. I wanted to help her, to smuggle food in but, of course, it was impossible, she was too closely guarded by hand-picked guards. Caius, while feigning indifference, was as eager as the rest of us to see who would win the battle of wills. Athenadora had returned to the wives tower now Bella was safely imprisoned here in the audience chamber, a room that was even now undergoing repairs to the damaged walls and ceiling. It had taken Bella mere minutes to cause damage that had already taken a week to repair and was even now not totally finished.

Bella

When I woke up in this cage I understood that I had lost control again and the signs of damage were all around me. Aro had decided that the only way to persuade me to join him was to wait me out, well it didn't seem to be working. I may be hungry, thirsty, cold at night, and too warm during the day. The sun burned down through the huge glass dome in the roof that was still being reglazed, but my shield refused to weaken too. I tested it from time to time against the bars seeing them flex and smiled. Let Aro upset me again, this time he might not be able to contain my anger and who knew what might happen then? I was scared to sleep but eventually wasn't able to stay awake any longer and closed my eyes praying I would be safe.

I was awakened by a terrible noise and opened my eyes to see fresh dust falling from the weakened masonry, more colored glass showering the floor around me but deflected by my shield from dropping into my prison. The guards were standing warily a few feet away and I watched as Aro and Caius came racing in looking around them in confusion.

"It just happened, that wind blew up and things began to shake again, she was asleep, I swear it, Aro."

He nodded at the man who had been speaking and came close to the bars as if to prove he was unafraid.

"Isabella, do you see how dangerous your shield is becoming? It breaks loose when you are asleep and cannot control it. Imagine what would happen if I were to set you loose back in your own world. Do you not see that your only chance is to stay here with us? Become a vampire and work for the Volturi, we will keep you safe, teach you to control your shield."

"Go to hell Aro."

My voice was little more than a croak, my throat sore and parched, but I had the satisfaction of seeing him scowl.

"A bad decision Bella. You will lose this battle eventually."

"Only if I die and then you won't get my shield after all will you?"

His look of superiority annoyed me as did his words,

"I always win eventually Bella, all you are doing is to harm yourself."

A red mist descended across my eyes and I knew I had lost control again although I knew nothing until my shield died down once more.

Aro

I saw in her eyes the look of anger and the wind blew up again, one moment the room was calm and still, the next everything in it was lifted up and spun around rapidly until the only two people not sucked into the maelstrom were Bella and myself. I had grabbed hold of the bars and held on tight although I felt the sinews in my shoulders stretching almost to snapping point. Thrusting my legs through the bars too I hooked them around taking a little of the pressure off but even so I was almost spent by the time the wind began to die and I was able to crawl from the audience chamber to my study door where Caius knelt, hand outstretched to me. Turning I saw recognition in the girl's eyes and threw myself through the opening aided by Caius as the wind returned slamming the door shut with its vortex. The noise from inside the audience chamber, bangs and smashing, screams and splintering wood became louder and louder with no sign of abating this time. I sat heavily in my chair, my throat parched, needing desperately to quench the terrible thirst but feeling too weak to stand.

Caius opened the door into the corridor and shouted for Heidi to fetch me some blood. When she appeared with one of the human receptionists, the only safe prey in Volterra, I pounced on her drinking greedily as Caius explained what had happened.

"She's dangerous Caius. No one wants to go near the chamber, we all saw what she did before, at the party. How much longer can she keep it up? Surely she must be weak by now, she's only human."

I threw the drained body to the floor and stood up straightening my suit and running my hands through my hair.

"Isabella is much more than just a human Heidi, she is a potent gift and one I intend to tame to my control."

"How Aro? We can't even stand in there, more guards are dead or dying, soon no one will be prepared to risk their life. Did you see the dust and ash she turned some of the guests into? Some were so badly injured they couldn't heal, how do you reattach a leg that's just dust? Or a head that's burned to ash? She is lethal and not one of our gifts is touching her."

I smiled, patting Heidi's arm as her eyes flashed terrified,

"Don't worry my dear, leave it to me. Now I think perhaps your talents are needed, a fishing expedition is in order. As you say we have injured guards to heal and my throat is still hot with thirst."

She nodded and went off but Caius turned to me,

"Heidi is right, she is scared and so are many other members of the Volturi guard. Is this really worth it brother? If you can't find a way to control the girl then kill her and be done with it, before she kills us."

"We are still alive Caius, you are being over dramatic, just a little longer and Bella will be mine."

"Ours Aro, don't forget this is a triumvirate."

"As if I would dear brother, although I don't see Marcus here at the moment, do you think he fears her more? Or do you think he imagines that perhaps the girl can liberate him?"

"You mean kill him? Chelsea ensures he couldn't do that. I think he's just weary of the sport and he's not the only one, get this settled before she brings the whole place down on our heads."