Chapter 21: Verdict

BELLA

We walked through the tunnels a little faster than human speed. We opened the doors to the Volturi's reception area and a human woman I didn't recognise was sitting behind the desk.

"What happened to Gianna?" I whispered to Edward. He looked at me and raised his eyebrows.

"Oh my god no," I whispered. He nodded at me. I looked towards the woman and pitied her. She was going to die and she didn't know it.

"Hello we are the Cullen's and we wish to see Aro immediately," Carlisle said to the woman.

"Oh hello. I'm afraid Aro Caius and Marco and their guard are having lunch at this present time. If you would like to wait they shouldn't be too long," she replied politely to Carlisle.

"Thank you," he replied and we walked to the opposite end of the room to the couches. We sat down and Edward pulled me into his lap. I rested my head on his shoulder and breathed in his scent. Last time we were here we were waiting to leave, not go in. It was only a fuzzy human memory but it was still clear. I remember trying to stay awake and not wanting to take my eyes off Edward. Now I never had to.

After thirty minutes passed the woman behind the desk told us they were ready for us. We all stood up and entered the next tunnel.

"Leah perhaps you should phase now," Carlisle said. She nodded and we all turned our backs as she phased. I put her clothes in her back pack and threw it over my shoulder as we continued down the corridor to the Volturi's throne room. I silently wondered if there were going to be bodies of the drained humans they had for lunch on the floor. I shivered at the thought. Edward miss read me and took me in his arms.

"They won't hurt us. Not with you here," he said and kissed my head.

"Put up your shield love, were almost there." I nodded and stretched out my shield around us all. We opened the doors and stepped into the room.

"Carlisle! What a pleasant surprise!" Aro called from his throne, we walked towards him and the door closed behind us, I turned around to see 3 guards standing in front of it; stopping us from getting out. I turned back around to see Aro making his way over to us. I wasn't sure if it was to greet us or kill us.

"Hello old friend," Carlisle greeted him. Aro took his hand. Then his blood red eyes bore into mine. I looked away from him.

"I guess we will have to do this the old fashioned way," he said. I scanned the room for threats and I saw the witch twins Jane and Alec in the corner talking very fast and whipping their heads to me every few seconds. I scowled at them. "How may I help you friends?" Aro asked. I snarled at him

"We are not your friends!" I nearly screamed at him. Edward squeezed my hand. "What did you do with my daughter?" I shouted at him.

"What ever do you mean my dear Bella?" he replied to me.

"You!" I snarled at him. "You drugged my daughter! Well one of your guard did at least, and he tried to kidnap her.

He was an idiot though because we caught up with him and ripped him apart. Sadly we never beat him for information and never found out what he put in Renesmee. So now she is lying practically half dead in her bed and I want her back!" I hissed.

"Ah what a shame Carlo will not be returning to us. He was such a talented boy." Aro said then he sighed and put his hands together as if he was going to clap. Then he turned to Edward. "You should really learn to control your mate," he said to him.

"I will not control her. She can do as she wants." Edward replied as a hiss.

"Hmm, I see." Aro replied.

"Aro, please save us the arguments and tell us how to help Renesmee." Carlisle said to him touching his shoulder.

"I will have to talk to my guard first. Please wait," he said and walked towards his throne. I sighed dramatically. Edward squeezed my hand tighter.

"Patience Bella, please, you need to calm down. I know you are mad at them but violence is not the way. This can be resolved with peace," Carlisle said to me. I looked into his golden eyes.

"Mad?" I said to him "I'm far from mad. I'm past furious! These people tried to kill my daughter." I nearly screamed at him. He sighed.

"Jasper, please," he said and I felt a sudden wave of calm come over me. I glared at Jasper. He looked at me apologetic.

"I can feel your pain Bella, but violence will not get us anywhere with the Volturi," he said to me. I nodded in understanding. He was right I needed to calm down. I sighed and relaxed as we waited for the verdict. I watched Edward's face as we waited. It was blank for a long time. Then suddenly he lit up and looked down at me smiling. I smiled back at him, there must be good news. I felt happiness burst out of me. I looked back at Aro and his guards talking, maybe they weren't that bad after all. Then Edward stiffened and his smile dropped. Mine fell with his and I looked back at Aro. He was making his way over to us. Maybe I spook too soon.

"After much discussion, we have decided that we will tell you how to help the child." Aro said to us smiling.

"Thank you Aro. That is great news" Carlisle said to him and returned the smile. I wasn't fooled though.

"What's the catch?" I asked him.

"My dear Bella, there is no catch" Aro replied to me. Then he glared at Edward.

"Take your shield off me for a minute please Bella," Edward said.

"Are you sure?" I asked him.

"Yes I want to talk to Aro alone" he replied without taking his eyes off Aro. I hated to do this but I pulled my shield away from Edward. I looked at them both staring at each other having a silent conversation. I pulled my shield away from me and began to think Ed- I was cut off by the searing burning pain that went through my body.

"Bella!" Edward screamed to me as I withered on the floor. I turned my head to look at Jane in the corner of the room. She was smiling. I let out a shriek and pulled my shield back around me. I was such an idiot. Why on earth did I pull my shield back? I stood up and glared at Jane. Her smile faded and I started running towards her. I grabbed her shoulders and threw her across the room.

"Bella! NO!" Carlisle shouted at me. I ignored him and kept my eyes on Jane, she was still smiling. I charged towards her but she didn't move. I was confused. Suddenly I felt 3 pairs of very strong arms around me and they weren't Carlisle, Edward and Jasper. I looked around to see them being held by some guards along with Leah being restrained. I tried to shake off the guards around me but they were too strong.

"Now now children. I don't want any violence here. You may leave now or be killed." Aro commanded at us.

"Tell me how to save my daughter first," I snarled at him.

"You have lost your chance, this did not need to result in violence and as a punishment for hurting my dear one, you will leave with no knowledge on how to help your daughter," Aro said to me. His lips curled up a millimetre on the edge. I was now really pissed off.

"UGH" I screamed and the guards holding me where flown across the room. Everyone looked at me astounded. I looked around to see a thin walled white barrier blocking me from everyone else. The guards charged towards me again but they couldn't get through the barrier. Every time they hit it they were flung back and I felt a little twinge in my head. HA! Looks like my shield had grown.

"Wow Bella, how did you do that?" Jasper asked. I turned to look at him and my family still being held by the guards.

"I don't know," I shrugged at him. Then I looked at the guards.

"I would suggest you let my family go, otherwise I'm going to seriously kick your ass!" I said to them. They looked at Aro and he nodded. They all stepped away from Edward, Carlisle, Jasper and Leah.

"It's ok, you can come in the shield," I said to them and they all walked through the barrier with no trouble. Edward ran to me and pulled me into a hug.

"Well done! Very impressive Bella," he whispered. I smiled at him and he gave me a quick kiss. "Keep up the shield. They don't stand a chance," he said, I nodded in response.

"Now," I turned to look at Aro. "You're going to tell me how to help my daughter," he looked at me questioningly.

"Of course I'll be back in a minute," he replied and walked out the room.

Disclaimer: I do not own twilight but do own the plot line and Chantelle =)

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