A/N : Okay...so it's been 5 months since I last updated this story. YIKES! I am fail on that account. But I suffer from a serious addiction of writing funny, fluffy stuff. This story kicks my ass! The good news is...we're almost there kids! A few more angsty chapters and then the fluffy finish! That one will come a hell of a lot easier than the rest...

Special thanks to my beta Kimberlesk who I am sure thought that I fell off the planet. She was patient, she was kind and she beta'd this on the fly for me! Muuuuuah!

Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. I just own a DVR copy of the recent Oprah show in which I continually watch pissed off Edward. Hence the update. THANKS ROB!

Utter Darkness - Chapter 26

~Bella~

"Carlisle?", I began. "How are they?"

Carlisle let loose a small chuckle. "Like two cats that just got tossed into a tub of water. They are both spitting mad. Thankfully they're frightened enough of the wolves guarding them that they are remaining quiet."

Sulpicina and Athenadora had woken from the injections that we were able to administer to them. We knew we only had a short time before the alarm was raised in regards to their disappearance. Carlisle could read the anxious expression on my face.

"They have revealed nothing about Edward's whereabouts. As a matter of fact they seem to be just as ignorant in Aro and Cauis' dealings today as they were centuries ago.

I slammed my hand down on the table causing a crack to appear in the table top. Sometimes I forgot my own vampire strength.

"He's got to be getting weaker by the moment Carlisle!"

Carlisle came around and placed his hands on my shoulders. "Look at me Isabella."

I glanced up and relaxed the moment I looked in my vampire father's eyes. His eyes were always full of such compassion whether they were topaz in color or the dark obsidian of hunger.

"Edward is not consuming human blood right now. This could work to our advantage. He will be in such a weakened state that it will be easier to detox him from the human blood. His body will be in such need that he will gladly accept the blood of animals."

I shook my head. "Carlisle, it is not his diet, nor his body that I am worried about. It is his mind. I chose him Carlisle because of who he is. It is Edward's heart, brilliant mind and soul that won my heart. I'm terrified of losing that."

"Bella, if there is one thing I know the most about Edward is that you are his very strength to carry on. Before you came into his life, he just existed. You brought back the very human, very loving side of him. For that I will always be forever in your debt. Edward's love for you will keep him alive for however long it takes for you to be reunited."

The door burst open and Jake came running in. "The alarm has been raised! I have a feeling this shit is about to go down!"

The whole family was waiting just outside the small house we had been living in over the past week. I could see Jasper getting himself into battle mode. He was conferring with Feza on the many possible ways that the Volturi army could make it's way into our sheltered valley.

Rose and Emmett stood off to the side with Alice. I walked over and Alice slid my arm around my waist. She smiled at me and it was a genuine smile.

"He knows we're coming." She told me. "He's conserving his strength. He said he could literally hear the walls shaking from Aro's anger."

"Alice…do you? Do you think Aro will kill him?" I asked her.

"No. If Aro couldn't kill him the first time Edward begged him to, I doubt he'd do it now. Aro knows I am here again. It's too appealing of an idea to him to have both Edward and I as part of the Volturi. He will try to figure out a plan to capture me. I'm so focused on him now though, even he has taken to trying to shield his thoughts."

Carlisle came down off the steps of the crude porch. "I've decided to pay Aro another visit. Aro prides himself on civility. I don't exactly wish to bring down a war on all of us so let's hope we can solve this amicably. I think we've gotten his attention."

"I'm going with you!" I exclaimed.

"No Isabella. I cannot allow that. Aro is ruled by his temper right now. Taking you back into Volterra would be like igniting that anger into full blown fury. Trust me when I say that you never want to be a witness or a victim of that fury."

Jasper immediately joined the conversation between Carlisle and myself.

"I don't think either of you going back into Volterra is a good idea right now. Trust me Carlisle. I need to draw them out. Feza and I have a plan. Plus, Esme would never forgive me if I let something happen to you. Nor would I forgive myself."

Alice placed her hand over Carlisle's long dormant heart. "Trust him. I've seen it. We need you here."

I could tell by the tone of Alice's voice that she was worried. It was the same tone of voice she had the day we went to Volterra to stop Edward from killing himself. She would do whatever was necessary to protect Jasper. Putting her faith in his abilities was the ultimate sacrifice. Even if she knew that she could lose him.

Jasper leaned over, whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek gently. He knew that she had seen his future path, just as she had clearly seen him walking in that diner.

"So what do we do now Jasper?" My impatience was wearing me down.

"They want a fight, Bella? They're going to get one. Carlisle, I need you to issue the demand for Edward's release. We will offer to make the exchange outside of the walls of Volterra as not to draw the attention of the humans."

Carlisle looked perplexed. "As much as Aro and Caius care for their wives, I don't see Aro particularly agreeing to such an exchange. It would appear to be a sign of weakness."

"Exactly. I'm hoping he will turn the offer down." Jasper smiled at Carlisle.

Emmett chuckled. "Hell yeah. I say bring that fight on."

Jasper turned and looked at Emmett. "We're not going to fight outside of Volterra."

"Then where dear brother do you plan on bringing the pain?" Rosalie spoke up.

"Right smack in the middle of their own lair."

I was confused. "Jasper, how are we going to be able to get in?"

"Feza and a few of his best fighters will walk right through the front door. Remember when you explained to me about the fishing expeditions that Heidi goes on?"

I nodded at him to continue.

"They can't smell the wolves. They will walk right past the guard, right into the main chamber and they will phase."

Emmett's loud laugh boomed out into the nighttime air. "Dude! That's fucking brilliant!"

"Bella will follow up with a whole phalanx of wolves and the rest of us, her shield protecting us as we make our way inside the compound. The wolves will be able to take the guard down with considerable ease. Total surprise is what is going to work for us."

I couldn't have loved Jasper more than I did in that moment. "It's perfect."

Alice suddenly went still.

Jasper realized the shift in her mood and turned to her immediately.

"What is it Alice?" His voice was laced with concern when he saw the look of horror cross her face.

"They've taken Edward out from the mausoleum they trapped him in. Jane is torturing him. Oh God…the pain! It's excruciating."

Carlisle immediately sprung into action. "Jasper? Feza? How long before we can organize and make the trip into Volterra?"

Feza immediately spoke up. "My men and I can be in Volterra within the next 20 minutes. Jacob will need to organize the rest of the pack."

"I'll work with Jacob. Carlisle, I need you and Eleazar to familiarize our family with the layout of the Volterra compound. We need to know where the inner sanctum is that serves as a bunker of sort to protect the triumvirate. No doubt that's where they will go to once all Hell breaks loose."

Everything was moving so fast. I barely had time to register all the movement around me. The only thing I could manage to concentrate on was Alice saying that Edward was in excruciating pain. I wiped away imaginary tears from my eyes. Venom pooled in my mouth at my sudden anger at Jane.

Rose realized what I was going through and was by my side in an instant.

"Bella, you rescued my brother once before. It's my turn to help you. I need you to breathe and focus on getting Edward home. I promise you, I will find that bitch Jane and I will hurt her. I need your help though. I need you to focus on Edward and what needs to be done to assure his safety."

I suddenly snapped back to reality and saw the look on Rose's face. She wasn't kidding. She was going to kill someone.

"Okay. Thanks Rose. Just stick with me will you? I need you."

Rose smiled at me and put her arm around me. "Anything for you little sister. Anything."

Feza and his lieutenants broke off into a brisk run from the camp. They were only gone a couple of seconds before we heard the symphonic sounds of wolves howling in the distance. They were already half way to Volterra.

Jake and Jasper had rallied the last of the pack together. Watching Jasper orchestrate an attack was pure magic. Everyone knew of the absolute danger we were facing, but Jasper worked his magic and the mood amongst the pack evened out and became attentive.

Alice leaned over and whispered in my ear. "That's my man. The Dog Whisperer."

I had to stifle a loud snort. I shook silently with laughter and quit the moment I saw Jake raise an eyebrow at me.

I quickly returned my attention to the layouts of the Volterra compound and listened to Eleazar as he recounted earlier memories. I knew I was impervious to Jane. Alec tended to worry me a little so I voiced my fear about it and we all agreed that perhaps Jane would be rendered helpless for a moment if we took Alec down first.

I was so wrapped up in our preparations for the assault on the Volturi that I never registered the arrival of new visitors.

I quickly turned and glanced over my shoulder.

"Kate! Garrett!" I jumped up and ran over to hug them.

"Bella." Garrett whispered as he pulled me into an impossible bear hug. He set me down and allowed me to greet Kate.

"Kate! How is Tanya?" I asked as I hugged her tightly.

"She wishes she could be here. She sends her love. Please understand why she couldn't come." Kate explained as she held my hands.

"Of course! I'm just so pleased that she has finally found someone. She deserves it."

Kate chuckled. "So says the wife of the man my sister wanted for a long time."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Tanya is always welcome in my home as are you. You are family."

I spent the next few moments getting Kate and Garrett up to speed.

"More are coming Bella. It is time for the Volturi's oppressive reign to end." Garrett exclaimed.

"I agree Garrett," I said as I nodded. "However, we must make sure that all of us live in peace. Be it vampire….or wolf."

I could hear choruses of disagreement echoing loudly around me. I had had enough.

"STOP!" I yelled, my supernatural voice causing many to clap their hands over their ears.

I marveled at how many pairs of eyes suddenly turned in my direction. The air was full of anger, denial and so many more repressed emotions. I searched for Jasper in the crowd.

Like magic, Jasper appeared by my side. "Listen to her." He pleaded.

I hung my head down. I pushed the heavy curtain of my hair over my shoulder, stood tall and looked out at the expectant faces in the crowd that had gathered together once the word of a fight had spread.

"Some of you are going to die." I said matter-of-factly.

There was quiet rumblings going through the crowd.

"I could die. I have no fear of it though. I walk into Volterra knowing that I go to fight for the things I care about the most… my husband and my freedom to live the rest of this immortal life of mine free from fear."

I recognized a few more familiar vampire faces joining the crowd. Rosalie and Emmett had successfully spread the word. It was time for the Volturi as we knew it to come to an end.

"I ask you, each and every one of you, what do you want? Do you want peace? We can have it. I warn you though, we are entering into a new age. For those of you who cannot fathom the idea of living in peace with the wolves, I ask you to leave now."

More mumbling rifled through the growing crowd. Vampire and Wolf already stood side by side.

"Look around you now," I addressed the audience. "We stand together already! We all have our own lives, our families, our loves. We aren't that much different from one another. Why? Why must we continue to submit ourselves to the laws of three men who refuse to learn? Who discriminate and seek out those of us who are different?"

Jasper leaned in and whispered in my ear. "Careful Bella."

I nodded letting him know that I heard him. Jake knew what I was doing. He phased and padded up beside me. I could see my reflection in his eye. I reached out and lovingly scratched him between his ears. "Please. Help us win this fight. We need to move forward. This could be the dawning of new age. Let us help each other. WE can exist together. I know this to be true. If we succeed, we will create a new form of government. One that is fair to both of our kind."

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Tense introductions were made and new bonds were being formed.

"Well done Bella." Carlisle said as he pulled me into a hug. "Edward would approve."

"My only hope is that it works." I admitted as I pulled away from him and looked out into the crowd. I saw the approving nods of the nomads who traveled long distances to stand with us once again. I finally had a faint glimmer of hope.

Edward.

Oh Edward. I'm coming for you. I'm bringing an incredibly ragtag army, but we're on our way.

Not my usual amount of verbage but I think I got my point across! GO BELLA! Be kind... I'm kind of skeert right now...