I don't own anything.
A/N: I finally finished it. I apologize that it took me so long. I admit that it isn't the best but I hope you like it.
Bella's POV
We entered the throne room hand in hand as we made our way toward the middle of the room. Aro, Caius and Marcus were seated at the far end of the room in their chairs flanked by Jane, Alec, Felix, and Demetri plus a few others from the guard.
Aro grinned at us as if we had brightened up his day, "Ah Edward, and dearest Bella," he greeted us in a singing tone, "It seems like only yesterday you both came and graced us with your presence and your marvelous abilities."
I fought back a laugh. It wasn't like we came here by choice. It was more like being drafted for the army and not believing in the cause. The life here was to be more like a choice to uphold that greatness of the society. Of course, you were able to leave the Volturi if you wished under normal circumstances but if Aro, Caius or Marcus wanted to keep you… That was a different story. They had vampires with the ability to sway your loyalty and make you believe that you want to stay and serve their cause.
They had tried this on Edward and I on more than one occasion. My mind being closed off to everyone made it so that it never affected me. Edward on the other hand was almost swayed but the effects wore off almost instantly because the bond between Edward and I was so much stronger than any force they had ever known. Edward would never turn against me and from that moment on he kept tabs on any other attempts to sway his loyalty or take advantage of us.
Edward just nodded to Aro after his statement. "I do hope that the experience was enlightening as to the benefits that come with being one of us." Aro chimed.
Edward and I only gave him one stiff nod. "Oh, come now my dears. There is no need to be so glum. The past decade with you has been shall I say, useful and most appreciated. To be in the presence of a wonderful couple that you are, one that fate had brought together on so many occasions…" Aro let out a sigh that seemed to reflect remembrance of a wonderful time, "Surely you have something to say about your time spent with us?"
I gave Edward a quick glance and his arm tightened around me telling me to remain silent. He lifted his head more proudly before he spoke, "We have seen how life around here works from the average everyday to the battles to keep the peace and secrecy of our existence. Though our views on some issues are not of the same nature," referring to diet and ways of handling exposure, "We have found that the ideal of keeping our secrets and peace is noble but…" Edward hesitated slightly trying to find the right words. "…we feel that we are not much use to you. You have a well ironed out process here as it is and we feel that our services to you are not as beneficial as they could be." Edward paused to let them consider his words and to read their thoughts no doubt.
Caius rose from his seat and began pacing slowly in front of Aro and Marcus. Edward's body tensed and held me tighter to his side. Aro noticed Edward's tension and arose from his chair in a swift fluid motion approaching Caius and touched his hand. Aro's brow furrowed in concentration as Caius's thoughts wafted through his mind. Aro suddenly let out a laugh that rang throughout the throne room. Caius glared at him clearly not liking the way Aro was reacting to his thoughts. "My dear Caius, surely you aren't thinking of going back on the deal we had made with Carlisle. You forget that our Edward here is listening to every thought that passes through your mind and the ones that I took from you just now." Aro nearly sang smiling at us.
Caius grimaced, "Aro you can't just stand by and merrily let them go. Their abilities are useful."
Aro smiled, "It is true that I would prefer that they stayed with us but a deal is a deal."
Caius huffed and Edward followed. Caius noticed Edward's huff and directed his attention toward him, "Get out of my head."
Edward smiled smugly, "I wish I could but you must understand that it would mean that Bella and I are far from here. It is as if you are yelling your thoughts to me."
"So you don't think that your abilities would be useful to us?" Caius said with one eyebrow raised.
"I share the same ability as Aro and Bella can only confirm what he sees," Edward answered.
"This is true but we don't have the luxury of picking the thoughts out at a distance." Marcus chimed in his face showing nothing but his constant boredom.
Edward's arm tightened around my waist once again, "A technicality that you have been able to live without for over a millennium. I don't see a need to change your well oiled machine."
"Think of the greatness Edward," Aro said, "Your abilities would enhance the cause three fold."
"Please do not take offence but," Edward sighed kissing my hair, "we prefer to live in peace with our loved ones."
"Bella my dear," Aro smiled and I straightened up in Edward's arms, "you have been awfully quite. Is there nothing you have to say to us? Or has Edward taken away your tongue?"
I felt a low growl build in Edward's chest. I turned my head up and kissed his jaw hoping to calm him down. Edward sighed hugging me and kissed my hair once more. I turned to Aro to answer his question, "My husband speaks for the both of us," I said in a tone of slight irritation, "If I had anymore to add I would have said it."
"So you are in agreement with Edward then that you feel no need to stay?" Caius asked.
"Objectively?" I said, "I think that if someone doesn't want to work for you even if they have an ideal ability. They should be able to go about their business and be left alone."
"I see," Caius said.
"Furthermore," I continued, "We do not have a particular liking to your diet. We prefer to remain vegetarian and the wild life pickings around here suck."
Edward chuckled grinning at me. Aro, Caius and Marcus faces turned incredulous. The others in the room had a look of disgust, except for…Demetri. What was he thinking? What I wouldn't give for Edward's ability right now. Demetri looked almost understanding of our side of things.
Marcus nearly straightened up in his chair and actually began to look more intent in our direction. He looked between Demetri and I for a moment then sighed pressing his lips to a thin line. I wonder what was going through his mind because Edward sighed tightening his grip around my waist for a second. I looked up at Edward in question but he didn't give me any hint of what was going on. He just bent his head down and kissed me lightly on the lips.
"I find your lack of respect for the way of life we up hold rather irritating," Caias said.
"We respect what you try to up hold but we prefer not to be a part of it," Edward corrected. "The fact that we respect the lives of humans does not main that we disrespect what you try to do."
"Bella, has your husband ever allowed you to think for yourself or has he just dictated your diet and mind from the beginning," Caius said.
I growled and bared my teeth to his accusation that Edward was controlling me. "It isn't worth it Bella," Edward whispered. "He doesn't understand and he never will."
"Are you trying to insult me?" Caius hissed.
"Not at all," Edward said, "just stating fact."
"Which is?" Caius snarled.
"You would never try to drink the blood of an animal," Edward said, "and would never fully understand us till you try it yourself."
"You want me to drink inferior blood to better understand Carlisle's insanity," Caius hissed.
"We don't want you to do anything," Edward said, "What we want is to be free to leave Volterra for good and live in peace with our family."
Caius shrank into a crouch and Edward swiftly moved me behind him to protect me preparing himself for anything. "Ha ha ha," Aro laughed, "My dear Caius and Edward, you two have always been at odds this past decade. Calm down," he said but neither of them backed down. Aro raised one eyebrow and looked between the two of them. "Jane?"
I stiffened as Jane, the little she-devil herself, walked to Aro's side. I grabbed Edward's hand tightly, "Edward please," I pleaded. I could not bear to see Edward tortured by Jane again.
"I do not wish to fight," Edward spoke through clenched teeth, "I only wish for my wife and I to leave this place in peace with no obligation to return as per your agreement with Carlisle."
"And leave you to expose us once again to the humans like you did your precious wife?" Caius hissed.
"Bella was a one time deal," Edward hissed back, "I would never jeopardize her or our family again."
"I would never jeopardize my husband or our family as well," I added.
"The things you'll do for love," Marcus sighed.
Caius began to back down and turned to Marcus, "Care to elaborate?"
"No," Marcus sighed.
"Aro this is intolerable," he growled and began pacing so fast that no human would be able to see him.
"The fact remains my brother that we made a deal," Aro said, "Edward and Bella have done as they have been told and held up their end."
"But…" Caius began.
"And we have a reputation to up hold," Aro said. "It seems that our dear friend Xander has spread their story to our kind world wide. If we were to go back on such a deal it could be disastrous for our image."
"They broke the law!" Caius growled at Aro.
"And we made a deal," Aro said. As if it was meant to be the clock tower began to chime and it echoed through the halls of the Volturi. It was faint and if I was still human I would never have heard it.
On the twelfth chime Aro grinned, "It seems our time is up. We do hope that you join us again someday."
Edward and I nodded once giving all of them a finally glance before turning to leave. Edward's arms grabbed my waist as if to be my shield as we raced to the Volturi exit. We reached the elevator and began to ascent up it to the main lobby. Edward looked as if he was concentrating hard on listening to their thoughts so I knew that we weren't free yet.
We walked swiftly to the outside gates to the city to where we stashed our get away car. The red Porsche sat in the shadows and as we got near it Edward stiffened. "What is it?" I asked trying to use my senses to figure out what had stopped him.
"Demetri," he said.
"What about him?" I asked looking around.
"He wants to say goodbye," Edward said.
"Where is he?" I asked.
"He's almost to the gate," Edward said looking in that direction before he pulled me with him to the car. I wondered momentarily why we hadn't stopped to wait for him but then I realized that Edward didn't want us to get separated but he also wanted to be able to leave as soon as possible from this place.
Demetri ran to us in a flash, "Thank you for staying." He said looking at Edward and then he looked at me. "Bella, I know that what I've done was inexcusable in your eyes, but I realize now that we come from different backgrounds. I don't know which is right or which is wrong but I do know that I lost you as a friend because of it. For that I'm sorry. To show my friendship for you I promise to give you warning if I hear of any danger for you and your family."
I was speechless as I let his words sink in. I moved toward him and gave him a hug. "Thank you Demetri," I said letting him go and Edward's arm was soon replaced around my waist.
"Take care you two," Demetri said before he ran back to the gates of the city.
Edward gave me a squeeze and we hurried in to the car and sped down the road.
Hours later we were back at our home in Denali giving our family the play by play.
"They better think twice before messing with me and my family," Emmett said pounding his fist into his other hand.
"I don't think we'll have to worry about that," Alice said no doubt checking our future.
"Well that's good to hear," Esme said with a sigh.
We soon went our separate ways and Edward took me up to our room closing the door behind us. His hands spun me so that I was facing him and he pulled me to his chest. Our lips were only an inch apart before he spoke, "It's all over my love. We are free to do as we please." His lips met mine and I felt the spark race through me.
"I like the sound of that," I murmured against his lips weaving my fingers through his hair and pulling him closer.
He lifted me up and we were soon on the bed our clothes in shreds on the floor. His tongue trailed down my neck to my nipples where he gave my breasts the utmost attention before he moved on he bit them lightly conjuring a moan from me. He moved further south to my swollen bundle of nerves and I was soon to the edge. "Edward, please. I want you." I moaned. He rolled us and he lifted me over his arousal and he plunged deep within me. We both groaned at the pleasure and were soon sent over the edge.
We rolled and he rested his head on my breast as I ran my fingers through his hair. "I have a question." I said.
"What?" he said as his finger traced circles on my belly.
"What was Marcus thinking when he said 'The things you'll do for love"?" I asked.
Edward kissed my stomach before lifting his head up to look at me. "He was thinking that I was willing to cross boundaries to have you with me even though it was not in our best interest. Our love for each other is stronger than anything that he has ever encountered. It was fate that we met and we are meant to be together."
I kissed him, "I told you our fate brought us together," I grinned.
"Always," he grinned and kissed me.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading my story. I really hope you liked it.
I do have one outtake that I'm thinking of posting soon. It's a scene I ended up rewriting in the long run.
Take care.
