Chapter Thirty Six
Aro
I wondered if it would occur to Carlisle that I hadn't touched him to hear his thoughts and if it had what he thought it meant. I sat organising my own as I waited for Edward, I had to be careful here or it could become very awkward when I spoke to my brothers, I didn't want to lie outright to them but at the same time...well we would see soon enough. Edward came in at my command and sat in the chair I offered directly opposite my own.
"Edward, thank you for coming. I'm hoping you will be able to clear up a few questions on a subject that is concerning the Volturi."
"If I can Aro."
"Oh I'm sure you can Edward. Before I ask you about the matter I'd just like to clear up a few other things. I understand that you are still reluctant to join us here in Volterra, such a pity when you would be protected by your brothers in the guard. Still I'm sure you know what is in your best interest."
I fell silent then and watched him closely before continuing,
"Now Edward. About the festival. We know one of you became very close to a human girl called Renee and that a few months later she gave birth to a hybrid child. That in itself is not a crime, we've all tasted the forbidden fruit, its only to be expected when young men and young women are in close proximity. I think it is way past time you found a companion of your own. But I digress, the crime was in not informing the Volturi of what had occurred so the child could be brought to safety in Volterra. She would have been looked after, watched, and if it was apparent she was gifted then at the appropriate moment she would have been changed and taken he place among her family, us. I need you to tell me who was responsible for the pregnancy. It must have been one of the three young vampires who shared a tent. Carlisle already understands that as the one who kept her secret he is guilty of a crime."
"Guilty?"
"Of course Edward, he suppressed the truth, put us all in danger. What if she had suddenly discovered a gift that would attract the attention of the humans around her? How long do you think it would be before they discovered there were immortals living and feeding among them? Now Edward, an answer please.
Edward
I was terrified and my mind was in a whirl, Carlisle would be punished for his part in keeping Bella a secret from the Volturi. Did that mean he had forfeit his life? Aro had been very keen to stress that my security lay in Volterra. Was he offering me a way out of my predicament? If I fingered one of the others then I would be safe but his price was my presence here in Italy. Is that why he hadn't touched me? So he wouldn't learn the truth from my thoughts? But if I condemned Emmett or Liam I was handing them a death sentence, could I do that? Playing for time I asked Aro something that intrigued me,
"What will happen to Bella?"
"She will be found and brought here to Volterra where we can ascertain if she is indeed gifted."
"And if she isn't?"
"Then she can join the guard, after all she is already part vampire. Oh yes, there is something else I think I should mention to you before you answer my question, we are aware that Liam was not the one responsible. I had a quiet word with him and after a little persuasion he admitted to knowing about the girl Renee but he was on his way to find his mate when he joined you and therefore had no interest in a human. He has joined the Volturi guard I am pleased to be able to tell you. Of course it was highly unlikely he was the one responsible, after all Carlisle would hardly cover for a nomad. No I am already aware that the culprit is either Emmett Cullen or yourself. Such a pity he isn't talented in any meaningful way. It might have offered him a way out of his present predicament, if you get my meaning Edward."
Aro
Edward understood me only too well but he still hesitated, unwilling to place a noose around his brother's neck. He knew perfectly well that we needed to be seen to act on this matter or more vampires might take it into their heads to create hybrids and would be very dangerous indeed. No, the crime must carry the severest of sentences, it was the only way. He swallowed hard a few times and looked at the window as if wishing he could fly away from here but he was a prisoner here in the Volturi citadel and it was time for him to make his decision.
"Do you have an answer for me or should I perhaps ask your brother Emmett? I wonder which way Carlisle would jump if he were asked, do you have any idea Edward?"
I drummed my fingers impatiently on the top of my highly polished desk waiting.
"It was Emmett. I did point out that he should take the problem to Carlisle so I suppose he did because I never heard any more of it until now."
"When did your brother find out that the human girl was pregnant with his child?"
"I'm not sure, I think perhaps he was a little curious about her and watched."
"So Carlisle did all this to protect Emmett's child?"
"I guess so. I don't know exactly what he did. I wasn't privy to their decisions."
"But you heard their thoughts?"
"Some, but not all. Both of them have learned to keep their thoughts to themselves over the years. Besides I wouldn't have done anything to bring them to your attention, Carlisle is my sire and Emmett my brother. I left it when I saw they were working it out. I did think Carlisle would have told you and I gave it no more thought."
"Until now."
"Yes until now."
Edward
As I left Aros study I felt sick, I had just condemned my brother to save my own skin. I knew Carlisle had taken the burden of my child from me, I hadn't given Renee a thought after we left the festival until Carlisle who had heard about my actions from Emmett dropped the bombshell about Bella. Even then it hadn't really interested me, I doubted the child was mine, and again forgot all about it until Carlisle had broken the news to me that she was my daughter and on the run with information that could prove deadly to both of us. We hadn't been able to trace her until Charlie Swan started to act uncharacteristically and we still didn't know who was helping her at first, but whoever was they were very good at it. When he told me about Alice and Jazz I felt the ground shift under my feet. If it was Jasper Hale helping her, and she was his mate then we were through. It had been Carlisle's idea to blame Emmett for everything and now I found out that I had a chance of survival but I wasn't sure it encompassed Carlisle too. I got back to our room to find Emmett already gone.
"Felix came for him a few minutes ago. I think he took him to Aro. What happened?"
I explained the conversation to Carlisle who nodded,
"Keep to that story Edward. If Aro is prepared to accept it then you are safe."
"But he knows it's a lie doesn't he? Why else would he deliberately avoid touching me?"
"Aro wants you in the Volturi and he's prepared to make a bargain with you. Accept it son and survive."
"What about you?"
"I knew the consequences if I was discovered. I did all in my power but it wasn't enough and now I will wait for their decision."
"And Emmett?"
"Forget Emmett Edward. Emmett is already dead, he just doesn't realize it yet."