Chapter 36

"Bella," the smiling vampire said warmly, rising from his throne. "How good to see you, dear. It's been too long." He clapped his hands together as he descended the small platform and came toward us. The charcoal cloaked vampires that had been loitering behind the trio instinctively moved closer, their desire to stay near their leader to keep him safe obvious in their protective movements. "And look!" He spread his hands wide to gesture to the rest of us. "You've brought your family. What a happy reunion for us!" His eyes traveled over each of the members of our group until they rested on me. "But what's this? Who is this? I didn't know the Swan family had welcomed someone new into their midst…"

His eyes roamed curiously over me, and his thoughts were genuinely curious.

Next to me, Bella squeezed my hand before speaking. "Aro, it's good to see you too. This is Edward, my mate. He joined our family a couple of months ago." Her voice was smooth and calm, but her thoughts were worried and had an edge of panic to them.

Aro approached, eyes never leaving me. "May I?" He reached his hand out and I instinctively recoiled slightly, biting back the growl that bubbled in my throat. I looked at Bella in confusion.

"Aro has a gift, Edward. He can read every thought you've ever had by touching your hand," she explained, her voice a flat monotone.

I was wary, but suspected that I really didn't have a choice in the matter, and he was only asking permission in order to maintain the façade of civility. I nodded once, and he closed the gap, grasping my hand. I gasped as he called forth every thought and memory I had ever had, human and vampire. I watched his eyes widen in surprise as awareness of my gift dawned on him.

He dropped my hand, his eyes never leaving mine. "Fascinating. It appears you are not the only gifted one in your family, Bella," he mused.

Bella didn't respond, and Aro turned and walked back up the small steps of the platform where he returned to his large seat next to his associates. The black haired vampire, Marcus, continued to look bored, while Caius was looking at our group with raised eyebrows.

"Brother, as interesting as Bella's new friend's talent may be, that is not why they were summoned here today." Caius' voice was haughty and snide.

"Ah yes. How true brother," Aro agreed, nodding. He turned his attention to Bella, and I felt myself stiffen. "Well, Bella, it appears you have gotten yourself into quite a bit of trouble. What do you have to say?"

Bella approached the platform and held her hand out to Aro, her chin raised a fraction of an inch. "The easiest way would be to show you," she said softly.

Aro nodded and grasped her hand lightly. It was fascinating to watch Bella's thoughts playing through Aro's mind. Although they flashed through at a rapid pace, it took several moments for them to catch up to our time with Jane. I watched as Bella replayed everything, from Jane's initial visit, through the seemingly interminable week when we thought the very men we were now standing before were coming for us, to Jane's reappearance in the clearing that day.

Aro's eyebrow raised as he saw, through Bella's memories, the way that Jane had savagely attacked me and how Bella fought to save me. His own thoughts were curious and amused as to why Bella had worked so hard to save me. He didn't understand the attachment she had felt to a human.

He saw everything through Bella's eyes: my awful transformation, the time I lay burning on the table while Bella stood over me anxious and worried, the blissful and carefree months Bella and I had spent in Paris, and our receipt of the letter that was the reason we came to Volterra. When Bella's thoughts came to a close with us standing before the three men, Aro looked up at her and smiled.

"I see," he said simply. "I'll need a moment to confer with my brethren,"

With a swish of his cloak he turned and the three men gathered in the furthest end of the spacious room behind the three large thrones. The members of the Volturi guard followed and circled around the three ancient ones protectively, looking back and eyeing us warily as their masters calmly discussed our fate.

Even with our sensitive vampire hearing, it was impossible to eavesdrop in the spacious room with high vaulted ceilings. The men spoke in whispers that were low and became lost as they floated up to the high domed arch. I tried to focus in on their thoughts, but with so many members of the guard in such close proximity to them, I couldn't find any one specific voice. I was getting better with my talent, but I still wasn't good enough to filter so much mental noise out yet. Instead, I was forced to watch and try to decipher what was happening by their gestures.

Aro reached both hands out and took each of his brother's hands in his own, his lips moving rapidly as he relayed to them what he had learned from Bella's touch. Caius' expression grew livid, and I could guess that Aro was to the part where Bella destroyed Jane. Marcus continued on as if nothing were happening, the bored look never leaving his ancient face. Aro's retelling obviously drew to a close and the three began to converse, or at least Aro and Caius conversed while Marcus looked on with boredom.

They had to see. They had to know now, after seeing it first hand through Bella's thoughts, that Bella's actions had been justified. Jane had tricked us and acted under false pretenses. Plus she had tried to kill me, and Bella would not have been able to save me and still have left Jane alive. They had to see all this.

He turned to look at us again and smiled a false smile. I felt compelled to smile back, but I'm sure it came out more like a grimace than an actual smile. The mental voices continued to swirl around me in a dizzying haze. I tried in vain to focus in on Aro's thoughts. After a moment, he broke apart from his brethren and returned to stand by his enormous high-backed chair. Following his lead, the other two returned to their respective chairs as well. The guard cautiously took their places, flanking the three thrones and staring impassively at us.

"Well, before we make our decision, Bella, I have a proposition for you and your mate," Aro smiled at us. I felt a pit of dread in my stomach at his words. I tried to focus in on his thoughts since he was closer to me now. Puzzlingly, I found that while I could hear his mental voice, his thoughts were suddenly unintelligible. I realized he was thinking in a different language, a clear attempt to keep me from reading his mind before he announced his decision regarding Bella's fate. Bella hesitated a moment before nodding for him to continue.

"You know how fond we are of you, young Bella and your family. We have been admirers of yours for many years, watching you from afar." As he spoke, the false sincerity in his voice left a bitter taste in my mouth. "You are so talented, Bella. It's no secret that for years we've admired your ability to shield those around you. Now, happily, you've found an equally talented mate." He turned to me as he continued. "You should know that I very much envy your ability, Edward. To be able to read the thoughts of everyone in the room would be divine."

"What was your question, Aro?" Bella interrupted, her tone bordering on annoyance.

"Patience, Bella," he chided. "I was getting there. He turned his attention back to me. "We are willing to completely pardon Bella for her crime against our guard, for taking one of our most cherished and valuable members from us." His tone was grave and he shook his head as he spoke, emphasizing just how great the Volturi considered Jane's loss to be. I desperately tried to get some sort of read on his mind, but he was still doing a very efficient job of blocking me. "If…Bella and Edward will join our ranks."

I was too shocked to process his words for a moment. Next to me, Bella hissed. The sound snapped me out of my stupor, and I realized with horror what he was proposing.

Hearing Bella, Aro continued, "Now, now, hear us out. There would be no consequences for your imprudent and impulsive actions, Bella. Plus, you and Edward would be very well taken care of here in Volterra. You would both become high ranking members of our guard; a very prestigious offer, I assure you. You would find yourselves quite pleased with life in Volterra, I think. There really are some excellent diversions to be found, not to mention some excellent hunting opportunities." His smile was menacing as he finished his words and I realized what he meant.

"Never," Bella spat.

Next to her, Charlie stepped forward and touched her arm in warning. "Aro, you know how much my family respects you and your family. It is an honor to even have you make such a request. However, as you know, our diet is much too different from your own to allow any sort of a liaison like what you are suggesting to work."

Aro's eyes flashed, and his thoughts, though still unintelligible, were obviously angry for a moment. "Well, your diet could always be modified to be more suitable, couldn't it?" he snapped before composing his features again into a sugary smile.

"I just don't think that would ever work for us," Bella said, her tone also more placating than it had been a moment ago.

It was Caius who spoke next. "Well then, I guess we have our answer, Aro."

And that was apparently the cue. Three huge members of the Volturi guard stepped forward to enclose Bella. Her eyes flashed helplessly to me as they closed rank.

"No!" I roared. This could not happen. They were not going to take her without a fight from me. I was stunned, however, when upon approaching us, they shoved Bella roughly aside and surrounded me.

Of course. All of a sudden it made perfect sense. They couldn't touch Bella because of her shield, and they knew she would be able to protect both herself and the rest of her family. It was only I who was vulnerable in her presence. They would use me as leverage to get what they wanted.

The three burly guards closed in on me and I began to fight back. My eyes flashed wildly around to each of them, and for a moment I thought that I stood a chance. I focused in with all my concentration and found I could read their thoughts and anticipate what their moves would be a split second before they made them. I got in a few good hits. However, trying to decipher what all three of them were thinking at the same time proved to be too much, even for my new and improved vampire mind.

I felt myself being hurled through the air and milliseconds later, I landed on the hard stone floor, skidding to a stop. I heard the marble crack under my rock solid shoulders, and then immediately felt myself being lifted up, pulled by my neck and head.

I heard Bella's ferocious scream somewhere in the background and couldn't help but experience a sick feeling of déjà vu. Only this time, no amount of vampire venom would be able to save me. This was it. I was done. But even as I crouched, kneeling on the cold stone floor, inescapable hands grasping my head, preparing to tear me apart, I couldn't bring myself to regret anything. It seemed a small sacrifice, my life for her freedom.

"Stop!" The voice was harsh and commanding, and the hands around my head and neck paused. I was shocked to realize it was Bella who had spoken. My captors looked toward Aro, and he held his hand out, motioning for them to release me. I felt the hands disappear, and I jumped up and ran back to Bella's side.

"My brother gets a little overzealous in his quest to ensure that justice is served in our world." Aro's voice was meant to be soothing as he spread his hands in front of him magnanimously. "Let us listen to what Bella has to say."

"Aro, mark my words." Bella's voice was low, and the threat it contained was unmistakable. "If you kill Edward, I will make it my personal mission to destroy you and your family. I will not rest until each and every member of your guard is nothing but a smoldering pile of ashes. And then I will come for you and your brothers. Nothing will stop me because if Edward is gone, I will have no more reason to live except to destroy you."

Aro's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing threateningly. Then, shockingly he began laughing. It was the haughty, amused laugh of someone too secure in his position to be affected by the threats of those less powerful than himself.

"Bella," Aro said, shaking his head. His voice was friendly on the surface, but the edge of menace underneath was unmistakable. "Are you really so naïve as to think that you are the first one to threaten us?" The razor sharp tone of his voice had moved to the surface, and he spoke his words through pursed lips and gritted teeth. "You may threaten all you want; it will do you no good. We are very well protected and therefore, virtually untouchable. You have our offer. Have you changed your mind? Do you accept?"

Bella stood, stunned by his tone and his words, her mouth slightly open.

"No!" I bellowed as her thoughts floated into my mind. I would not allow her to sacrifice herself and her happiness for me. "She has not changed her mind. We will never join you."

Bella's desperate eyes flashed to me for a moment before I was seized again by the guard and dragged over to kneel in front of the three brothers again. I felt their hands grip my head and neck again and I closed my eyes, knowing there was no escape this time. We had played all our cards and it had done us no good. There was no out, no escape. Someone would pay for Jane's death and if it had to be me instead of Bella or any of the other members of her family, so be it.

As I knelt, waiting for the end to come, I realized that it had never mattered what we said. The Volturi didn't care. They didn't care whether Bella was justified in killing Jane. They didn't care that Jane had attacked me, and that Bella had been hard pressed to save me after Jane's vicious attack. With a shock, I realized that it would not have mattered to the ancient vampires what our story was. Their minds were made up before we even walked through the door. Jane had been their pet, their protector. She had kept them safe with her sick little talent, and now that she was gone, they were both enraged by her loss, and made more vulnerable at no longer being under her protection.

Bella screamed again, and I felt my dead heart clench at the anguish I heard there. I was not the only one who would be destroyed by the Volturi's verdict. Bella might still be left standing, but I knew she would not be whole again after I was gone.

"Wait, no! Take me instead!" Bella cried, rushing over to the guard.

"Bella, no!" I growled, struggling to twist my head around to find her. "Do not do this!"

She ignored me. "Aro, I will not join your guard, but please, at least take me and let Edward go free. It was I who committed the crime against you. I should be the one punished, not Edward."

Aro raised his eyebrow for a moment as he considered her words.

"No!" I roared as I realized what he was going to do. It was too late.

"I cannot argue the fairness of your proposal, Bella. You'll…disable…your little shield, then?" Aro asked. Bella nodded and I screamed again in rage.

Immediately, I felt the hands of my captors leave my face. I was free, and I sprang to my feet, but I was too late. The guard was too swift for me. They had Bella in their grasp before I had time to even try to protect her.

"Bella, no! You can't do this. Please!" I pleaded, the desperation in my voice clear as I looked back and forth between her and Aro.

Aro shrugged, then lifted his hands in the air in a gesture of mock helplessness. "Edward, I understand your concern, but what can I do? Bella's proposal is fair. It allows justice to be served. But...were either you or Bella to reconsider..." he trailed off suggestively.

"No, Edward. Don't listen to him. Let me do this! It's the only way," Bella cried from behind the guard's inescapable hands.

I felt desperation rock me. I screamed out a curse at the ceiling, fisting my hands in my hair. I wasn't supposed to be weak anymore. I was supposed to be strong enough to protect her, and I was failing again. I didn't want this; I didn't want eternity if she wasn't with me. I wouldn't exist without her.

I turned toward the trio, fists clenched and teeth bared. "You may as well kill me also, because there's no point in me going on if you destroy her." I dropped to my knees by Bella's side. Aro shook his head and sighed. More members of the guard rushed to me, taking my head firmly in their hands.

"Stop!" It was Bella who called out, but her voice was echoed by a different, unfamiliar voice. I felt the hands that held me captive pause and loosen their grip in surprise. I wrenched my neck around in an attempt to decipher to whom the voice belonged. My jaw fell open in surprise when I caught a glimpse of who had entered the room.

Aro's eyes narrowed as he also caught sight of the new visitor. Caius looked outraged, and Marcus simply rolled his eyes.

"Hello, James," Aro said, his voice dry as he stepped down to greet the new arrival. "To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?"

"I have some information that might be of interest to you regarding the two you are holding in your custody," James said, smirking at me and winking at Bella as he sauntered easily into the room.