Shattered

"No!" I screamed. And then everything stopped.

I straightened from my crouch where I had curled my body around my son; protecting him. No one was moving, no one was attacking. Why?

Then suddenly, a cold cruel laugh rang through the trees. I turned to face the one I assumed was the leader. He was staring at me with a strange glint in his eye. I reached my mind out toward him, but was surprised to find that my mind was already firmly in his conscious. I was in every person's mind in the field. I was pressing my mind forcefully into every mind present. I was making them stop.

The enormity of my power awed me.

"My name is Aro, dear one. What may I call you?" His voice was full of power, cold and calculating.

I watched him, unsure what to do. But as I looked into his mind I could tell he was genuinely curious about me and wanted to know my name.

"Bella." I answered.

"Is that short for Isabella?"

"Yea."

"Yes." He corrected. Why was I being corrected like a grade school student by this man? Without thinking I tightened my control on him trying to get him to stop talking. But he resisted.

"Ah." He groaned. "Your presence is strong in my mind. What an unusual feeling." His teeth clenched as I poured my will into his trying to force him to shut up. I was taking his resistance personally.

"Isabella, please." He pleaded.

I turned toward Edward where he was still in a headlock and took a moment to listen to his thoughts. How are you doing this? His thoughts were confused. But I could also feel a tint of smugness for my control over Aro.

"What do you want?" I released my control over his mouth and allowed him to answer me.

"Oh dear. I so desperately want to meet you properly. Will you allow me to shake your hand?"

I could hear Edward's outright refusal ringing screaming in my mind. Don't let him touch you!

But I was curious, so slowly I released his legs and controlling him made him come toward me. I was watching his mind carefully, making sure he didn't try anything.

As he reached me, he brought up his hand to me. I was still a little unsure. But I lifted my own hand and gave it to him. Instead of shaking my hand as I expected he clasped it in both of his and bowed his head over it, pressing his lips gently to my hand.

He raised himself up and I could tell he wanted to laugh but I forced it out of his mind.

Even so, Aro was smiling sweetly at me. But under his mask of pleasure, confusion flicked across his face. I was able to sense his frustration but he didn't really voice his reasons for this frustration.

"What's wrong?" I snapped my hand back from his, wrapping both my arms around my precious son.

"Nothing sweet one. I'm a just surprised is all." He smiled at me again.

From the corner of my mind I could hear a triumphant Edward laughing at Aro. His glee filled his whole body.

"You see Bella, I have a gift of my own, and it seems, on you, it does not work." His smile faltered a little. "A rare gift indeed." His eyes flashed again but this time with something more greedy.

"What do you want? You can't have my son. I will die first."

"No darling. I wouldn't dream of hurting your child." He glanced slowly at my young child. I could feel his distaste in his mind but it didn't have a hint of harmful intent. "I want to offer you protection."

Everyone heard the sharp intake that came from Edward's direction. Hush. I forced him to an even deeper level of control.

"Why?" I turned my attention back to Aro. "You ordered your men to kill me and my son not 5 minutes ago."

"But dearest Bella, I didn't know you then. I have since corrected my mistake. I know you would never intentionally cause harm to our society, the vampire world. We were not acquainted then, but we soon will be." He smirked. I have a feeling we will be great friends." I pushed his mind knowing his lie for what it was. "Ahhhh." He groaned.

I stared at him letting him know that he was found out. But I also could see his true intent in buttering me up. He wanted me. He wanted me with a passion so fierce he almost couldn't contain it. He was a collector and I would be his most prized possession. He was willing to let my child, who he previously had every intent to destroy, live to be able to put me on his shelf.

I looked back at my family, all of whom were standing still and quietly. They all looked at me with love and concern. I had wanted all my human life to be a part of this family. Even when I was turned I wanted to be with them. They were the best and most loving people I knew. And that is why when I looked into their minds I could feel shame and guilt.

They loved me but they could not love my son. The fact that they helped me cover up his massacres made them unable to live with themselves. They could not justify protecting my child. Which is why they did not make plans to run. They fought, yes, for their own survival, but they did not run.

I was so blind before. I let my love for my child blind me to what everyone was feeling. I was forcing compliance onto them. My power was the only reason they allowed my child to continue as he has for so long.

I turned to Carlisle. He implored me with his eyes and his mind. Don't leave. We love you. You don't have to leave.

I smiled and hugged him through his thoughts. I love you too. But you cannot live with this guilt. I can see it destroying you already. I smiled sadly at him. You are too good a person to live idly by knowing that my son cannot control himself. And even though it breaks my heart to know that same thing, I cannot abandon my son. I gave him one last look and turned to Esme.

She looked as if she would be crying if she could. Thank you for your love and letting me a part of your family, if only for a little while. Slowly I turned to everyone in my dream family, saying my goodbyes. By time I got to the only one that could make me stay, my heart was broken to a thousand pieces. It was a familiar feeling, but the fact that I had some relief for the past months had made it worse.

Finally, turning to Edward, my control wavered and I released almost everyone from my iron grip. The Volturi guards and the rest of the leaders shifted and rolled their shoulders testing their basic functions. I shifted a small glance to Aro but he just smiled at me waiting, and held up a hand to his guards keeping them back.

I kept my control on the Cullen family keeping them away from me, but my will was breaking and I couldn't stop them from moving around. They gathered together and held each other in comfort. All but Edward.

He fought my will, coming forward as far as he could and then when he felt my wall blocking him he pushed against it.

"Don't do this." He pleaded. "Don't make me lose you again." His voice sobbed as he forced himself against my control. "I won't live through it again."

Hush. He immediately stopped talking. We can't so this. You are too much like Carlisle. You would never be able to live with me and my son. He brought his hands to his head, shaking it violently. You have always been, and always will be my love. He fell to his knees, gasping for air. But I have to go. He looked back up to me. He looked like he was going mad. He shook his head. "NO!" he growled.

I pushed against his mind taking every last bit of control from him, hating myself the instant I did so. You will stay with your family. You will not look for me. You will not come after me. And you will tell your family to do the same. His body went limp, barely staying vertical on his knees. And as I turned from him, my heart finished breaking as I saw his blank stare and knew I would never see him again. I had forced my will against this beautiful man and it shattered me.