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Chapter Thirty Seven: A Peek into the Past

CPOV

I heard the worried tone of Aro's voice when he called her name and raced to the alcove where they were talking. She was obviously in distress, looking more humanly fragile than I'd seen her since her change. She had the back of her hand against her forehead and her breathing was erratic. If she'd been human, I would have said she was having a panic attack. But, I'd never seen such a thing in an immortal.

"Bella?" She looked up at me, somewhat surprised to see me standing next to her.

She threw her arms around my neck and fell into my embrace, "Oh darling I'm so sorry for all I've done to you."

I chuckled gently into her ear, "Sweetheart, whatever are you talking about? Everything is fine, we're fine now. Shhh.. don't be upset." I looked over at Aro, "What were you..."

He shrugged and said, "I may have mentioned your gift to her. Sorry, didn't know that you hadn't chosen to share that with her." His expression was properly concerned.

I nodded, "It's alright."

She pulled back from me, "You could have cured Edward? Edward's father? Betsy? All of them?"

I shook my head, "No, Bella. I couldn't have done that.. we've talked about this, I can't do that without calling attention to myself and our world. You know I'm forbidden..." I hesitated, My explanations weren't helping her situation at all. She continued to pant and she seemed to be stiffening in my arms as I spoke, "...besides, we both know that was not how it was meant to be."

"He could have lived a human life! He could have been happy! You only did it for me, Carlisle. It was all my fault. You only did it for me.." she suddenly fainted in my arms. Now I was the one in panic mode, vampires don't faint.. at least not in my experience. In my best efforts to maintain calm I deferred to my uncle, "Aro, please inform the others I've taken her back to the lodge."

"Of course, my boy. We'll handle it," Aro graciously left to find Eleazar and Jasper while I fairly flew down the cliff side to the gondola with Bella immobile in my arms. When we were finally in our bedroom, I put a cold compress on her forehead, not really knowing what I should do for her. I was contemplating the removal of the cursed corset contraption Alice had insisted upon when she stirred slightly, "Shh, sweetheart. I'm here." I gently pushed the brown tresses from her forehead to reinforce my presence in her mind.

"Carlisle?" she sounded so lost and confused.

Relieved at her revival, I kissed her hand and held her palm to my cheek, "Yes, we're fine... everything is fine now," aside from the fainting immortal goddess in my bedroom and a host of confused royals back at a party now sans host and hostess, "How are you feeling my dearest?"

"I'm back?"

"Back?" I quickly realized she was telling me that she'd time traveled, I thanked my lucky stars that Aro never missed an opportunity to play to a crowd. "Where were you?"

"I was in a dark forest, naked, alone. I found a cabin with lights on.." she grabbed my shirt with both of her tiny fists, "Oh Carlisle! The Volturi, Jane.. they were behind Victoria's attack! They, they knew what she was doing, I saw Jane meeting with her before they came to Forks.. "

Disbelief was my first reaction, "Bella, you've had a very intense experience and you're just imagining... "

"NO! Carlisle, I saw her with Victoria, I was there!" she exclaimed vehemently.

My doubt was rapidly dissolving beneath her insistence, "You're certain?"

"She came to the cabin in the woods with Alec.. Victoria answered the door like she was expecting them," Bella's eyes seemed to lose focus as she concentrated on her memories, "She invited them in and Jane spoke first... wanting to know how much longer she was going to wait before attacking the Cullen Coven. She was impatient and told Victoria she'd better be sure to end the mind reader's mate as she'd promised or Jane would have her head."

I looked at her, horrified by the implications of her revelation. "Did anyone indicate whether Aro or Caius or Marcus was involved?"

She hesitated, "No. No one mentioned them.. but.."

"But what, sweetheart?"

"But Jane said the Queen expected results."

"The Queen?" I swallowed hard, the venom that had collected quickly in my throat. The one person most capable of instigating such a plot now stood accused in the eyes of my innocent and unaware darling. She could not yet know that my Aunt Sulpicia, though undeniably connected to me by blood, was certainly my bitter rival, second only to her brother, my own Uncle Caius.

"Yes.. that's all. Jane left right after she threatened Victoria with decapitation," she cringed in my arms, "I hid in the trees, stayed down wind.. watched Jane leave and saw Victoria change two small humans with Riley after they left," her breathing hitched.. "a pudgy boy and a small girl.."

My head was swirling with possibilities and I kept coming up short of disbelief. I wouldn't believe Aro was behind this subterfuge, but I knew it was not beyond Sulpicia. She was more than capable of using Aro's knowledge of my son's encounter with James' coven against us. Edward had willingly given them this ammunition in Volterra when requesting they assist his suicidal efforts.

I could imagine Aro's fascination with Bella would be reason enough for my aunt to be jealous of the unusual human. The fact that she was to become an immortal by Aro's express command would only strengthen her resolve to get rid of her before that could happen. It suddenly all made sense to me, my Aunt was responsible for my son's death as well as my long time partner's demise. Anger began to parch my soul as never before and evil thoughts I'd never known I was capable of began to swirl with purpose through my mind. Bella would never be safe while Sulpicia still drew blood. I knew the only way I would be able to quench this thirst and protect my mate would be revenge.

BPOV

I awoke alone, naked in a dark, unfamiliar forest. I lay immobile in a bed of damp leaves on the forest floor for a few moments, testing the air for scents and sounds. I heard some footsteps, but they were moving away from me, so I quickly climbed the nearest tree in silence and followed them from above. It wasn't long before I saw the two small, cloaked vampires. They were in a hurry, and fast approaching the lights of an isolated little cabin that was in some disrepair.

I caught my breath when the door opened and the redhead stood there, beckoning them inside. I quickly realized this must be the past, Victoria was very dead in my present. I had to be watching something that had taken place many months ago. I tested the air, and carefully approached a window of the rough hewn cabin, doing my best to keep my presence undetected.

Victoria spoke first, "We're almost ready."

"That's not very comforting, you're out of time," Jane huffed.

"I need the numbers, you told me yourself the oracle will be able to see our attack and the mind reader will know our every move before we make it. Numbers are the only way we have to overcome.."

"Excuses! We've been waiting too long for you to get your sorry act together already. The Queen expects results, not delays."

I saw Alec move to sniff at Riley's prisoners, "Fine, we'll attack this weekend. If Riley can keep them all from killing each other until then..." Victoria turned to Riley who nodded.

"No ifs! This weekend or I'll kill you myself!" Jane snorted as she pulled Alec gently away from the human girl he'd become interested in, "how difficult can it be to eliminate one small, insignificant little human?"

Riley spoke up, "Yeah, small maybe, human, certainly.. but guarded by some very NON-insignificant immortals, by your own admission..." he wilted under Jane's glare, "..your ladyship..."

"Enough! You have until Saturday, make sure she's dead by then," she snarled and turned toward her companion who was now apparently preoccupied with the scent of the little female in Riley's corner, "... Alec! Leave her alone, we're going."

The door opened once more and I held my breath as I watched them depart. Victoria sunk her teeth into the humans while Riley watched, then threw one over each shoulder as they screamed in agony and left the cabin as well. I took after him through the trees, swinging limb from limb in pursuit when my eyes suddenly went blank and I was falling into the black once more...

I awoke in our bedroom, wearing Alice's sexy see through wedding dress, looking up at Carlisle's worried expression. "Carlisle?" He needed to know what I'd seen. Edward, Esme had been murdered by the Volturi.. by the Queen."

I saw as the realization of what I'd seen took root and dawned on him. Carlisle's expression of horror was enough proof for me, that he understood the implications. I cupped the palm of my hand against his cheek, "I'm so sorry darling. I had to tell you... you have to know why I'm so.. angry at them."

He nodded slowly, "As am I, dearest. We will not let this stand."

I knew what he was thinking.. any action against the Volturi here would be regarded as a coup, and though we were not anxious to take over the reigns of power on our world, tonight had provided the perfect opportunity for us to exact our revenge. Though Aro may not have instigated Sulpicia's attack, by now he surely knew of it, concealed it and therefore was party to it. "We need to find Alice, now."

Carlisle nodded in agreement and lifted me gently to a sitting position on the side of the bed, "Are you able to return to the party?"

"Yes, if you'll stay by me?"

"Wild horses couldn't pry me away, Beautiful." He smiled at me, making me feel that somehow this was all going to be alright.

We headed toward the gondola only to be met by Alice on the way, "Why are you planning on attacking the Volturi and ruining my party tonight, Bella?" She stood akimbo in our pathway, pouting at us with her fists curled on her hips.

"Alice! Thank goodness, is my attack plan successful?"

She snarked, "Well it certainly is a show stopper! Success depends on what you were hoping to achieve?"

Carlisle stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders while looking directly into her eyes, "They were behind Victoria's attack..." Alice gasped, her expression soon mirrored Carlisle's, "..the Volturi, and most specifically my Aunt and Jane are responsible for Esme and Edward's deaths. I think our objective should be to level the playing field... two lives for two lives, one gifted, one not."

Our targets seemed obvious to me, "We should be taking down Jane and Caius."

Alice's eyes glazed over.. "We need Jasper."

I'd never seen Carlisle vibrate with so much anger before, I turned to hug him tightly to me as he spoke, "I can't live with her on the same planet, I can't and I won't."

I knew who he was talking about, and it wasn't Jane. I whispered into his ear to soothe him, "Shh, very well then...Sulpicia it is." I felt him nodding against me, "It's alright darling, leave it to me."

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