Chapter Thirty Seven

Bella

I waited until I knew Aro had gone before getting up and miming paper and pen. Carlisle handed them over and I wrote,

"Give me four hours then send the guard for Aro."

I decided four hours was long enough not to show Carlisle up as a liar but as long as I could bear to be here under house arrest. I was confident I could use my gift when asked, since I woke up I could feel it as a warm coil in the back of my mind just waiting to be used. How far it would work or over how many individuals I didn't know but I would soon find out. Once Aro tried to use his gifts on me, realising I wasn't going to be a push over, then we would see. The might of The Major's mate versus the might of the all powerful Volturi, I knew Jasper and his friends would be here soon to free me but I didn't want any of them hurt on my account.

I wanted Charlie and I wanted our freedom but in order to achieve that I was aware I would have to take on the Volturi and win. It was what I was born to do. As I thought that I realised it was the truth. Everything, from Renee dying to Zeus the bear, to meeting Jasper, every single action had been preordained to bring me to this place at this time. To do what the rebels had planned for over the centuries, to smash the power of the Volturi. Was my ancestor one of those ancient rebels? Was he Zeus himself perhaps? Whatever the answers to those questions I was in no doubt what my task was and I had no intention of failing. I felt stronger and more determined than ever and only one thing marred this wonderful feeling, there was a huge black hole where my mate should be. I needed Jasper with me and I needed him soon. The timetable was in my hands to a large degree and I was impatient. As I lay there pictures flickered like a slide show through my mind, Renee, Charlie, Jasper, over and over. At the end of four hours I opened my eyes and sat up speaking aloud for the first time since Aro's visit.

"Where am I? Carlisle what are you doing here?"

The door opened and the guard put his head in, then withdrew it speedily as I launched myself at him. It wouldn't hurt for the Volturi to think I was a savage newborn for a little while. Esme and Edward looked shocked but I just smiled and went to stand looking out the window onto a sun drenched courtyard peopled by vampires who sparkled in the suns rays. I stretched out my own hand experimentally and watched as my skin glittered in the sunshine making me smile. I wondered what Jasper would look like standing in the sunshine, how he would look laying naked in the sun, that would be even better and I didn't feel embarrassed at the thought. It seemed quite natural. Would his scars cover the rest of his body too or was it only his arms that were marked? I was thinking about that as I heard the door open once more and four people walk in. Four? Aro, Marcus, Caius and who? I turned fast and they all stepped back a few feet except Aro who had a woman at his shoulder touching him. Who was she and why did he feel so safe in my presence?

"Isabella, to see you awake finally is such a relief. Are you adjusting to your new life?"

I nodded staring at each one of them in turn, they were handsome as all vampires seemed to be but their eyes held a cruelty, an aged canker that made me wary. I was sure this was one of their ways of appearing superior. A look of ancient wisdom and evil mixed together that made a vampire feel inferior in their presence. I held each ones eyes before moving on to the next and I could tell they weren't used to this, it unnerved them.

"Where is my father?"

Caius looked surprised and Aro taken aback but Marcus seemed to have expected something like this.

"Your father? Safe Isabella."

"Its Bella and Id like to see him."

"All in good time Isabella. First I'm sure you would be more comfortable quenching your thirst and seeing your new quarters."

"Don't presume to tell me what I want or need. I want to see my father and my name is Bella not Isabella."

Aro's eyes narrowed at this, rudeness was not to his liking nor was defiance.

"I think you should realise that you are in our house now Isabella and there are certain ways that things are done. You do something for us and we give you something in return. If you decide to be difficult then I'm afraid we will have to use persuasion."

"Aro I think we should be careful."

"Marcus enough. If she scares you then leave."

I smiled at Marcus then looked at Caius.

"Do I scare you too Caius?

He laughed,

"No one scares me Bella, especially not a newborn."

"Then you are a bigger fool than I thought and you Aro I'll play by your rules"

He smiled and looked a little relieved

"I give you something and you give me something in return right?"

"That's the way things are done in Volterra Isabella. You'll find it much easier if you follow the rules."

"Very well Aro. I'll give you peace and you give me my father unharmed."

He looked puzzled,

"I don't understand Isabella."

I walked up to him until we were standing almost toe to toe and lowered my voice until he had to listen very hard to hear my words.

"It's very simple Aro. I want my father and you want peace in Volterra. You give me Charlie, I give you peace, but just in case you think I'm playing I'll give you a free demonstration."

I concentrated and the blue coils pulsated then uncurled until they resembled spears and I looked out the window to the courtyard below sending the coils hurtling towards the stone pavement. There was a terrible cracking sound and the stones splintered shooting up in the air to smash through windows and crack the fountain in the centre, its water splashing the devastation with its droplets while the rest of the water made it appear as if the stones themselves were bleeding.

"Do you understand me now Aro?"

Aro

We stood amazed at Bella's gift, the courtyard was a wreckage and the people down there looked up confused and frightened thinking the citadel had been attacked.

"Go down and calm the situation"

The guard who had run in at the noise nodded and went running out along the corridor then I turned to the others,

"Well, we seem to have a problem brothers. It seems Isabella Swan has a very interesting gift, one we would do well to collect."

I turned back to Bella,

"Perhaps we could come to some arrangement...Bella."

"Of course Aro, I'm always open to negotiations."

Her smile was at odds with her tone of voice but for now, until Chelsea appeared and she would, having heard the noises, she had standing orders to get to any problems as quickly as possible. In the meantime I would keep her talking, my brothers knew the procedure.

"Very well...Bella...we would very much like you to join us and I'm sure in return we could find some way to release your father."

"Good, what do you suggest?"